Awkward Stage Door Moments- Page 8

[BroadwayBelle2]

Posted: 8/19/08 at 12:54pm

If it makes you feel better, these broadway stars won't remember any of these moments.
Updated On: 8/19/08 at 12:54 PM

[Shannon Bo Dannon]

Posted: 8/19/08 at 1:25pm

This was nearly 2 years ago when Norbert Leo Butz was touring with the Dirty Rotten Scoundrels company. My friend and I saw the show, laughed the whole way through and loved it.

Afterwards we went to go meet Norbert at the stage door, he was so sweet and we were completely star-struck. The awkward part was that when my parents came to pick us up they mistakingly got led into the VIP parking area. So my friend and I were walking toward my parents' car and we just happened to be about 10 paces behind Norbert who was walking and talking with some friends toward his rental car. I'm sure he thought we were some crazy fangirls stalking him at that point.

We tried to walk slowly so he wouldn't think we were following him but it was hard not to appear that way, we felt so bad. We even saw him get into his car and we ended up driving behind him for a good 20 minutes before we had to take our exit on the highway! I told my mom that if he stopped at some fast food joint we would need to go get some food as well haha.

[JRybka]

Posted: 8/19/08 at 1:35pm

How about THIS for awkward....

A certain actor (who will remain nameless) was in a show called Noises Off (with Patti LuPone) and was signing programs and come up to me and was real nice and flirty. I didn't think anything of it but my partner thought he was flirting.

Cut to:

The now closed LURE (yes.. I used to go there)

I was getting my drink at the bar and a man in full rubber came up to me and leaned into my ear and said "Didn't I sign your program at my show earlier today?" It was said actor....

[glitterandjazzhands]

Posted: 8/19/08 at 2:39pm

"I once threw a pair of panties at Manoel Felciano at the Sweeney Todd stage door. That didn't go over too well."

WOW.

[JoizeyActor]

Posted: 8/19/08 at 2:56pm

I have a good one. I didn't witness it first-hand, but my friend told me.

My friend and her parents went to see Sly Fox, and they were waiting at the stage door when Rachel York came out. Well, Elizabeth Berkley from Saved by the Bell was also in the show, but my friend's crazy mom confused Rachel York for Elizabeth, and she said "Jessie!" and then began to sing the little rendition of "I'm So Excited" that Jessie sings from that Saved by the Bell episode where she takes caffeine pills or whatever to stay away and study. And apparently Rachel York just kind of stopped and froze and was like: "...I'm not Elizabeth Berkley."

My friend was mortified.

Posted: 8/19/08 at 3:03pm

During Title of Show previews:

It was a tad crowded at the stage door, and as Susan Blackwell was leaning over to take my playbill, she accidently got a bit too close.

Susan: "Woops I just grabbed your boobies!"
Me: (Totally star-struck) "That's so ok!!!"
Awkward pause
Me: "I mean really it's not but..." (trailing off pathetically)

We both just kind of laughed and we chit-chated a bit before she moved on. But I can't believe I told her it was ok to grope me.

[jennamajig]

Posted: 8/19/08 at 3:12pm

JRybka: Wow, that wins the awkward award in my book. Not sure what to say there.

[toanythingtaboo 2]

Posted: 8/19/08 at 5:36pm

The only occasion coming to mind right now, was when a friend and I went to the Chess Concert at the Albert Hall in May.

It started off with an awkward moment when this German lady sitting next to us asked who we were there to see, we replied with 'Kerry (Ellis), Idina (Menzel) and Adam (Pascal).' she looked sour faced and said 'not Josh (Groban)?!'. It wasn't hugely awkward, but it was met by a silence and a sudden blurting out of 'Yes, of course, sure, totally' to keep the woman happy.

During the show, the same woman kept on waving this stuffed cow during any applause to Josh. That was unwanted attention drawn to us haha.

Her group also made things awkward by repeatedly using cameras during the show, clearly not caring that the red light was extremely annoying. The couple in front kept on turning around and asking them to stop which got really uncomfortable when the German ladies refused. So bizarre that they would think this was ok? They weren't young, maybe 40's+ so surely they would know better?

