Best/worst stage door experience?

[Mayar2132]

Posted: 10/28/18 at 11:22am

Yesterday I stage doored for Wicked and Book of Mormon... Book of Mormon had the KINDEST people I have ever met, literally so nice and almost everyone came out. I barely had room on my playbills! Wicked on the other hand... people just smiled and left (which I get- lol) but the people who came out were extremely kind... especially Ryan! Literally met him and talked to him for a good 5 minutes. Anastasia is good too- everyone again was SO NICE and literally almost everyone came out. Can't say I've ever had a bad experience stage dooring, what about you?

[Bwayfan292]

Posted: 10/28/18 at 12:03pm

I have had three bad stage door experinces that have pretty much runied me stage dooring. I have not been to another stage door since mean girls. I had a very positive experience at The Parisian Women. The cast was so nice and they talked to me about school and the show. (There were only like 10 of us there).

Anyway the worst,

1) Mean girls: so much pushing and shoving. People were literally going crazy and when the security guard said no one was coming out, (only a few ensemble members were already out) the teens started getting super upset and everyone started shoving even more and yelling. I felt super bad for the few ensemble members that were there.

2) Ameile: the hamilton fans started singing Helpless for Pippa, and she looked very annoyed, and than people started telling them to stop and they got very upset and started screaming “She likes it STOP!” And once pippa finished signing, the whole group of them just left. The other cast members were just standing there and I felt terrible.

3) Finally, the stage door experince that runied it for me was Dear Evan Hansen. I saw the show way after ben, and at first I thought this would be okay since there was mabye 10-15 people, but then the people who didnt see the show came and pushed themselves all the way to the front and were calling everyone fake fans, etc. then when they finished getting the casts signatures, they didn't move! They just stood there, and kept taking pictures. I didn't get any chances to get an autograph cause it was insane.

I dont really stage door anymore, it saves me the anexity I face and I get home earlier.

[Catsbroadwayfan]

Posted: 10/28/18 at 12:22pm

Kinky boots with Brendon Urie

[7thbighero]

Posted: 10/28/18 at 12:39pm

Best:

Once on this Island. Everyone who came out was incredibly kind, took their time with everyone, and i got so many hugs

The Play That Goes Wrong. Everyone except Mark Evans came out, but they Had full on conversations with everyone. 

Worst:

My Fair Lady wasn’t BAD, everyone who came out signed and were gracious. It was Harry and Laura’s last show together and so they were staggered coming out. Lauren Ambrose came out with her kids clearly trying to leave but some middle aged women were adament about taking pictures with her and it was incredibly awkward. NLB clearly didn’t want to be there. Bartlett Sher was pretty cool though 

[VonTrappFamilySinger]

Posted: 10/28/18 at 12:50pm

In August after a Sunday performance of Hello, Dolly! I waited for Donna Murphy to come out for an hour. She was so gracious that we all had waited for her-- she said that she had about 40 friends coming to see her and that's what took so long! She took the time to speak with everyone and was so kind and humble. She is such a lovely human. Definitely worth the wait. 

[MannPhan24601]

Posted: 10/28/18 at 3:56pm

For the best....

 

1. Both times seeing David Cook in Kinky Boots were super awesome. I was a fan of him ever since American Idol and saw him in concert six times over the past decade but never had the chance to meet him. It was also my dream to see him  doing Broadway. When we went the first time, he maybe came out after five minutes post curtain. He made sure to spend a minute or two with each fan and signed for everybody. My mom  & I told him about how we were such big fans from over the years and spent hours waiting to meet him on the boardwalk during the Idol tour(They were stuck in traffic) He was gracious and humble as ever. Two minutes later, it started pouring and he was still out there like it was nothing. When we went back two months later for his final show, they said he wasn't coming out due to cleaning out his dressing room, A few minutes later, he came out and probably spent a good half hour out there (and it was pouring rain then too). Excited to see/meet him again next week at his Philly concert!

 

2.  When I saw the Phantom tour in Philly, Kaitlyn Davis(former Christine alternate) was back for a few weeks as Principal. There were only about five of us at the stage door. She spent a good amount of time with all of us chatting and taking pictures. She came out twice to check my friend & I (We were waiting for our ride) and the mother and daughter waiting for their friends to come out from their BCEFA backstage tour to make sure we were ok. I thought that was so kind of her.

 

3. When I saw the Les Mis tour last January, almost the whole cast came out in what was maybe 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Phoenix  Best had a lot of family visiting for her last and hometown stop before she left for DEH. It took her 40 minutes to come out and kept thanking everybody for waiting so long! Most of the crowd left after she left. A few minutes later, I recognized some of the ladies who used to be in the Phantom tour come out visiting their friends at the barricade. They were sweet as ever and were surprised somebody recognized them! I had them sign my Phantom playbill that I brought for Steve Czarnecki(u/s Valjean/Javert that used to be in Phantom) to sign.

