Any bad stage-door experiences? — Page 6

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.

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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.

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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.

"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

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.

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

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

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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.

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

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.

"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.

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.

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

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.

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