Anyways, at the stage door (as you can imagine) it was swarmed. Never seen as many people at a stage door. Actually there was one moment where the crowd was blocking a disabled exit and this woman had to shout at people to get them to consider moving.

When Idina eventually came out, she got upset with the crowd because they were so intent on screaming at her that Idina's family were getting bashed about trying to get out. This was entirely the Albert Hall's fault for not anticipating people would be there and therefore not arranging any sort of barriers or security.

I got my awkward moment when I waited away from the crazed crowd and I realized I was standing in between her and her car out of there. I asked nicely for her to sign the programme, she paused to do a few others...and I thought I'd take a photo, totally misjudged the distance and Idina walked quickly forwards causing the flash to go off maybe a few feet from her face.

I was so embarrassed. The photo turned out AWFULLY of her, but her dad is right behind giving the biggest/creepiest/funniest grin. I'll forever feel bad while looking at that photo.

I ended

[Byron Abens]

Posted: 8/19/08 at 5:45pm

A word of advice to help avoid awkwardness, don't ask somebody in the cast why a show is closing. I saw somebody ask several people at the Chorus Line stage door this last week and it just creates an awkward moment for the actor. Many times they don't know what the business decisions are for why a show is closing. Other times, the reasons are pretty obvious, and no actor wants to have it forced into their face that they are either in a show that is terrible, or in a show that was once good but is now on its last legs.

I think tact is the most important trait for a fan to utilize at the stage door, and I think it is sometimes one of the ones most quickly forgotten by the fans.

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 8/19/08 at 5:57pm

"At [title of show] this girl asked Susan to sign her boobs (I guess they thought she was just that ZANY in real life). Susan just kind of looked at her and said "Um...no."

I've seen someone who does that and I am friends with her on Myspace but I don't know her. She is insane, she kisses actors and have them sign her boobs. If I were an actor and someone said it to me I would say No.

[andrewcomp]

Posted: 8/19/08 at 6:33pm

In December, my friends and I decided to catch Hairspray while we were in New York. We went to the matinee, and after the show I was like "You know, since Lance Bass is in it, I bet there is going to be alot of fangirls at the stagedoor." So unfortunately for us, he was the first one out. So the joke we had in mind wouldn't work, so we decided to wait for Ashley.

Every time the door opened we'd scream "OH MY GAWD ITS ASHLEY!" and the whole crowd would start screaming, and the random security guard would come out and everyone would go "!!!-- oh.."

It wasn't awkward for me, but for the people screaming for nothing? haha.

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 8/19/08 at 7:24pm

Haha, that made me laugh!^^ Ahhhhhhh... Fangirls...

[FelineofAvenueB1025]

Posted: 8/20/08 at 11:51am

This thread is great...I have a few...
A few years ago, at RENT, (my first ever Broadway show), my cousin and I were waiting at stagedoor. Since it was my first show and I was completely overwhelmed, I broke out in hives, which were completely visible on my chest since I was wearing a v-neck sweater. When talking to D'Monroe (Benny), he asked me how old I was were I was from, and how many shows I'd seen. I proceeded to tell him I was 15, from South Jersey and it was my first show, and he playfully hit me with my playbill and told me he expected to see me back soon. I told Christopher Hanke I was "flustered" at the chance to meet him, and I think he just looked uneasily at my hives...wierd haha

Last year, at A Chorus Line, I was pssyched to meet Natalie Cortez. Well, the actors came out, signed my playbill, and it wasn't until i looked at my playbill and saw her name signed on Diana's body that I realized the girl who had just walked away was Natalie. I could have kicked myself.

And I didn't do this one, but at Les Miserables last year, my aunt told Adam Jacobs he was a cutie and shouted "24601!" at John Owen Jones as he walked away from the stagedoor.