 

Now for the worst......

 

1. When I saw the Wicked tour last year, there was an ensemble member(Not mentioning his name) who came out and a little boy ran up to him and gave him candy. Right after that, he went backstage with a friend who was visiting. After his friend left, little kids were screaming this ensemble member's name and he just totally ignored them. He  went in front of the crowd and was standing there for 10 minutes smoking a cigarette while texting on his phone. I saw plenty of stage door pics of this guy so I guess it was just a bad day.I know the stage door isn't guaranteed, but I wish this guy would have at least waved...

 

2.  When I saw Something Rotten in March, the crowd control was horrible and it was a giant mess. Reminded me of the described DEH crowds. Thankfully I got a good spot and most of the principals winded up coming out!

Updated On: 10/28/18 at 03:56 PM

[Sarah329]

Posted: 10/28/18 at 4:50pm

Waitress has given me some of the best stagedoor experiences, but also the worst.

[jae_lynn13]

Posted: 10/28/18 at 5:22pm

Yikes, I'm seeing Wicked this Saturday... any tips?? I've heard that Ryan is incredibly charming and so interactive at stage door, but I would love to know how Jessica and Amanda are. 

As for best and worst stage door experiences: usually since actors on tour don't think many people want to stage door so they all try to sneak out of there without signing playbills, and that isn't that case! Some cast members on tour would be really sweet and have conversations with literally everyone, and others (sometimes the principals) would sign a couple playbills, smile, and leave so fast. 

 

However, my best stage door experience on Broadway was with the Once on this Island cast. Everyone was sooooooo incredibly sweet and took the time to go around, sign everyone's playbills, and take pictures with people who wanted them. 

[\_(•_•)_/]

Posted: 10/28/18 at 5:26pm

Mayar2132 said: " Wicked on the other hand... people just smiled and left (which I get- lol) 

they don’t owe you anything more than that. 

 

[Mayar2132]

Posted: 10/28/18 at 5:26pm

jae_lynn13 said: "Yikes, I'm seeing Wicked this Saturday... any tips?? I've heard that Ryan is incredibly charming and so interactive at stage door, but I would love to know how Jessica and Amanda are.

As for best and worst stage door experiences: usually since actors on tour don't think many people want to stage door so they all try to sneak out of there without signing playbills, and that isn't that case! Some cast members on tour would be really sweet and have conversations with literally everyone, and others (sometimes the principals) would sign a couple playbills, smile, and leave so fast.

However, my best stage door experience on Broadway was with the Once on this Island cast. Everyone was soooooooincredibly sweet and took the time to go around, sign everyone's playbills, and take pictures with people who wanted them."

Jessica wasn't there and Amanda came out but I had to leave Also- I heard that Ryan is a hit or miss. The security said he probably wasn't coming out, and when he did- I FLIPPED! Seriously one of the nicest people I've met stage dooring and actually talked to the people and didn't rush anything. I hope you get to meet him, he's wonderful!

 

[Mayar2132]

Posted: 10/28/18 at 5:29pm

_(•_&bull_/ said: "Mayar2132 said: "Wicked on the other hand... people just smiled and left (which I get- lol)

they don’t owe you anything more thanthat.

Haha I understand completely. I wasn't upset in the slightest but I could tell some other people were. They even smiled which I thought was more than enough!

[jae_lynn13]

Posted: 10/28/18 at 5:36pm

Mayar2132 said: Jessica wasn't there and Amanda came out but I had to leave Also- I heard that Ryan is a hit or miss. The security said he probably wasn't coming out, and when he did- I FLIPPED! Seriously one of the nicest people I've met stage dooring and actually talked to the people and didn't rush anything. I hope you get to meet him, he's wonderful!

Awww thank you! That's so great how Ryan was able to stage door and you got to meet him; I hope I have a good experience as you did with Ryan! And I understand that Jessica probably feels so smothered sometimes because I know so many people are going to see her! Do you have any idea on why she couldn't make it the day you went?

P.S. I just realized your profile picture is you with Ryan! So cute!

 

[Mayar2132]

Posted: 10/28/18 at 5:43pm

OMG thank you!! However I have no  clue why she didn't go I was sad though, but the replacement was phenomenal and super sweet and her name was Laurel Harris! Such a good cast! 

[persephone88]

Posted: 10/28/18 at 6:03pm

Years ago I saw a touring production of The Glass Menagerie with Robert Sean Leonard, from Dead Poets' Society. There was no one waiting around to stage door, except me and my friend who was a HUGE fan of his. He was so very gracious when he came out, signing our playbills and stopping to talk and he gave her a huge hug at the end. So very kind!

