Any bad stage-door experiences? — Page 2

To be fair with Yul Brynner, he had cancer for a while. From what his son said in his biography, he was in quite a bit of pain, was very proud, and sometimes waited for everyone to leave because he didn't want anyone to see him being carried out to his car. If he pushed past everyone to get out of there, it might very well have been because he couldn't stay on his feet any longer. A friend of mine went backstage at "The King and I" when he was a kid and said that Yul was extremely nice, even though he was ill.

And back to the whole sentiment that actors don't *have* to sign, and their demeanor at the stage door doesn't necessarily say anything about them as a person. Some people are awkward when meeting strangers. Some people really do have to catch the last train. Some people might be like Yul--feeling really sick and just wanting to get home. And some people are dolls at the stage door but horrid to their colleagues. And so on. Although, if they really don't want to sign, it's probably better to duck out another exit than to go through the stage door, refuse to sign and disappoint people.

Updated On: 3/16/08 at 02:30 PM

OP- I agree, I think it might have been a bad day. When I went to see Wicked in NYC- and I flew out there just to see her- I was expecting her to be a diva at the stage door based on stories. But she turned out to be really nice (shy, of course). I also have heard that London was just a chaotic zoo.

I think it's interesting that sometimes those who have acquired star/diva status are the least diva-ish at all, and those who are just up-and-coming can be the real divas. Bernadette Peters was the sweetest (and shortest) doll. But this past Rent tour, I met the guy who played Mark at the stage door. Some of the direction of the show seemed different to me, and I asked him if they had changed/updated it. He and his friends started laughing at me and told me that nothing had changed since 1996, and that I had obviously just seen the movie. I have been a fan of Rent since it first came out on Broadway, and I have also seen the show many times (both NYC and touring productions). I also referenced Rent Remixed to him and he "assured" me that it did not exist, and that I "should really go listen to the original cast recording, not the movie's". He and his friends continued to laugh as I walked away.

Hmm. I've had the OBCR since it was first released. I don't even own the movie cast's recording.

Stephen Spinella at Angels in America: Millenium Approaches was a right jerk. Funny how experiences like that stay with you...everytime I see him in a movie or a tv show, I just roll my eyes. Everyone else was great.

Other than Rupert Graves being a bit brusque at Closer (which made me sad cuz I've always had a mad crush on him), everyone I have met at the stage-door has been great. My favorites will always be Maggie Smith at Talking Heads in London and Raul Julia at La Mancha in DC.

Broadwaycat- I'm not surprised about Sierra. She seems like she'd be a sweetheart. However, I'm pretty shocked with these Sherie stories! I really had no idea. Is this typical of her? I was hoping to meet her at the SD in a couple of weeks...now I'm not so sure.

Idina Menzel punched me in the kidney once, and Kristen Chenoweth called my mom a whore.

I saw Little Mermaid on Valentines Day and everyone was very nice. Sheri seemed a bit...out of it...but she signed and posed for pictures and was very nice. Sierra left through a different door though and didn't sign at all, but I hear she is very nice. Everyone else stopped and signed.

Wayne Wilcox ("Rent" film/"Coram Boy"), when he was with "Light In The Piazza" in Chicago, was a real ****head!

Brian D'Arcy James was kind of snappish at Next to Normal. The girl next to me was saying, "Oh, my God, I'm so happy to meet you. I'm such a big fan." He didn't say anything back. He agreed to take a picture, but when the camera started freaking out he just walked away.

Alice Ripley was a total sweetheart, though.

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I saw Sherie aftehr TLM and I had heard stories about her being less than friendly at the sd, but she was nice, signed for everyone. I wouldn't say she was the most friendly person and it was the third day of previews, but I was thrilled to meet her. I don't have a problem with actors just signing and not chatting or even not coming out at all, unless it is stunt casted. But to be rude and say something like yeah I never heard that before I feel is unacceptable.

Sierra has bolted out of the stage door with security and gone straight into a car several times. While she has every right to, I felt bad for the little girls who were waiting because it wasn't announced that she left.

Constantine Maroulis was the only one. I complimented on his performance, he glared at me and looked angry to be out there. Yet he was really nice to all of the kids talking to him about American Idol.

I don't think it's right to not like an actor based on their stagedoor attitude. Opinions of them as a person are totally valid and acceptable, but to let those get in the way of your views of them in a show as an actor is another thing.

Most of the time I'm more annoyed by other people at the stagedoor. I've had many experiences similar to jwonjy's, specifically at the Spring Awakening stagedoor. Honestly, respect the performers. Don't interrupt other conversations. And don't, for the love of god, ask someone to sign your boob or butt or any other body part. It's awkward and disrespectful.

Was at the stage door following Next to Normal's final performance. We waited awhile (to be expected, given it was the last day), but for the most part when all the actors came out, they were all very nice - chatted and signed. Even the creative team (Tom Kitt, Brian Yorkey, and Michael Greif) were kind and took the time to sign and thank us for our support.

One small disappointment though, Jenn Damiano unfortunately went out the side fire stairwell. Perhaps she was in a rush to be somewhere, but I kind of wish she came out to sign so we could have the complete cast's autographs. Bizarre, the 2 or 3 times I've stage-doored at Spring Awakening in the past when Jenn was in the cast, I never got her autograph, as she always seemed to bolt right out the door in a hurry.