On a side note, I felt terrible for Anthony Rapp last summer in RENT when he was signing someone's playbill and they asked him if Adam was coming out. Now, I love Adam Pascal just as much as the next person, but I think that was completely degrading to Anthony. Anthony is spectacular onstage, and deserves just as much respect at stagedoor as Adam does. Adam's family happened to be there that day and he didn't come out, bit still, I thought it was very rude of that person to do.

Sorry this ended up being so long...

[Byron Abens]

Posted: 8/20/08 at 11:57am

"On a side note, I felt terrible for Anthony Rapp last summer in RENT when he was signing someone's playbill and they asked him if Adam was coming out. Now, I love Adam Pascal just as much as the next person, but I think that was completely degrading to Anthony. Anthony is spectacular onstage, and deserves just as much respect at stagedoor as Adam does. Adam's family happened to be there that day and he didn't come out, bit still, I thought it was very rude of that person to do. "

Once again the lack of tact rears its ugly head at the stage door. Don't ask the person who is signing your Playbill about another actor. It just sends the message, "Thanks, but I'm really waiting for somebody else." Be patient. If somebody hasn't come out for a while you can always ask the door man or security guards.

[Anakela]

Posted: 8/20/08 at 12:21pm

While we're talking about tact at the stage door, who are all of these people who start conversations with understudies who were on for that show with "I was so angry/upset/disappointed when I saw your name on the board, but..." Is it just me, or is it no mater how complimentary the 'but' may be that follows here, this is just not a very cool way to be starting whatever it is you're trying to say about how amaaaazing the performance in question was?

I don't know, maybe as an u/s maybe you get used to it (?), but I was at Heights once, and someone started telling Josh Henry "I have to tell you, I was so disappointed when I walked in the lobby and saw your name on the board, and so I wasn't expecting much, but..." and I totally cringed.

[Rymes_With_Witch]

Posted: 8/20/08 at 12:38pm

BroadwaynSeventh2: I think it was the 2nd or 3rd preview...

[Eris0303]

Posted: 8/20/08 at 1:05pm

This is one of those moments when you're not expecting to see someone and when you do you don't recognize them right away.

This took place before a performance of Young Frankenstein last month. I finally got around to seeing it and I was walking with my friend down 42nd Street to the theatre. I can't remember exactly what time it was. Probably between 1-1:30pm before a 2pm matinee.

Walking toward us was this man who bore a VERY strong resemblance to this kid Chris I used to work with when I was in college. So, thinking it was Chris, I started walking toward him to say hi. When I got closer I realized it was not Chris but Roger Bart so I veered off so as not to bother him. But he noticed my noticing him and watched me move away from him. I was going to attempt to get my friend to turn around, since Roger was now behind us, but when I looked over my shoulder Roger was looking over his shoulder at me. So I forgot about pointing him out to my friend and I just kept walking. It was awkward and yet amusing at the same time.

Later that day we saw Michael Rosenbaum twice on 44th Street.

[brandontwin2]

Posted: 8/20/08 at 1:06pm

This wasn't too awkward but I thought it was pretty funny. I was at Wicked in Chicago and Annaleigh Ashford came out to sign stuff and I handed her a big picture I had printed of her and she goes "Ooh 8x10 Glossy! Its like a magazine spread!!!" and I just started laughing really hard.

After that I saw Wicked at the Wharton Center and Katie Rose Clarke came out holding a dog which was wrapping itself all around everybody getting autographs and pictures, so my mom asked if she wanted her to hold the leash while she took a picture and Katie seemed to think that my mom wanted to steal her dog. It was very awkward.

[dramagirl487]

Posted: 8/20/08 at 4:34pm

SOO many awkward RENT stagedoor moments


My favorite:
On Sept. 21st, Adam pascal was there, but Harley Jay was filling in for Anthony. One fangirl asked Harley for his bracelet, and he gave her his necklace instead! She said how she was his biggest fan and was so excited he would be there. Although I wouldn't have asked for his jewelry, I was glad she was so happy.
Then Adam came out to sign, and the SAME GIRL asked him the name of the actor who played mark, because he gave her his necklace...Adam just blankly said "thats harley...."
I was so mad she had pretended to love him...

