Backstage tours?

[bonjourdevoe]

Posted: 12/31/06 at 5:33pm

Hey, I'm sure someone out there can help me out with this....

I know for most musicals, you can somehow arrange to go backstage after a show and meet the cast and whatnot, and I'm DYING to do it at Tarzan, Wicked, or Hairspray. Does anyone know how to go about doing this?

Thanks all!

[TWSFan4Ever]

Posted: 12/31/06 at 5:34pm

WICKED does the "Behind the Emerald Curtain" tour, go to broadway.com, they have the info and you can get tickets for it there.

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 12/31/06 at 5:51pm

They don't allow tours backstage at Tarzan mostly because of their large, inflatable set. At least that's what I heard.

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 12/31/06 at 6:00pm

when i was in London i did a great one at the Palladium. It was when Oliver was there. They literally showed you everything in the theater. I even remember that the tour guide let people try out the trap doors.

[Kgshrauder]

Posted: 12/31/06 at 6:12pm

The Wicked tour at least when I went wasn't backstage. They showed you a video inside the theate and had costumes and model sets and such set up in the lobby area.

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 12/31/06 at 6:12pm

Here are you backstage tours. Now you don't have to worry about arranging one .

https://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Video.aspx?ci=534020

https://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Video.aspx?ci=515073

https://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Story.aspx?ci=507561&pn=1

Updated On: 12/31/06 at 06:12 PM

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/31/06 at 6:15pm

Yeah, there are no real backstage tours, unless a cast member consents to giving you one.

Wicked's "behind the..." is a trip to the theater auditorium and "Wicked" museum. You do not get to see the backstage area.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 12/31/06 at 6:15pm

I've only done it when I've known somebody in the cast.

The "Behind the Emerald Curtain Tour" doesn't take you backstage?

How unbelievably lame!

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/31/06 at 6:19pm

Yeah....for $25, I'd want them to shine my shoes and make me breakfast, as well.

[Mamie]

Posted: 12/31/06 at 6:20pm

One thing you might try is to get a list of the cast members and find out which ones have a web page with an address you can write to. Send them a note and let them know when you're going to be there and ask them if there is any way you can get a look backstage. You never know - it just might work.

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 12/31/06 at 6:20pm

You should also be able to take photos where idina fell.

[broadwaybound882]

Posted: 12/31/06 at 6:43pm

Producers did one for the BC/EFA flea market.

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 12/31/06 at 6:44pm

Some of the things they have at the flea market make you wish you had millions to spend.

[Gingersnap2]

Posted: 12/31/06 at 6:55pm

The best bet is to check for the name in a Playbill and contact the stage manager of the particular theatre. Your other option is to ask a cast member at the stage door, but...generally...it's better to try the stage manager if you are trying to get an actual tour and to ask without gushing.

[belle3107]

Posted: 12/31/06 at 10:00pm

no tours at Tarzan because of the set, and limited space, but there is a backstage interview on broadway.com.

[Anthony3]

Posted: 12/31/06 at 10:30pm

I've asked some actors in a letter for backstage and have only been successful. Calling the stage manager would work too.

[pants2]

Posted: 12/31/06 at 10:55pm

well get to know some broadway ppl..... my friend rob took me and one of my friends to a bunch of different shows, includimg tarzan (show sukt, bigtime, but the tour was cool)

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 12/31/06 at 10:59pm

It definitely helps to know actors. I've been backstage at Wicked because I knew an actress in it, and backstage at Hairspray because the leader of a group I went with knew someone in it.

It's very rare to go backstage at Tarzan because it is so tight back there, and the stage is padded for the actors.

[qwerty2]

Posted: 1/1/07 at 2:01am

Poor SMs... Usually you would have to know someone in the cast/crew. They don't just let anyone who writes a letter backstage.

The SMs already have so much work to do. Leave them alone.

Plus, they'll be doing performance reports after the show.
Updated On: 1/1/07 at 02:01 AM

[MissElphie]

Posted: 1/1/07 at 2:05am

A lot of people go backstage because they know an actor or something. The only way I got backstage at Wicked was by winning an auction. You pretty much either have to know someone or win your way in.

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 1/1/07 at 2:21am

Oh my I would be much too nervous to ask an actor or a stage manager for back stage tours. As if they don't already have things to do. It does help to know people. My voice teacher was on Broadway a couple of times, and what with her friends from BRoadway and her friends from TV and film, she could get backstage. In fact she did multiple times. But I don't think I personally would be comfortable even asking her. One of her students is even in Spring Awakening so that's a direct connection there but for some reason I'd feel so uncomfortable. Kudos to those who aren't though, you can possibly get what you want a lot. But realistically, do actors or stage managers really just give you backstage tours on request? I doubt it.

