Broadway Actors Who Avoid Fans- Page 2

[musicalsFan]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 9:02pm

This is always an interesting conversation.

There are always people who say that the actor's job is finished the minute the curtain falls. And technically they are correct.

But let me draw an analogy to real work.

In my job, I have had times where my manager comes up to me and gives me a task to do. Now I am thinking, I won't be able to finish this task and get out on time. In additon, I am salaried, so all overtime is unpaid.

Now, I can say my job ends after 8 hours. But what do I do? I weight my manager's expectations and my I hope for a decent raise at review time. So I stay late.

In every job there are unpleasant things one has to endure. In show business, that may be going out the door and signing autographs. But doing the fan-greet generates goodwill. Yes, what you do on stage should not have anything to do with whether you go out the stage door and is pleasant to fans. But the reality is that it does. Every job has gray areas.

[jimnysf]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 9:02pm

Thanks, Wicked Geek!

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 9:04pm

The actors aren't upset that you want to congratulate them...they just have to run. If you do succeed in stopping them (in a kind fashion, they'll usually sign for you but say they're in a rush and apologize).

As logn as you're not obsessively fanish beyond the stage door, there's really no reason that they should be upset with you for saying you like their work. I think they don't like it, though, when people run up to them at the Records store:

"OMG! ARE YOU [INSERT NAME]?!!!! OMFG! YOU ARE! I LOVE YOU! YOU'RE LIKE WOAH! WOULD YOU SIGN THIS PLEEEEEEEEEASE?!!!!! YOU'RE SO AWESOME, I LOOOOOOOOVE YOU! DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN I MET YOU AT THE STAGE DOOR TWO YEARS AGO?!!!!"

They definately don't like stuff like that (if they did, I'd be a little shocked). A simple "Oh, hello, are you [insert name]? It's such an honor to meet you. I am a huge fan of your work, thank you very much for being so inspiring." This sort of thing is fine.

Just don't make them feel uncomfortable and they'll be happy to speak with you.

[Mama Mo]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 9:12pm

I've got to tell you - that Hefillsit guy is HOT! They should have signed him to replace Greg.

[bially082]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 9:27pm

nathan lane

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 9:52pm

Heh...Jim I actually didn't get it until you posted again about tonight, but that was funny

[jimnysf]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 9:53pm

Thanks! I'm here all week.

[Bdwy24]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 9:55pm

If you choose a career that is in the public eye, you should definitley assume that you will be recognized and approached wherever and whenever and not get mad at that. If you are dating someone and they are approached. You really can't help that. I guess that would be part of the relationship you would have to get over is someone stopping you in the middle of dinner or watching you eat dinner, lol.

[WickedOne2]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 9:59pm

I've been pretty fortunate when I decide to stage door. The only one who I seem to have bad luck with is Idina Menzel. When I saw Wicked she didn't come out but Taye did (he was visiting her) and also when I saw See What I Wanna See she was the only one of the cast who did not come out and sign playbills or take pictures.

When I saw Glenglary Glenross Alan Alda bolted out the stage door and right into his town car without signing any playbills

On the flip side, both times I saw Jersey Boys the entire cast was awesome. At the end of May, even in the craziness of the Tony buzz, I got pictures with all of the guys and playbills and even got to chat with Christian and JLY for a bit. They are so incredibly personable and gracious.

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 10:10pm

Nathan Lane =(

Lee Wilkof NEVER comes out the stage door! =(

[harris007]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 10:12pm

lee did in coral gables with lil shop

[courtnyj]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 10:26pm

Okay, so I've gotta ask...what is the fascination with the "stage door"? No offense to those who love the tradition, it just seems weird to me. So, tell me, why do you like the stage door tradition? Help me understand!
Updated On: 7/2/06 at 10:26 PM

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 10:28pm

It gives you a chance to meet your fav actors!!!

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 10:32pm

...if you consider saying "Hi, you were great.," to be "meeting" someone.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 10:34pm

IMO, it's part of the theatrical experience. If I am particularly moved by a performance I always like to speak with the actors and tell them how they truly touched me.

Foe example, I saw Sweeney Todd again and when I spoke with Mark Jacoby, I told him how much I adored the new layers he brought in, and he appreciated it. That's the reason I do it: for the completion of a night in the theatre.

[Joshua488]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 10:34pm

Barbara Walsh.

[MOXIEINTHECITY]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 10:40pm

As much as I've heard about how accomodating and friendly the Sweeney cast is, I still can't bring myself to stage door. Not because I think it's beneath me but because I wouldn't necessarily call myself a "fan." Maybe it's from living in NYC for so long but I just feel weird doing it.

[courtnyj]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 10:44pm

Okay, so I guess I can understand it if your using the stage door to have an intellegent conversation about a show with the actors. If that's what actually happens. I guess because I have never stood at a stage door I thought it was all about people idolizing the actors and basically prostrating themselves to them. It might be interesting to have a discussion with the actors but I am assuming the stage door isn't really the place for that. Or is it?

