Are we (fans) talked about by Broadway performers? — Page 10

"What if it was something you only had one of? Yet you offered it to two people?"

Ooo, a menage a trois with a Broadway stah.

What if you asked HIM for a kidney?

"Hi, can I get an autograph?"
"Can I get a picture with you?"
"Can I get a kidney from you?"

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I was thinking about donating a testicle to our prez, as I think he needs more b*lls.

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when i saw cats i was sitting front row center and then after at the stage door they were like thanks for singin along and i was like..oh dear..lol

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I absolutely agree. The pit musicians are so often overlooked, and they're the ones keeping everyone on cue. Kudos to all pit musicians!

This is a fascinating thread! I'll admit to fan-type behaviour in my younger days which makes me cringe now at the thought of it - I'm only too conscious of how I'd dread the thought of leaving my workplace if I knew there'd be the same people waiting for me day after day (not that that's what I did and not that actors shouldn't expect some degree of fandom, just that I now appreciate how uncomfortable it would make ME feel)!

I'm sure performers MUST talk about the audience and about some of the people at the stage door because they're only human - who wouldn't!? I've become 'acquainted' with a small number of performers in some of the shows that I've seen over the years, but would NEVER call myself 'a friend of' so & so! I love the fact that a couple of them recognise me, come over to talk to me, appreciate my support and even divulge backstage gossip which they know I can be trusted to keep to myself - it does make me feel privileged to an extent but I know it's still only a pretty superficial relationship. To be honest, being 'friends' with some of the performers I really admire would probably take the gloss off and I'd rather maintain that little bit of distance. I guess what I'm saying to some fans who seem to want to 'befriend' their idols is: be careful what you wish for!

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Though let's not forget that as teenagers and young "artists" Broadway is romanticized and is the ideal. It's not until we reach a certain level of maturity or growth as an artist that we truly define success. Once the bright lights dim, then and only then is the path clear, I think. To me, success is weighed in everytime I am able to stand before people and make new discoveries, whether it be within a scene, a character, or within myself. Each time I'm able to be private in public and share something very intimate with others. Something I may have not even know I had within me. Creating life and truth in another time and place... it brings the utmost fulfillment. Does it matter if I'm doing that on a stage in the midwest where I'm only making minimum wage or whether I'm standing on a Broadway stage? No, the fulfillment will be there regardless if I'm doing it for the right reason.

Ah, thank you for putting into words what I and others I know have been chewing on for quite some time!

This thread has been immensely interesting to read. I definitely cringe thinking about my past experiences and behaviors (however innocent) in regards to Broadway actors because of the fact that we do all, indeed, change. Life is cyclical and while we will all inevitably do things we will later regret, the only way we can truly grow and learn is to forgive ourselves (and others). But don't forget, what's the fun in that! So I may think, "wow I can't believe I said that to so-n-so, why did I think they would care?! ugh!" but really, it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter what occured or didn't occur, it doesn't matter what they may have said about me later to their cast members (good heavens!). What matters is that you recognize that actors are people whether you realize it or not, and that people act (off stage!) whether you like it or not. So live your life, do your own thing, if you see a certain person you once idealized at some point in your life, cool. If not, oh well, you have your OWN reality to attend to.

It IS a very interesting phenomenon that people, especially youth, are so drawn to performers and actors. Latch onto them and idolize/idealize them. Even before I was consciously aware of my desire to be an actor I was immensely fond of these people (moreso TV/movies though, I didn't get "into" Broadway until much later than many) whereas I never sought out and looked up to any top equestrians other than to recognize their names and what championships they had won even when I was a competitive equestrian and planned on being a professional in the horse business. I think that's because of what Lady Of The Talkies explained. Great actors have found the ability to express something in themselves through a character, in another reality, something so personal and yet so public that I think many many people (again, especially youth) latch onto.

Hmmm. Now I have to go think some more.

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Updated On: 9/1/06 at 07:49 PM

I remember when I was a senior in high school we were doing a concert version of Les Miz. This was 89 and it was playing in Philly at the time as well. So we were basically given carte blance to be totally illegal with the musical rights, scoring unavailable music by ear, costuming and staging. But I digress, a few of us went to see the show and after wanted to talk to some of the cast. Well, Jean Valjean not only talked with us, but took us accross the street to the Irish Pub and bought our underage threesome a pitcher of beer and sat with us for like 3 hours. All three us are profesional actors to this day, and it was things like that Im sure had some impact on those decisions:) Just wanted to share that story...anyone know who the Jean valjean was in the 1989 tour??

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I wanted to post these Edward Norton quotes here. I thought they were appropriate to the discussion.


"Fame is very corrosive and you have to guard very strictly against it."

"I'm an actor and, each time out, I'm trying to convince the audience that I'm this character. Every little thing that people know about you as a person impedes your ability to achieve that kind of terrific suspension of disbelief that happens when an audience goes with an actor and character [he's] playing."

"The more you can create that magic bubble, that suspension of disbelief, for a while, the better."

It's that sort of attention to authenticity that makes me buy a ticket to anything and everything he does. This is why I'm so against actors who are too accessible. It chips away at their ability to be convincing and believeable as a character. That's their job. As much as I understand that "celebrity" plays a part, at the end of the day, it's their job to not just create a character that people will identify with but to assist in complete suspension of disbelief on the part of the audience member.

I'm sure Norton, on some level, chuckles at the idea of women thinking he's "hot" but it's that sort of thing that sometimes gets in the way of seeing him as whatever character he's playing. It takes them out of the film, even momentarily. Which is why, I think, he avoids the press and media the way he does.