Biggest/craziest stage doors

If/Then with Idina was a mess, especially towards the end. I vaguely recall that being around the time Frozen came out or maybe things just got crazier because it was closing. Regardless, insanity. Like, definitely to the point of being unsafe.

Little Shop with Ellen Greene at City Center was also insanity. People were waiting on the block across the street. 

The crowds at Waitress are always bad when I've gone or walked by regardless of who is in the show. I think the Brooks Atkinson is just not a great location. It just scares me to see so many people pouring out into the street. Also, I stage doored on a night when a crazy woman ran out from behind the barricades and kissed Dr. Pomatter on the cheek. NOT COOL.

There was a big crowd at Anastasia but that part of the block can accommodate more people and everyone was very polite.

Stuff with bigger or more mainstream "celebs" is actually not too crazy most of the time. Of course, it might be my taste in shows but, for example, Chicago runs a tight ship and I've actually had better experiences there with comparatively bigger celebrities. 

The Color Purple (revival) was a pretty big crowd but nothing too crazy in terms of behavior. Same with Allegiance. Natasha Pierre was just too many people. And past the barricades things kind of fell apart but no one was too crazy. The cast was very accommodating. I think they had such a chill, friendly energy it didn't feel chaotic but it easily could have. 

The Visit towards the very end of the run was pretty crowded but no one was pushy or anything. Side Show (revival) during the closing also felt chaotic but everyone was nice. Tuck Everlasting at the end of the run was pretty crazy.

I assume there are some Hamilton stories if you want to dig up those old threads.

Don't get me wrong. I love my collection of signed items. But I think I'm at a point where if I couldn't exchange a few words with an actor, it's probably not a stage door situation I'd hang around for. I have no interest in being squished three rows back just to get a scribble on a Playbill. 

n2nbaby said: "While it wasn’t when Chita was back in her prime, I did stage door The Visit a few years ago and she was lovely. Spent time with each person, posed for photos, gave me a hug and called me a doll."

This is so cute.

Katharine Hepburn in "West Side Waltz" drew a big crowd.  Of course no one dared asked for an autograph.  She came out smiling and was greeted by applause, then got into her limo and drove off waving at the crowd with her Queen of England wave.

Though I didn't see the performance, and I wasn't part of the crowd, I do remember trying to pass around the stage door crowd of 'Private Lives', fans who were waiting for Joan Collins. (This was a few years after DYNASTY ended, IIRC). I guess I was unlucky in timing, as she stepped out and the crowd roared in unison, "ALEXISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" 

 

It was  rather surreal, as it seemed as though time stood still for that brief silent moment as she jumped into her car (probably frightened half to death like I was)...and then everything went back to normal, and people were wondering aloud, "She's not going to sign?" as they waved their Playbills and almost every magazine cover she was on for the past decade . Meanwhile, all we saw was the back of her limo driving down the street. 

Something I'll never forget, no matter how hard I try. 

Liz Taylor in The Little Foxes. Big crowd, waited for about an hour. She was surrounded by her people, who rushed her through the crowd into her limo where she waved from the window.

victoriafr said: "Recently, Hadestown is pretty packed. At least six layers of people. Spongebob was also a madhouse, and I really for the life of me can't figure out why."

People were running to the Hadestown stage door yesterday. Pushing people out of their way behavior. It was bad. 

Not Broadway related but I have a friend who described to me how out of control the stage door was when Rudolf Nureyev performed when the Royal Ballet visited New York. Margot Fonteyn would come out first, sit  in her limo, and sign stuff to mollify the crowds. When Nureyev himself came out it was truly like a mob with screaming fangirls holding up signs and stuff. 

I have a million stories from the Old Days- hanging at the Winter Garden for Barbra- at the Alvin for Liza when she was 18 in Flora- so I will start with those- and if anyone wants to know how I got Lauren Bacall's dressing room phone number- and Elliott Gould's when he did his 4 performance before closing Drat! The Cat! I will elucidate in an upcoming post if anyone is interested. 

     First Barbra- after trying- as a 13 year old- to get the phone number of her dressing room- unsuccessfully I might add- though I did get the number to her personal answering service - which she never answered- and then changed the number- I was a mischievous tyke, wasn't I?- I did hang out before and after Funny Girl to see her- I did see Funny Girl finally with Barbra November 20, 1966- right before its December closing night for Barbra- is I did get to see her at that point in person. Anyway, the stage door ws always very crowded- and she often did not come out after a show until the crowds dispersed- from what I had heard- but anyway, one lucky day- right before a matinee- there she came- quickly- with her brown newsboy cap on her head, carrying poodle Sadie- and looking so pretty- I hardly recognized her- She did not sign but quickly got into the theater by the stage door. 

     As for Liza- I was running to the performance at the Alvin Theater of Flora The Red Menace- and I almost knocked down a lady standing on the corner- I looked up and it was Liza. I said I was sorry- and that was that. Her stage door was not very crowded. That show was one of the best shows I have ever seen Liza was amazing and I became a lifelong fan- seeing everything I could that she starred in on BWAY- and any time I could see a concert - I went. Love her- though she is now a shadow of her former self.

I waited for Glenn Close at original Sunset Blvd.- and no one ws at the stage door- I said to her- be sure to look at me- I am in fat front row center- and she said- YOU are supposed to be looking at ME. And walked away. 

     No one waited for Lee Remick at Wait Until Dark- but I wanted to see her after the show. I sat in the front row- and my shoe was almost off- and when a scary part occurred- my foot kicked outward- and my shoe flew onto the stage and almost hit her. I did reach over the stage to get my shoe back- I wanted to apologize to her.

      I had a good friend in 7th and 8th grade- who later turned out to be gay like me- no surprise- and we both loved theater- went to a show every Saturday matinee for about a year- 64-65- and saw mostly everything.