Likewise, after seeing No Man's Land with Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan a few years back, all four of the cast came out and very patiently signed programs, even for those people waaaaaay in the back who were politely passing up their programs. No pushing or insanity. Billy Crudup was especially charming, very friendly and chatty and seemed to be enjoying the cheers. Patrick Stewart was very formal but polite, and Ian McKellan frankly looked a bit out of it, like he needed someone to tell him which way to go, but he signed for everyone.

We saw Dear Evan Hansen in previews and the crowd was thick but still polite then. However, my daughter saw Kinky Boots with Brendon Urie and said the crowd was so insane outside she did not even stop afterwards. 

 

[quizking101]

Posted: 10/28/18 at 7:04pm

I've been fortunate to have so many good ones in my life, but I also cherish each experience because (like many on here) I'm wise enough to know that this is a nice bonus experience and nobody is obligated to do anything beyond their performance. The five that stick out for me (out of well over 100 shows) the most are HEAD OVER HEELS, HELLO, DOLLY, and SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION.

HEAD OVER HEELS - Probably the best stage-door experience currently on Broadway. Both times I've seen it, nearly the entire cast (Rachel York was the holdout each time, but that's her prerogative) came out. They were all conversational and friendly to the fairly sparse crowd (no more than 20-30 people) and moved down the line with ease and precision, but took time with each person and were just effusively thankful we came to see the show. Peppermint is such a friggin' sweetheart and knows her fanbase well and was just full of love and gratitude each time. The second time I went, she spent a good 2-3 minutes teaching this 50-something year old woman how to selfie since she was getting the Playbill signed for her daughter (who was unable to go), and it was so amusing and also cute to watch.

HELLO, DOLLY - I only did it the first and third times I went, and both times, Gavin Creel and Kate Baldwin were just the greatest people I ever met. The third time, I had gone with my aunt from Indiana who had never seen a Broadway show or been to NYC in over 50 years, and he wrote "Welcome to Broadway!" on her Playbill. It warmed my heart so much. Also, Donna Murphy was my first Dolly, and she was very appreciative and a little taken aback that she had so many people waiting for her (it was one of her first performances) and she took her time with everyone.

SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION - This one wasn't a busy stage door at all, but Allison Janney was so sweet (since I had been a fan of hers since "9 to 5", but wasn't able to meet her then), Corey Hawkins formally introduced himself to everyone with a handshake and a smile, and John Benjamin Hickey came out last (when there was about three of us left) and we talked at length about the play, and also his experience with THE NORMAL HEART, and it felt like I was talking to a great friend.

Special mention to every time I've stage doored at MTC-Friedman. The crowd is always small, and the actors are almost always the friendliest because of it. In one year, I met Tyne Daly, Sierra Boggess, Nina Arianda, Hugh Dancy, Cynthia Nixon, John Lithgow, and Laurie Metcalf at that door and each one was a gem.

WORST: It's not exactly a horror story, but during Nick Jonas' run of H2$, the crowd was almost unmanageable and actually swayed toward him as he walked down the barricade (and I'm a hard guy to move in a crowd), though everyone did get their autograph from him.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 10/28/18 at 7:14pm

I will also add to the great experience of stage dooring after a Hello, Donna performance! It was only her second performance and I’m guessing she took awhile to get notes or talk to friends, I think she mentioned that was the first performance her daughter saw. She was just so kind and sweet. Another great experience I had was with the wicked tour when it was in Chicago, even though it felt like it was negative 40 outside I got to meet/talk with Ginna Claire’s uncle who was extremely kind.

[clearastheday]

Posted: 10/28/18 at 8:48pm

Great Comet was my first (and currently only) show I’ve ever seen on Broadway and only my second stagedoor experience, and I had a great time. A large portion of the cast came out, including Josh, and made sure they said hello and signed everyone’s playbills and took pictures (except for Josh, security said no pictures but he was still incredibly kind and talked to everybody). It was a great experience despite the crowd being kind of pushy.

My personal favorite would have to be the first time I saw the Wicked tour this summer. Ginna Claire Mason (Glinda) came out of the door first and took her time signing playbills and talking to everybody. (There were only about twenty people there.) We had a short conversation and she wished me a happy birthday (It was my birthday that day.). I also met Mili Diaz (Nessarose) and we had a short conversation about her character, which was fun. I waited for around fifteen more minutes, and by then everyone but me had left. Ginna Claire had gone back inside and a few minutes later, retuned with Mary Kate Morrissey (Elphaba). This was probably my favorite moment of the night, since I was the only one there, and we talked for about ten minutes. Ginna Claire told her it was my birthday, so Mary Kate sang happy birthday and we took a few pictures since the flash on my phone wasn’t working and she wanted to make sure I got a good picture. That was probably my best and favorite stagedoor experience! Seeing Mk and GC  (and the rest of the phenomenal 2NT cast) twice is probably one of my favorite memories from this whole year.