Sorry to thread-jack, but I am genuinly curious. Updated On: 7/2/06 at 10:44 PM

[NJRae]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 12:06am

I agree with whoever said that this is always an interesting topic. Personally I see both sides . . . I guess technically the actors job is finished when the curtain goes down and if they choose not to meet fans, so be it. That said, those fans are the ones who are essentially paying their salary and if they want to further their careers, those fans are the ones who are going to support them by seeing their next show or movie. Unless they have somewhere else to be, does it really hurt them to come out and shake some hands, sign some autographs and pose for some pictures? How much time does it really take out of their lives? And how bad can it be to hear how great you were?

The only time I get irritated by an actor is when they come out a stage door and then proceed to dash off . . . aren't there other doors for them to go out (in the cases where there aren't then totally understandable!) where they don't have to brush past fans? Or, if they have to go out the stage door and are in a rush, would it kill them to say, "I really appreciate that you all waited for me and I'm so sorry but . . ." My sister and I were at a show where an actress (well known) came out, signed like one autograph, then said, "I can't! I have to go," and basically plowed through anyone in her way. Yes, there was an event after, but several of the other actors were still there so there wasn't that much of a rush! If you don't want to meet fans, just go out a different door (as a few others did that night).

Ok, that got longer than I meant it to, sorry! I'm done! :)

*And it's late so sorry for any spelling errors!

[April Saul]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 12:20am

That's a more interesting question, actually. My college-age daughter and I love to stagedoor, and my parents and sister make fun of it for us, so I am always having to defend it. The level of conversation and involvement with the actors probably depends on how open they are to it, how big a crowd is waiting, and whether they're really too busy to stick around and talk, and maybe even their degree of fame. After a recent performance of Faith Healer, Ralph Fiennes basically went from person to person signing autographs with a fixed (but nice) smile on his face, but no interaction. However, in recent months after shows, I have talked to Amy Spanger about whether Tick Tick Boom is actually better than Rent, debated the Inishmore folks about the difference between Pillowman and their show, talked to Tyne Daly about whether she had a shot at the Tony, and discussed with the kids in Spring Awakening what being in the show is like for them, and whether it should transfer to Broadway. But then again, I'm a journalist, so I talk to strangers for a living! So the quality of the discussion varies, but I've gotten the impression that quite a few of the actors enjoy the feedback, and especially when I can honestly tell them I've been blown away by their work, seem to glow. Ethan Hawke talks about theater as an experience shared by a group of people who are in the same room together; maybe in that way it's very different than film work, and helps lead to these kinds of discussions afterward. It can be fun, and interesting.....

[courtnyj]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 12:23am

Cool April Saul! Thanks! :)

[Dirty Rotten Scoundrel]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 12:28am

Well, then. It's a little known fact that Greg Jbara loathes dealing with fans and uses an exact double to do all that stage door stuff and backstage tours and on-the-street chummy convos that end (for example) with him getting on a bus like a "regular guy."

I KNEW IT. I had totally noticed whilst backstage that "Greg's" left eyebrow was slightly off. Barb, thank you for saving me from many a sleepless night pondering about his eyebrow that went askew.

[JbaraFan1]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 2:05am

Now see, Liz, we keep telling Hefillsit, "Watch the left eyebrow, man! People are gonna catch on!"

To Carolyn W: Your Vegas interview with Greg is indeed still linked from the links page of Greg's site. As I recall, it was a telephone interview, was it not? To respond to your comment: "I am sure Greg Jbara will love having this posted about him. I met and interviewed Greg when he did CHICAGO in Las Vegas. Seemed o.k. to me." ... I actually let Greg know what I'd posted in this thread earlier; he loved it, thought it was hilarious. (His word.) One thing you should know about Greg is that he has an awesome sense of humor, including about himself. :)


EDIT: Carolyn, seems the link we have listed on the site is a broken one. Email me at [e-mail] with the correct link to your interview with Greg, and I'll update it. Thanks! Updated On: 7/3/06 at 02:05 AM

[Bohoboy]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 3:52am

Actors are under no obligation to talk to you at the stage door. Do you pay their salary? No. Will you really avoid a show that an actor is in just because they won't sign your playbill? No. It's called a stage door for a reason. It's not the front door where they would have to deal with the public, it's the private entrance to the theatre where they have a person manning the door so the public can not enter. Many actors ARE grateful for your acknowledgement of their performance. A great number of actors are not so grateful. They would just rather go home and be done with their day worth of work.

Wees wrote "it's like tipping in a restaurant. No one is really forcing you to give your waiter/waitress that gratuity, but you do come off in a certain way if you choose to not tip. ^_^ "

What a ridiculous anaolgy. You tip your waiter/waitress for a service they have performed for you. The actor/actress in question has ALREADY performed a service for you. The more appropriate anaogy is you being the restaraunt patron, coming back to the restaurant after they've stopped serving and demanding an additional dessert to make the meal more special for you.

[EganFan2]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 9:11am

I've never been to Broadway, much less a stage door. So I've never seen what the crush is like. I have been in shows where there are tons of people crowding you in the lobby, and it wasn't the most comfortable thing even though I did truly appreciate every word of the praise I got. So I can understand if some actors just prefer not to deal with that all the time. I'm sure it gets overwhelming sometimes.