Any bad stage-door experiences?- Page 6

[the_white_page]

Posted: 3/17/08 at 8:18pm

You had a bad experience with Julia Murney? Seriously? She's one of the nicest people I've met. I even met her outside of an event in Nashville once and she was so sweet to me and my friends.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 3/17/08 at 8:29pm

Julia Murney is one of the sweetest people I've met.

I wouldn't be mad at someone for ducking out for whatever reason.

Agreed. As far as what I first posted in this thread goes, I would rather a performer slip out another exit than go out the stage door and give everyone an attitude because they don't want to be there.

[amalou]

Posted: 3/17/08 at 10:22pm

If actors aren't chatty at the stage door, it may not be them being rude or mean. Many actors are actually shy off stage or off screen and meeting fans may be awkward or uncomfortable for them. They just worked their butts off to entertain you, they're taking time to sign and take pictures, do you also expect them to sit and hear your life story and spend ten minutes talking to you? Don't think so.

But I think there are valid arguments on both sides. Actors should avoid fans all together if they're not in the mood rather than behaving like rude jerks. At the same time, some fans- not ALL fans, just some- can be creepy and pushy at the stage door and I can see why some actors are reluctant to spend oodles of time there.

[insertclevernamehere]

Posted: 3/17/08 at 10:56pm

If they don't want to deal with fans, then they shouldn't stagedoor. I don't feel it's that "the actors owe me" at all, but I do hope for actors, as well as any person to treat me with civility if I do the same.

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 2:21am

I've always considered myself EXTREMELY fortunate...

For me, the thrill (beyond the fact) that I'm able to meet my B'way idols is doubled, nay tripled by the atmosphere - the good folks (oftentimes, anyway) beside me. I LOVE chatting it up with families, fellow BWW family members, etc., etc. - Watch it for me next time. More often than not, it'll spark a massive conversation with a cast member or 2. When I saw NOVEMBER, I was talking with this mother and son about how I was hoping for solid reviews (I saw NOVEMBER's last preview, mind you), and two minutes later, Dylan Baker joins our conversation, and the subject somehow switches over to 'how the innerworkings of the play came about ... from Mamet's mind-to-page' -- That's just one prime example of what I'm talking about. ALL GOOD THINGS!

[FlyingMonkey1223]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 3:01am

I've had good luck with stagedooring. The only true bad experience was Molly Ringwald, but I don't feel that bad about it because I hear it's her normal behavior and that she treats her fellow castmates about the same as she treats her fans. I am always gracious and kind when stagedooring. If the actor seems like they are in a hurry I don't bother them. If they seem happy to take pictures and sign, and most of them have ALWAYS done this, then I take advantage of their willingness to do so and thank them. There are other exits in the theatre, and the actors can usually exit through them and I don't think any less of them. I'm sure they have things to do and people to see just like everyone else. I only have a problem when actors come out and give their fans attitudes. It's uncalled for, and yes...I do think less of them. Just as I would think less of anyone who gave me an attitude when I was complimenting a job well done.

[LifeofTheParty2]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 4:42am

I've never had a bad experience that was caused by the actors. It's usually a crazy fan problem. But, I generally only stagedoor if my friends want to for just that reason. I'm surprised to hear people have had problems with Sherie, she was THE nicest to me when I met her way back during Aida (of course, I was 11, so they were all nice to me). As for Idina, I've never run across her at a stage door, but I have met her and she was not the friendliest and I wasn't even asking her for anything. I chalked that up to outside issues beyond my control, though.

No matter what, everyone is allowed to just plain not be in the mood to have strangers grabbing at them, asking for things. Even when people are polite, it still might feel like it's always something. I can definitely understand the actors being wary. People can get scary. If it's a situation where there are no barricades, I personally wouldn't want to put myself through it. Sometimes, even when there are barricades, I've watched people wait a few feet over and follow actors down the street. And forget about it in theaters where there is only the one entrance and exit.

For every sane, polite fan there is an overzealous groupie. It sucks that it affects actors' behavior towards the entire crowd, but they're only human.

[yeslets]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 7:50am

"If they don't want to deal with fans, then they shouldn't stagedoor."

