Are we (fans) talked about by Broadway performers? — Page 7

Why yes... even whilst sporting my roots, I can still honestly say that my hair is not orange.

Baby, you missed the boat on that one. I already found myself a Violet, albeit a geriatric one. But if you'd care to serenade me with a little "You Should Be Loved", I wouldn't be opposed.

Who cares if little teeny boppers are walking around claiming friendship with So and So? Unless they are truly disrupting So and So's life, it's completely harmless. More often than not it's a situation that can easily be dealt with.

It's not the supposed friendships that bother me. It's when posters speak about these people like they know them or act like some sort of authority on their careers and personality. It's the intimating and hinting that frosts my nuts. You don't "know" them. You know the person they want you to know. Who they really are will never, well rarely, be exposed at the stage door or at appearances.

Chill. Enjoy their talents, and don't stalk them.

Agreed. But there are some actors who absolutely encourage that sort of behavior.

I agree about autographs - never really understood the point. I do like to get my playbill signed, but that's more about remembering the overall experience, as opposed to getting the signature of any one particular person. I would never ask for an autograph if I saw someone randomly. And I totally do not get people buying autographs - I'm not talking about opening night posters or OBC playbills - I mean people buying things like autographed headshots. What purpose does that serve?

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I definitely agree about buying autographs. Autographed playbills and what-not can serve as souvenirs to the night, or a nice little memory...or with a pretty sharpy can make your playbill look really pretty. But (aside from the prettiness), all that experience is lost from the autograph, and then you're left with some scribble that you can barely make out.

Jaily, I played pit in high school and community theatre. Am I a prostitute?

But now let's carry this to another point...the poster who asked why fans don't find friends their own age...well, sometimes one can connect to another. Maybe two fans of a Broadway actor go to a performance, get to talking, and end up becoming really good friends, through their admiration of a particular performer. And often, if they start to like someone else, or a performer moves or something, and they begin to lose interest in the performer, the friendship with the other fan still stands.

I still say in the end we all have our "things." Some people drink, some do drugs, some overeat, some starve themselves, some whistle a happy tune, some sleep a lot, some love to go to stage doors.

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"It's not the supposed friendships that bother me. It's when posters speak about these people like they know them or act like some sort of authority on their careers and personality."

I know what you mean, but I'd cut teenagers some slack as long as their interests/crushes, etc. aren't unhealthy. When I was a kid I thought I was the authority on all things Police/Duran Duran/Outsiders related! My walls were plastered with posters. Meeting Bono was the highlight of my senior year. I have great memories of that time in life...it was really fun and innocent.

Jen Cody found out I was a member and she wanted me to posts that she was a huge biatch t work with... I couldn't do that, so I posted that she had a tail and the post got deleated.

They do know of us.

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The nomenclature is destroyed because of myspace and facebook and friendster and the next one.

"Oo, friend me! Friend me"

No. you are my online acquantice.

"Aquante me! Aquante me!" - Much better. But you can't do that. So friend me, friend me is the default.

I know what you mean, but I'd cut teenagers some slack as long as their interests/crushes, etc. aren't unhealthy.

I agree. I'm somewhat familair with the ages of some posters so I realize that they aren't acting in any way I didn't when I was that age. I'm actually commenting more on the people in their early 20's and up.

One thing I would like to add to this conversation is that a lot of personal psychology goes into the need to be friends/collegues/acquaintances with these actors. The defense mechanism of identification (if you are a pychoanalystic person) can be seen in a lot of a relationship. Basically, its a strong desire to identify with successful people in order to compensate for problems you have in your life. For example, a couple of years ago, I was a HUGE die-hard Yankee fan, every game they lost was like a knife in the stomach. Once they lost the WS to Arizona, I had a total breakdown. Since then, I have learned to be more of a casual fan because the identification was too strong. The same thing happens on Broadway. Fans identify too much with their actors and create connections that aren't there. Establishing boundaries is definetely crucial and a clear warning sign of whats to come.

Excuse me, but I've been teaching for 35 years now and have been moderator of the Drama Clubs at two different schools. I have to take exception to your comment that drama club members aren't "accepted". I've had the school president star in various shows. and two valedictorians were cast members. In my production of CINDERELLA most of the male dancers were members of the football team who didn't give me any slack about wearing tights. (I actually sought out the football players because the musical didn't conflict with their season and their football training gave them a grace most other guys lacked). In MY SISTER EILEEN, the Wreck was played by the star of the soccer team--and he was excellent!

It's been my experience that drama clubs attract the "intellectuals" as well as the average kids.

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Excuse me, but I've been teaching for 35 years now and have been moderator of the Drama Clubs at two different schools. I have to take exception to your comment that drama club members aren't "accepted". I've had the school president star in various shows.

Dolly, no offense meant. I speak as a former drama club geek who was also president of her class. But, come on, you just can't say that those drama club/cheerleader/valedictorian types make up a majority of drama orgnaizations in high schools.

People that excel in the arts understand that the journey is the reward...the result an added bonus. Every day I act or train is a blessing and a dream come true. If Broadway beckons so be it. I have a personal definition of success that is unshakable by a possibly unobtainable goal.

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