[MadsonMelo]

Posted: 10/28/18 at 9:01pm

Christy Altomare was simply an angel, best stage door ever

[220Basswood]

Posted: 10/28/18 at 10:48pm

The most arrogant was Michael Shannon.  I asked for a photo and he said "if it's quick.  can you do quick."

The best is a tie.  Judith Light saw a mentally challenged/developmentally delayed person after she performed at Circle in the Square and she remembered his name and took the time to speak to him by name.  I was amazed.  I was also impressed when I attended the last show of In the Heights.  Despite having a cast party to attend, Lin Manuel Miranda took the time to sign every single Playbill and to take a photo with everyone.  I know because I was in the line and watched him while waiting for my turn.  People came out and mentioned the party to him and he did not leave.  Oh, there were around 5 of us at the stage door waiting for William Shatner and he refused to sign an blamed the people who were in charge of the venue.  I later learned it did that because if people say he won't sign they won't bother him when he is with family.  I guess I can understand that but wish he had not lied.  

[singalongsong2]

Posted: 10/29/18 at 2:31am

Most of my stage door experiences have been great. Nothing too crazy.

The best: Bradley Cooper in The Elephant Man. He really took his time with everyone and made sure to get to as many as possible. The Hair revival cast stage door was also great. Such lovely people. Very chatty and approachable. Gavin Creel was so dang sweet. Met Jim Rado too. 

Positive mentions: Legally Blonde, Hedwig (MCH), In the Heights (obc), American Idiot (Obc), James Franco in Of Mice and Men (very crowded but he managed to sign many autographs)

Worst: Brendon Urie in Kinky Boots, Daniel Radcliffe in HTS, and Billie Joe Armstrong in American Idiot. Total mob scene. 

Updated On: 10/29/18 at 02:31 AM

[tictac]

Posted: 10/29/18 at 4:46am

Recent great: Donna Summer - everyone took their time, the Dance Captain introduced herself as 'Desperate Donna' 

Recent Bad: My Fair Lady - there was only 4 people including me, and after about 30 minutes Lauren Ambrose still didn't come out and the other three left. I was too embarrassed to wait alone so I left too! 

[Pjayactor]

Posted: 10/29/18 at 8:43am

Best was A Long Days Journey Into Night with Vanessa Redgrave. She came out and talked to everyone as if we were all dear friends. It was fantastic.

The other I will never forget was Elaine Stritch at Liberty. It was the Saturday night before Easter Sunday- my wife and I were the only two people waiting at the stage door and it was starting to rain. The stage door guy came out and asked us to come inside. So there we were, standing in the wings with Jerry and Elaine Orbach waiting on Elaine. She came out visited, joked and then we all left. It was amazing.

[kelsey1389]

Posted: 10/29/18 at 9:05am

I can honestly say I've never had a bad stage door experience since I go in expecting the bare minimum, but my two best have been Frozen and Head Over Heels.

At Frozen, most of the principals are out (sans Levy, which I was expecting) I know how people feel about her, but Patti Murin hadn't been stagedooring, but saw on Twitter that I was coming and came out to say hi. She recognized me from my profile picture and really took her time with everyone- you could tell she was really listening to everyone. The woman standing next to me didn't speak English very well, but spoke Spanish, so I stepped up to help her translate, but even as she was speaking Spanish at the cast everyone was looking at her while I was translating, which I thought was really nice.

At Head Over Heels you could just tell that the whole cast was so grateful to be there. Everyone was super nice, but the best part was that some guy next to me congratulated Rachel York on (direct quote) "finally making it big!" I was appalled but she handled it with a smile, and then in an attempt to make up for it Ioudly talking about all the other roles she's been in, which she thought was hilarious.

[haterobics]

Posted: 10/29/18 at 11:10am

tictac said: "Recent Bad: My Fair Lady - there was only 4 people including me, and after about 30 minutesLauren Ambrose still didn't come out and the other three left. I was too embarrassed to wait alone so I left too!"

Not sure what bad experience happened here?! You stopped waiting for someone to come out, and went home?

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 10/29/18 at 11:41am

I've never had a bad stage door experience either. Maybe the best was with Carousel Renee Fleming invited me backstage not because she knew me but because I was simply a friend of a friend. I got to go backstage. My mom was with me and she couldn't have been nicer to my mom.