Do the actors 'stagedoor'? I thought that's what the fans did while the actors are simply leaving work.
Updated On: 3/18/08 at 07:50 AM

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 7:51am

I have a problem with the professional autograph hounds who hang around the theatre with bags full of pictures who obviously haven't seen the show and are only there to ultimately make a buck.

For me, half the fun of stage dooring is hanging out with the other people there. Last year after "Company," I was chatting with two girls my daughter's age about their ambitions, my daughter's ambitions and I thought it was the coolest thing.

[FeelingElectric]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 8:12am

I want to comment on a few of the names mentioned on this thread, and my experiences with them.

Idina Menzel-Met her after SWIWS in 2005, and she couldn't have been sweeter. My camera wouldn't work, and she gave me a chance to get it working so I could have a picture with her.

Sherie Rene Scott-Met her after Landscape of the Body in 2006 and after TLM in January. She was extremely nice. I talked to her for several minutes after Landscape, and got pictures both times.

Patti Lupone-Met her twice at Sweeney Todd, and after City Center Encore's Gypsy. Though she was in a hurry at Gypsy that night and dinn't pose for pictures, she was nice enough to sign or everyone. I got pictures with her both times at Sweeney. She was extremely nice.

Molly Ringwald- FlyingMonkey1223 was dead on. She was absolutely horrible on and off stage in Sweet Charity here in Baltimore, and the people at the stage door let her know it when she blew past them.

Bebe Neuwirth- I have met her six times. She is extremely protective, but was nice every time. I asked her for a picture after Don't Quit Your Night Job in January and was politely denied. Unless it's the Broadway Flea Market (at which I got pictures with her twice), she will not do pictures.

Legally Blonde-possibly some of my BEST stage door experiences. Saw it twice, and never had a problem with any member of that cast, including LBB. I got pictures with 22 of them after the Monday night show the week of the Tonys last year.

Kristin Chenoweth-I really didn't have trouble with her, just her over-zealous secruity at The Apple Tree and Stairway to Paridise. He was insisting she didn't take pictures when she was doing it right behind him at that very moment. I did meet her and get a picture after the second Apple Tree preview without a problem.

In his defense however, he had lightened up by the time he was working for Jennifer Garner during Cyrano. I had a delightful experience with her the night the stageghand's strike ended.

Megan Mullaly- I actually feel like an jerk on this one.

I stage doored YF several times early on (because I knew that I would probably be seeing a matinee when I finally saw it). At the first preview she started taking pictures and then stopped becaucse it was raining.

Later, I read some of the comments made her about her attitude later on in previews. That made me a little upset, and I said a few things I shouldn't have on this board. That was wrong, and I apologise for those statements.

Once again, I agree with FlyingMonkey1223. If a performer dosent want to door the stage door thing, they can avoid it altogether quite easily. Megan finally deceided to do that.

The reason I feel like a jerk is becuase of what happened in January. I tried the door again, and met Megan. She was extremely sweet as I got a picture with her. It couldn't have been a better experience.

The moral is, everybody has bad days. You need to be EXTREMELY patient, and not fly off the handle as I did.

By the way, I am seeing a matinee of the show in June (provided it's still there).


Other than Molly Ringwald, I can't say that I have ever had any bad experiences as the result of performers. I had two unexpected ones at City Center last year for very different reasons.

It took two attempts to meet both Kate Mulgrew and Jeff Daniels after their MTC shows last season.

Jeff had to hurry out after I saw Blackbird in April, but was extremely gracious when I saw it in June.

The problems with Kate were caused by autograph brokers after the first preview of Our Leading Lady last year. I could see that she was completely disgusted when saw their folder of pictures.

One good thing did come of this. When I saw the show again in March (a year ago this Thursday), I met Kate and Maxwell Caufield. She was a darling, and Maxwell talked to me for half an hour. I have never had an experience quite like that.

I really look forward to seeing him again in A Little Night Music this Thursday night, a year to the day of that wonderful night.

Updated On: 3/18/08 at 08:12 AM

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 8:28am

Ramona Keller. When I went to see Brooklyn back in 2005, she was the only one out of the nine people in the cast who was rude. My camera won't work and she kept saying "Well, is it gonna take?" and I apologized over and over but she kept giving me the diva attitude. Finally we snapped the picture, her face in is it one of a true diva.

