Best Stage Door experiences? — Page 2

Citygirl.grace- Many "Nice Work" cast members exit through the stage door, but I guess the ensemble members don't stop to sign unless asked, so just ask! At "Newsies," anywhere from 10-20 cast members go to the stage door (depending on if there is a talk-back) and sign Playbills and give out trading cards. Many will also take photos when asked.

Angela Lansbury blew me a kiss after BEST MAN last night. I'm ok with that.

I find that mean spirited and completely un-American.

Will she sign it for me?

It's not my fault. She's the one who said said "Hey, look what I can do!"

I saw The Producers when it was in Rochester, NY back in 2004- Lee Roy Reams was playing Roger and I wanted the chance to meet him. It was after a Saturday night performance in December and it was about -5 degrees that night in the city. We were pretty much the only ones at the stage door after Alan Ruck left. The Stage Door Manager asked us who we were there to see and we said Lee Roy Reams, she said he had a couple that were friends visiting him, but if we wanted to wait inside for him that was okay.

When he was done visiting with his friends, he invited us back, thanked us over and over again for waiting so long in the cold, and then proceeded to have a half hour conversation with us about the show, the city of Rochester and at the time the revival of La Cage was getting ready to open at the Marquis. I asked him if they even considered him for the role of Albin, and his response was classic: "Honey, Gary Beach is a good friend and I love him dearly, but I would have been much better in the part, so F*** him!" He then followed that up with, "I should be playing this role on Broadway right now instead of on tour, but apparently God doesn't want me in a dress on Broadway, so F*** them too"- he was very animated and a really good sport overall- made for a pretty memorable experience!

Just about any of the numerous stage door encounters I've had with Hugh Jackman. Even early on in his run in THE BOY FROM OZ, he would have leisurely chats with fans both before and after the show. He was always friendly and polite--even to the sharks whom he knew were there to garner autographed Wolverine photos they would eventually put up on eBay.

Also, I'll never forget the graciousness of Mark Kudisch after a matinee performance of THE WILD PARTY. My friend and I were visibly disappointed that Mandy Patinkin was not coming out, and Marc put his arm around us, chatted with us a while and was as sweet as could be. I've never forgotten that unexpected encounter.