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 8/20/08 at 5:25pm

VERY awkward moment at In the Heights last week. Lin Manuel-Miranda came out, and immediately this lady started shouting, "Kim! Kim!" At first I assumed she was calling out to one of her friends or something, but then she yelled, "Kim, how long did it take you to write the play?!" I think he heard her, but he didn't say anything, and it was just a very awkward situation.

I have a few Spring Awakening ones:

This was one of the first times I saw the show. Phoebe Strole was the first one to come out, and I freaked out. When she got down to us, I was so nervous that I kind of just shoved my Playbill at her. She laughed a little and said, "That's it, just stick it in there." My friend burst out laughing, and then there was silence as Phoebe realized what she said.

This may have been the same night, but I'm not sure. My dad was with me, and he has a problem with keeping comments to himself. When Christine Estabrook came out, he said (rather loudly) "Is that the old lady?" I don't know if she heard him, but I really hope she didn't!

And the most awkward of all: When Spring Awakening was at Bryant Park this year, I went with my mother. I was getting really thirsty, so I got up to get a lemonade. On the way back, I walked through the area where the cast was sitting. One of the swings (I think it was Alice Lee) had her Pomeranian with her, and as I walked by it jumped on my leg. I was so startled that I spilled the lemonade all over myself. So I embarassed myself infront of the entire cast, and then I had to sit there for an hour in a shirt soaked with lemonade.

[Kad]

Posted: 8/20/08 at 5:56pm

The only awkward thing to happen to me at a stagedoor didn't involve me... but it's sort of stuck with me.

When I saw Wedding Singer, Felicia Finley (who played Linda) came out. She looked completely different out of her makeup. She signed a few Playbills, including mine. Right after she signed mine, the guy next to me thrust his Playbill at her. She took it, and then said "...Do you even know who I played?". He said he did. "Who did I play?" she asked. He gave a wrong answer. She said "I thought so.", signed his Playbill gruffly, and moved on.

I felt bad, because I didn't recognize her at first either.

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 8/20/08 at 6:03pm

One fangirl asked Harley for his bracelet, and he gave her his necklace instead!

What the hell!? She asked an actor she didn't even know to give her his jewelry? Who does that!?

And a note to people in this thread, there is an definite article (the) before the words "stage door." Saying "We were waiting at stagedoor" gives the impression you will soon be talking about voluntaries & giving actors spinach.

[je veux te voir2]

Posted: 8/20/08 at 10:25pm

I'm sure people care about being grammatically correct when posting on an online forum about broadway musicals. Thanks for the grammar lesson, professor.

If you want to give a grammar lesson, you can't say "there is AN definite article." It is "there is A definite article."

[thereisnofuture]

Posted: 8/21/08 at 1:26am

My mom randomly told Anthony Rapp that his mother should be proud of him when she didn't know his mother was dead.

She also told Matt Shingledecker of Spring Awakening that he had the most interesting last name in the cast and that he was really good looking.

Also, at Port Authority, there were about seven people waiting for John Gallagher(The other 2 cast members had already left) and someone there had the idea that we should all go up to the stagedoor and knock he stagedoor and knock(we were standing a little ways a way from it) so everyone waiting(including me) went up to the stage door to knock, and just as we were about to, John came out. He was kind of surprised that we were all there, but he was extremely nice. Somehow my mom and I ended up the last ones there, and I kept kind of taking steps back because I was kind of afraid he would be afraid of me, which is kind of irrational because I wasn't doing anything scary and as a 13 year old(I'm 14 now) fan probably looked harmless, but anyways no I'm getting off topic so best to end this post now before I ramble everyone to death.

[Trekkie2]

Posted: 8/21/08 at 2:02am

Several girls in front of me at the RENT stage door cried A LOT when Anthony Rapp signed their playbills, and then they begged and pleaded with him to give them his shirt. When he moved further down the line they started shouting it. He just ignored them, but everyone else was telling them to stop, but they just kept crying and demanding his shirt. It was HYSTERICAL, but it must have been really unsettling to Anthony.