I like to imagine what happens backstage. Oh yeah, and watch broadway.com videos.




So wait. All you do with that 25 dollars is see some sort of museum like presentation of Wicked? Goodness there are much better way to use 25 dollars...

[NJRae]

Posted: 1/1/07 at 11:48am

If you are willing to pay for it . . . keep an eye on Charityfolks.com. They frequently have auctions benefitting bc/efa and many of the lots are VIP tickets to shows with backstage tours and meet and greets. My father recently won two of their auctions and my sister and I got to go backstage at Hairspray and Les Mis. Basically they walk you on the stage, show you how everything works, where the sets are kept and how the costumes are flown in and then you get to meet some of the cast. At Hairspray we really only met Diana DeGarmo but at Les Mis we met nearly the entire cast. It seems to depend on how well your bc/efa tour guide knows the cast. Was a lot of fun. And the last auction they had they did have a package with a backstage tour and meet and greet listed for Tarzan, so I hope they do the occasional tour otherwise whoever won that one is going to be disappointed!

Other than winning your way back I think you just have to know someone.

I also can't imagine directly asking an actor (unless you know them personally) if you can go backstage. Isn't it enough that they come out and meet with people at the stage door? I would feel bad. They have places to go and things to do and they are bound to be tired and want out of the theater. But that's me.

Anyway, good luck!

[Dover]

Posted: 1/1/07 at 7:37pm

Stage manager's perspective here:
First of all, I feel bad putting any of my colleagues on the spot by saying, "Sure, go ahead, ask the stage manager!" Yes, we're very busy. Yes, we're finishing the report. Yes, you're a total stranger and we don't really know if we can trust you. Yes, we want to get to our dinner plans, or catch our train. BUT...

Every show is different. There are different standards of how often tours are given, where around the theatre people are allowed to take their guests, and the length of time you can stay after the show before the doorman wants to kick everybody out. If you contact a stage manager, you will be dealing with an individual. Maybe they're busy and don't care, maybe it's just not something that's done at that show, or maybe they'll be nice and enjoy showing off their show to someone who's interested in learning about theatre. Don't get your hopes up, but know that it is possible to get the right person at the right time who feels like helping you.

I would steer you away from asking in person at the stage door. I'm the most helpful stage manager you could probably ever meet, but when someone shows up unexpectedly after the show, and everyone else has gone home and it's just me trying to finish and send the report, I tend to get a little overwhelmed.

My suggestion, for you and the sanity of the SMs, is to write a letter, well in advance, giving the date you will be at the show, and asking if it would be possible to get a tour (make it clear how many people - the smaller the better, more than 4 gets scary), along with whatever personal details you want to provide about where you're from, if you've seen the show before, are you a student, studying theatre, etc. My personal recommendation, if you can afford it, is to ask if they would consider a tour in exchange for a donation to Broadway Cares. Some shows might even have a standard amount that they request if they do it regularly. The donation makes you more than a random person taking up their dinner break -- it means their effort will be for a good cause. You can just write to "Stage Managers" c/o whatever show, at the theatre's address. Make it as easy as possible for them to respond. Include a phone number, e-mail address and self-addressed stamped envelope, so they can choose whichever method they prefer.

Hope that helps a bit. Good luck!

[avyrocks]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 5:59pm

you don't really need a meet & greet for tarzan. =/
everyone can meet the cast after the show.

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 6:04pm

In my experience, I have had the most sucess in doing what Dover recommended: "My suggestion, for you and the sanity of the SMs, is to write a letter, well in advance, giving the date you will be at the show, and asking if it would be possible to get a tour (make it clear how many people - the smaller the better, more than 4 gets scary), along with whatever personal details you want to provide about where you're from, if you've seen the show before, are you a student, studying theatre, etc."

I wrote a letter to the stage manager of Avenue Q asking for a tour for my sister's birthday (we were seeing the show) and she wrote back and was more than willing to oblige. It was just me and my sister and the cast and crew could not have been nicer! Besides that, I've gone backstage at the Al Hirshfeld (Wedding Singer) and the Drowsy Chaperone. For the wedding singer, it was actually when they were loading the props and set in the theater and my friend and I just randomly asked a crew member to see the backstage. He was like "Sure, why not" and he took us around explaining everything.