Constatine Maroulis: My friend is a huge Idol head and when we went to NY for the day, she wanted to meet him. So we went to the stage door and the crowd was full of older women who kept screaming out to him that they voted for him. My friend was so nervous to meet him and she kept acting like she was gonna faint or something. The entire cast was so sweet and then Constatine came out to much fanfare. Constantine got to my friends and I and my friend has pictures she carries around of her many meetings with Paula Abdul and she was going to show him and he said "I don't care." and walked off after the picture. My friend was crushed, and he was rude when I asked to retake our picture due to it being blurry.

When I went to see Legally Blonde again back in Feburary, it was bitter cold and yet Laura Bell Bundy came out and couldn't have been sweeter to everyone. She signed my playbill and remarked at how I knew everyword [I had been front row, and I was somewhat mouthing the words to myself] and she was so nice and our picture is quite funny, she looks like a little Russian woman all bundled up.

Updated On: 3/18/08 at 08:28 AM

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 8:30am

FeelingElectric, THAT was an AMAZING post Thank you. And that pic of you and Bernie you have as your default is amazing.

I, too, can honestly say that I have not had a bad stagedoor expierience, either.

Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick were terrific to me all three times at THE PRODUCERS and the one time at THE ODD COUPLE. They even sang Happy Birthday to a woman at OC since it was her bday and that was her persent, tickets to the show *lol* It was proceless! I told Nathan "Thank you for making us laugh," and he nodded, looked me in the eyes and said "You're welcome."

David Hyde Pierce was AH-MAzing.

Bernie is a doll.

Patti La LuPone was regal and kind... You can tell she loves to have fun and cut up

The OBC of MOVIN' OUT were all super incredible.

Stephen Lynch, Laura Benanti and Felicia Finley were beyond awesome at WEDDING SINGER.

I was upset, however, that each time I saw WICKED, it was impossible to stage door properly because of the "wicked" fans... if you know what I mean

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 8:37am

"David Hyde Pierce was AH-MAzing."

I saw him in Spamalot and after at the stage door, this group of like twenty five older woman wanted a picture with him and he got right in there with them and made the funniest of faces and couldn't have sweeter. He is truly a class act.

I love Cheyenne Jackson [as everyone knows] and he is truly one of the nicest people I have ever met. The cast of Xanadu in general is amazing. Also beyond sweet, the OBC of Jersey Boys. You'd look across the street at Hairspray and see all the craziness and at the JB stage door there is like tweleve people. Christian Hoff apologized to us when he was late coming out. Daniel Reichard, Micheal Longoria, John Lloyd Young, J. Robert Spencer... etc could not have been nicer. The ensemble of Legally Blonde is a nice group of people and the Broadway cast of All Shook Up was beyond amazing.

Marissa Jaret Winkour was such a sweetie when I met. She was in Stacked and had returned for her summer stint back in Hairspray and I told her how much I look up to her for being a bigger girl and how much I loved her on Stacked and she was so so so sweet.

Updated On: 3/18/08 at 08:37 AM

[ruprecht]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 10:56am

I know this topic has been done on this board a few times so here we go again. stagedoor experiences, yes, Molly Ringwald was someone who I know I mentioned in one of the other threads and really was rude, seemingly all the time if so many people have singled her out but short of Ringwald, the only bad behavior I've recently witnessed comes from the fans and the pro autograph hounds, not the cast members of any show. Also, there's no obligation for the actors to sign, it's gravy not mandatory. I agree some are better at greeting the fans and those who aren't should take an alternate route out of the theater if possible. I never *expect* anyone to come out after giving me a 2 plus hour performance.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 11:34am

Sometimes, actors aren't speaking because they need to save their voice. Especially in crap weather/temperatures.

You guys should be careful not to jump to conclusions--you don't know what their day has been like. If they are ill. Or exhausted. You are seeing ONE stagedoor experience out of EIGHT a week.

And, no, the stagedoor is absolutely not included in the ticket price.

[Phlmn8r]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 1:49pm

So I'm going to NYC next week and hope to meet the following folks at the stage door. Is it possible? Are they nice, most of the time? Do they ALWAYS leave by another door and don't like to meet fans? Just want to know what I'm in for. ANY help is really appreciated!!

