Anything Goes and Follies stage door?

[Citygirl.grace]

Posted: 10/7/11 at 1:42pm

In taking a trip to NYC in December to see Anything Goes and Follies. What are my chances of seeing Sutton Foster, Joey Grey or Bernadette Peters at the stage doors??? Do they take pictures/sign or anything? And for how long??? Thanks!!!

[Felm_heart]

Posted: 10/7/11 at 1:43pm

Based off my experience: Bernadette will come out, Sutton / Joel will not.

[broadwayguy20012]

Posted: 10/7/11 at 4:04pm

I second this...I saw "Follies" 2 weeks ago and Bernadette was very gracious and stopped to sign my Playbill and take a picture with me...saw "Anything Goes" back in April and neither Joel nor Sutton came out...

[moljul]

Posted: 10/7/11 at 4:12pm

Though Bernadette typically doesn't come out between shows so if its a 2 show day, go to the stage door after the evening show.

[BroadwayFan12]

Posted: 10/7/11 at 4:22pm

Does Elaine Paige stop for fans? She walked right by when I was there, but I didn't stop her in case she didn't want to be bothered.

[quizking101]

Posted: 10/7/11 at 4:22pm

I'm going on the 26th, and I was wondering how the crowd was in terms of size and behavior...

[SingOutLouise2]

Posted: 10/7/11 at 7:31pm

I went about a week ago. I saw "Anything Goes" on a Thursday and the crowd was around 50 people and both Sutton and Joel didn't come out the stage door.
I saw "Follies" on a Friday and Jan, Terri, and Bernadette come out the stage door. They are all very sweet and sign and take pictures with them if you ask. Elaine Paige never came out of the stage door.

[SondheimFan5]

Posted: 10/7/11 at 7:33pm

I've been to Follies several times (all evening performances), they all come out and are happy to sign except Raines and Burstein - they usually don't come thru the stage door. Sometimes Bernadette and Elaine Paige don't stop for photos.

[dshnookie]

Posted: 10/9/11 at 1:42pm

On the day of the flea market, a friend of mine didnt get Sutton/Joel at the autograph table because they were pulled blah blah blah. We went to the theater after the Sunday matinee, and waited outside of the theater at the extreme left exit door (when facing the theater) where the audience also exits from. Joel & Sutton both come out of this door.

Sutton darted by us saying she had a plane to catch. Joel was a total sweetheart, and signed for both of us and chatted with the handful of others that were waiting there instead of the stage door (and if anyone cares, Kelly Bishop also came out this front entrance).

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/9/11 at 1:57pm

Its possible Elaine Paige is staying at the Marquis and that's why she doesn't come out.

[AC126748]

Posted: 10/9/11 at 2:01pm

Paige comes out. She usually doesn't stop though unless you get her attention.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/9/11 at 2:03pm

She is one of the nicest women I've ever met and certainly the nicest "celebrity" I've ever encountered.

[AC126748]

Posted: 10/9/11 at 2:04pm

I think she generally just doesn't assume that people will recognize her or want her autograph. I've met her too, and she is certainly a very humble woman.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/9/11 at 2:09pm

I've told the story before but during SUNSET BLVD, she invited my father and I backstage to meet her after she found out we had been waiting out in the freezing cold for over an hour for her. She didn't think anyone was waiting and while we were backstage she hugged my Dad to warm him up and talked with us for quite a while signing everything we had and apologizing non stop for us being out there so long. She was so funny and so nice and yes, very very humble.

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/9/11 at 2:17pm

I think the whole stage door thing gets kind of ridiculous. I stopped really caring about it after my teen years.

But I do find it very amusing that legends such as Bernadette and Patti consistently stage door, but Sutton doesn't. No, I don't think performers should be required to do it, but it does amuse me.

[AC126748]

Posted: 10/9/11 at 2:27pm

I agree with you, ljay. No offense to anyone, but it's kind of creepy to see fifty year old guys waiting around to meet Elphaba.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/9/11 at 2:38pm

Eflaba appeals to 50 year olds as well as 10 year old fat girls. Bitch has universal appeal.

[jv92]

Posted: 10/9/11 at 3:06pm

Funny-- I went to the stage door of FOLLIES following the first preview and Elaine Paige came out the freight elevator or whatever it is, and walked right up to me and chatted with me. That was the first preview though.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 10/9/11 at 3:34pm

Funny--I bumped into Elaine Paige at Juniors and she gave me a hanje in the restroom. A class act.

While creepy to be waiting for Elphie, I'd expect nothing but 50+ year old guys waiting for Bernadette Peters. They were teens and in the closet when she started her career.

[AC126748]

Posted: 10/9/11 at 3:47pm

Elaine felt me up too, and then she gave me that "F*CK you" gesture she does at the end of "I'm Still Here." I guess I could have been more appreciative.

[FrauleinKost]

Posted: 10/9/11 at 4:51pm

awww, you guys are really making me want to meet Elaine Paige (and not JUST to get felt up, though that's a nice perk.)

Ok, so the Follies stage door looks crazy...I stage doored in DC each time I went, but never saw Elaine Paige (was really just there for BP). So next time I'm at Follies, since it seems like 50/50 whether or not she comes out, should I just wait or should I talk to the security guard and tell them I'd like to see Ms. Paige, or send her a note before the show, or what? Send a tweet??

(I feel like I'm 19)

[azeller]

Posted: 10/9/11 at 5:53pm

When I saw the show, I was midway down the line. Elaine came out and no one in the front of the line said anything to her, so she kept walking. When I asked her to sign my playbill, she was more than gracious and everyone who was before me then asked her to come back to sign. I really don't think they recognized her. She was in work out clothes, hair in a ponytail and had a baseball cap on. Bernadette and Danny were the only other two leads who came out that evening.

[AMH]

Posted: 11/20/11 at 1:32am

I'm going to see FOLLIES again on Saturday, December 17. How crowded do y'all think the stage door will be?

I saw the show a few weeks ago (on a Saturday) and there were only about 20 people waiting. I left right after I got Bernadette's autograph, but wish I would've stuck around to catch Elaine Paige.

she invited my father and I backstage to meet her after she found out we had been waiting out in the freezing cold for over an hour for her. She didn't think anyone was waiting and while we were backstage she hugged my Dad to warm him up and talked with us for quite a while signing everything we had and apologizing non stop for us being out there so long. She was so funny and so nice and yes, very very humble.

Very cool!