At what age is it too old to stage door?- Page 3

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/29/07 at 10:32am

I'm 21 now, and I don't do it nearly as often as I did as a teenager. It's not that I feel like I'm too old for stage dooring itself, meeting the actors, etc. -- in fact, as I get older and start working in the industry, I find myself easily forming relationships with people in the business -- but that I no longer have the patience to deal with mobs of people who are rowdy, rude and obnoxious. Sure, I squealed over little things when I was 16, 17 -- who didn't? -- but I've always been very shy, which kept me from doing anything too ridiculous at a stage door. I don't really understand just stage dooring for the hell of it, either. I only go if there's someone whose work I love and really want to meet, or I know someone in the show.

Updated On: 6/29/07 at 10:32 AM

[brdwybound2]

Posted: 6/29/07 at 10:52am

"The second kind are kids, generally under 20, who think that by wearing pink they will become Laura Bell Bundy's BFF; or that by telling Jonathan Groff that they love him, they will become engaged."

Although I agree that there are different types of people at the stage door, I am curious if you are implying that everyone under 20 fits into this catergory. I am 16, and although I have never visited the stage door in NYC, I have met many amazing performers at regional theatres. I am visiting NYC for a week at the end of July, and I plan to force my mom to go to the stage door after the 4 shows we are seeing. And while I DO find Jonathan Groff extremely attractive, I sort of view myself as a more mature theatre-lover. I really hope you are not labeling all teens as rude, obnoxious fangirls, because there are some of us who truly respect and love the theatre and performers for reasons other than the fact that Jonathan Groff happens to be good looking.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 6/29/07 at 10:54am

And it's important to be respectful to everyone who comes out the stagedoor. Nothing like hearing audible groans from the crowd when you are "just a musician or stage technician." That always cracks me up when people groan so loud. It usually happens when a group is waiting for a big star like Ralph Fiennes or Julianne Moore and the entire staff filters out first.

[nyc44]

Posted: 6/29/07 at 11:13am

I was the oldest person at the stagedoor for Mary Poppins (I'm 16) and although it felt a little awkward, I'm sure the performers appreciate when you're there to see them, not the character they play. For example, at Mary Poppins I wanted to meet Ashley Brown and Gavin Lee; the little kids wanted to meet Mary and Bert (and i don't think there's anything wrong with that when you're 6 years old.)

[jordangirl]

Posted: 6/29/07 at 11:52am

brdwaybound2 ~ I think capn was referring more to the actions than the age. As people have stated, some teens can be mature and some mature people can be worse than some teens. (The Color Purple is evidence enough of that for me. Sheesh! Try walking anywhere around that theatre when the show has just let out. Insane. And just down 53rd, it's pretty darn tranqul by 110.)

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 6/29/07 at 12:25pm

I felt really awkward at the Legally Blonde stage door. I don't think I can stage door shows like that anymore.

[Weez]

Posted: 6/29/07 at 12:53pm

"The second kind are kids, generally under 20, who think that by wearing pink they will become Laura Bell Bundy's BFF; or that by telling Jonathan Groff that they love him, they will become engaged."

Although I agree that there are different types of people at the stage door, I am curious if you are implying that everyone under 20 fits into this catergory.

I don't think they are; they're just pointing out that people will, thankfully, grow out of this behaviour. Granted, not all of them, but most of 'em. ^_^

[raphael06]

Posted: 6/29/07 at 1:09pm

I would only do it for for Bernadette Peters.

[Wicked63]

Posted: 6/29/07 at 1:15pm

Now! go home.

[Magdalene]

Posted: 6/29/07 at 1:23pm

I still stage door, (44), but not for every show I see. I view it as gravy, and am not disappointed if a star doesn't exit through the stage door.

Updated On: 6/29/07 at 01:23 PM

[JRybka]

Posted: 6/29/07 at 1:31pm

I do it cause I am a total groupie love junkie.

I want to say how much I enjoyed their performance.

but I get autgraphs and go. Just for my own person collection.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 6/29/07 at 1:33pm

I don't think anyone is too old to stage door each show they see - once.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/29/07 at 1:38pm

Sure, I squealed over little things when I was 16, 17 -- who didn't? -- but I've always been very shy, which kept me from doing anything too ridiculous at a stage door.

LOL, too true. I'm kind of glad I never stage doored until I was 18. (It had never occurred to me to do it beforehand, plus I'd never even seen an Equity production of anything until I was 17.)