Nathan Lane/Laurie Metcalf - November
Michael McKean/Raul Esparza - Homecoming
Roger/Sutton/Megan - Young Frank.
Clay Aiken - Spamalot
Terrence Howard/James Earl Jones/Phylicia Rhyshad et. al. - Cat
Joanna Gleason - her new one that opens tonight!
Dianne Wiest/Alan Cumming - The Seagull

Any comments or thoughts?? -PB

[Phlmn8r]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 1:51pm

So I'm going to NYC next week and hope to meet the following folks at the stage door. Is it possible? Are they nice, most of the time? Do they ALWAYS leave by another door and don't like to meet fans? Just want to know what I'm in for. ANY help is really appreciated!!

Nathan Lane/Laurie Metcalf - November
Michael McKean/Raul Esparza - Homecoming
Roger/Sutton/Megan - Young Frank.
Clay Aiken - Spamalot
Terrence Howard/James Earl Jones/Phylicia Rhyshad et. al. - Cat
Joanna Gleason - her new one that opens tonight!
Dianne Wiest/Alan Cumming - The Seagull

Any comments or thoughts?? -PB

[IThespis]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 2:49pm

My folks took us to see Hepburn in COCO and we had to wait at the stage door. There was this rag-bag lady who kept talking to the group about the movies Miss H. had been in and the trials and tribulations of them, as if those characters were real and were actually Hepburn! Scarey!

But making bad good, Miss H. came out and the crowd surged, thrusting LordKnowsWhat at her; she held forth and said no in the most kindly way, explaining she'd done two shows that day, please understand, she couldn't sign just the one w/o signing all and then she'd be there hours; her friends were waiting in a small, black Ford with a bushel basket of apples on the rear seat, she got in smiling and was off. Still, the crowd felt they had some of her and were pleased.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 2:53pm

Sometimes, actors aren't speaking because they need to save their voice. Especially in crap weather/temperatures.

You guys should be careful not to jump to conclusions--you don't know what their day has been like. If they are ill. Or exhausted. You are seeing ONE stagedoor experience out of EIGHT a week.

Thank you! I was about to say something to that effect. People are criticizing performers for not speaking when they are just trying to be able to do their job the next day. Geez.

[Demitri2]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 5:16pm

"Oh, and Rachel York at DRS was really rude too."

Hmmm, I met Ms. York after the show and she was a sweetheart however the only reason I waited was so I'd be able to tell her how much I've enjoyed her work. I didn't ask for an autograph or a picture. Tell me since I've always been curious. What exactly do you do with autographs once you get them? Do you hang them on a wall? Keep them in a drawer? Rub them against your body? As for photos, I know lots of people famous or not who just don't like being photographed. As a result I would consider it an intrusion to ask anyone I didn't know to pose with me.

[keen on kean]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 5:40pm

Does anyone know when "stage dooring" became a ritual? My family has been going to Broadway since about 1955, and I don't remember anything like this until about 1990. Anyone a stage door historian?

[Shawk]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 6:03pm

I think there have been "stage door Johnnies" since there were stage doors.

The term, I believe, dates to the 1880s and 1890s. Fellows would hang out at stage doors, hoping to catch the eye of their favorite actress, perhaps aided by lavish gifts.

When it became a ritual part of many theatregoers' experience, I don't know.

Updated On: 3/18/08 at 06:03 PM

[Charlie No-One]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 7:47pm

A little off topic but better than making a new thread, if your in the third row at the Lunt Fontanne Theater, would I still have a chance at getting a good spot at the stage door?

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 7:55pm

I've pretty much had good experiences every time I've stagedoored. Recently, Jenna Russel and Daniel Evans were very sweet, even though it was raining.

[3allthatjazz]

Posted: 3/19/08 at 1:11pm

i agree with bundy5000
although of COURSE the actors don't owe anything to the stage door fans,and i get pissed too sometimes when u just want to get out of there but
kids who go to see plays like the little mermaid and BatB who stage door are there to be able to meet their princess' in the real world because half of them still believe in magic
if the actor is going to stage door and be rude to them, it changes their experiance whether they liked the play or not
they don't hafta like "make their dreams come true" or anything, just be polite

Updated On: 3/19/08 at 01:11 PM