[misschung]

Posted: 6/29/07 at 1:41pm

I am 23 now, and I have just recently started stagedooring. When I was younger and went to shows with my mom, it never really occurred to us to wait for the stars. We did it for other types of shows, but not really Broadway.

I personally really like doing it if I enjoyed someone's performance. And I think it's fun to take pictures with people - as long as you're respectful about it, ie: not just shoving a playbill in someone's face to have it signed without the courtesy of addressing them by their REAL name! I'm sure I'll continue to do it until I'm older, as long as I'm moved by performances.

[BDavis0092]

Posted: 6/29/07 at 2:43pm

No one is too old to stage door. When I saw Curtains, there were many people 50 years old and up there to see David Hyde Pierce.

[CarolynW]

Posted: 6/29/07 at 2:46pm

Well, I am 64 and I sometimes wait after the show to talk with the actors, most of the time it is just to say hello and what a good job they did. I think the last time I asked for an autograph was in 1997. That was for my charity auction.

I don't think 19 is too old. To me if you are a fan what does age have to do with it.:)


Yours,

Carolyn

[Jonny boy]

Posted: 6/29/07 at 2:59pm

I'm sure the actors love the attention but Im sure they get wierded out by older people who are a bit obsessive!

[CarolynW]

Posted: 6/29/07 at 3:14pm

What does age have to do with soemone going to the stage door and saying good show?

In fact I had an actor come up to me and say hello after I had only met him at the stage door to talk about how he portrayed the character. He saw me in the theatre for something else and made a point of coming over to say hello.

I have met many actors and they insist I have my photo taken with them, when I talk with them after a show. They see my camera and say you want a photo?

I think they are happy that they get people of all ages to see their show. I am a grandmother, not an obssessed fan. I do not track them down to their house. I ask if they have time to chat or have their photo taken. I do not ask for autographs except for charity auctions and I tell them that is why I am getting autographs. They are only too happy to do it.


Yours,

Carolyn

[Super Sue]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 2:30am

Ah, I agree it does feel awkward if you are around the cast's ages. It's kind of like, "gahh, I feel so unaccomplished compared to you" hahaha...And it also feels awkward when you're the only one standing outside the stage door...But oh well, I have autographs and photos in the end

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 2:37am

Heh, Lizzie, I think everybody's done things that are embarassing in retrospect, and for that reason I kind of wish I hadn't taken up the practice until I got a little bit older, but my parents exposed me to it at a pretty young age because they thought I'd enjoy it. As love for the theater became something I took ownership of, as opposed to just tagging along with my parents, though, the nature of the beast became one that involved standard, silly, albeit harmless fangirly things. But thankfully, as I got older, I learned how to make a good impression, and the payoff has been great, because I've formed some fantastic relationships that have stemmed out of something so simple as telling a performer how much I appreciate his or her work.

[My Oh My]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 4:02am

Last time I stage doored was back in 1997.

I've always been kind of shy, so I'd get my autograph, thank them, tell them how much I enjoyed their performance, then leave.

I was going to stage door at Cats once back in the day, but decided against it upon seeing a crowd of ridiculously hyper/loud/obnoxious teens in homemade costumes.

I'll never understand how people could pull such a thing. Don't they realize that everyone (including the cast) thinks they're weird/creepy?

[CK2]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 5:31am

I am 34 and have only stage doored three or four times for my favorite actress (Mary Stuart Masterson that is) to tell her how much I have enjoyed her performance and her work in general. Of course I have asked her for a picture with me. There are not that many chances to do that as she's not doing theatre that much. (I maintain website about her)

It was absolutely crazy at the "Nine" stage door with the women of all ages screeming "Antonio!!". I also don't want to imagine how it must have been at the stage door when Julia Roberts came out.
Updated On: 7/1/07 at 05:31 AM

[nyc44]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 11:05am

Also, i love to stagedoor because of the people I meet. I'll probably never see tham again but none of my friends are into theatre so it's great to be able to talk passionatly about a performance without the person wanting you to shut up.

[The Boy From Ohio]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 11:26am

Anything over 100 is to old.

[sweetdisaster]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 11:34am

I'm 19 also, and while I don't stage door all the time, I can see where you'd feel awkward. I think a lot is getting past that point. If you're gracious and not obnoxious, age really doesn't matter. I'm sure the majority of actors appreciate that you waited outside to thank them and talk to them. nyc44 makes a good point, too. I think half the fun of stagedooring is meeting new people.