Can you take a photo with an actor/actress when you stagedoor?

[TheatreGirl146]

Posted: 3/27/18 at 4:24pm

Okay, so someone told me you cannot take photos with the actors, but you can take a photo OF the actor/actress. But i also see photos of people taking selfies with them... Help? 

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 3/27/18 at 4:25pm

Someone is messing with you.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 3/27/18 at 4:35pm

Example:  During "Addams' Family", Bebe N. would not pose with a fan, but it seemed o.k. to take a picture of her.  Some artists prefer that.  She did sign autographs at the stage door.  

[jbird5]

Posted: 3/27/18 at 4:42pm

It depends on the actor. The more crowded it is, the less likely they may be to take selfies. Even then there are exceptions.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 3/27/18 at 4:43pm

Regarding posed photos: It completely depends on the actor. Most Broadway actors are perfectly happy taking photos with fans. Sometimes the more famous ones don't want to, but usually the security guard will announce that beforehand.

In almost every case, however, there is no rule against taking photos OF the actors. I can think of only 2 occasions where an actor has requested that no photos be taken of them whatsoever - it's very rare. 

[Rainah]

Posted: 3/27/18 at 5:12pm

As someone who doesn't really do photos but stagedoors a lot, I believe the ettiquette is

Unless you hear otherwise, it is acceptable to ask an actor for a selfie. Preferably, have your camera ready so it doesn't take up too much of their time. It is also acceptable to take photos/videos of them.

Some actors have a no selfie (or rarely, no photos at all) policy. This will be announced prior to the actor coming out so you will know. (Also, some actors may take selfies one night and not another, for various reasons). Always respect their stated rules.


Most I've seen have been cool with it though!
 

 

[michaelhale]

Posted: 3/27/18 at 5:30pm

TheatreGirl146 said: "Okay, so someone told me you cannot take photos with the actors, but you can take a photo OF the actor/actress. But i also see photos of people taking selfies with them... Help?"

If they were talking about the Dear Evan Hansen stage door then they would be correct, but every other stage door I have been to hasnt had that rule (with the exception of some actors- Ingrid Michaelson at The Great Comet didn't take pictures). It will almost always be announced by the person handling stage door if it's a policy for any actor at any given stage door. I've never seen an actor say no to a selfie, either (although I personally don't usually do selfies unless it's someone I really admire like that.), so unless it's against policy it seems to generally be fine.

[anislander]

Posted: 3/27/18 at 6:07pm

Like mentioned above, it really depends on the show/the actor. The bigger Hollywood stars rarely take pictures with fans, especially if they're HUGE and people stage door that didn't see the show. At Dear Evan Hansen, I know that you aren't allowed to take pictures with anyone in the cast due to some issues they had at the stage door last spring/summer, but as the OBC leaves and replacements come in, that might change. Sometimes Ethan Slater doesn't take pictures at Spongebob, but other times he does. I remember when I saw Hamilton during Spring Break of 2016 (so at its height of popularity), Chris Jackson did not take any pictures. Sometimes Jenn Colella won't if she has somewhere to be after Come From Away. These really are the only instances I've had stagedooring where actors have not taken pictures, anywhere else, the actors are more than happy to if you ask. 

But if you are specifically told that an actor will not take pictures, please for the love of God don't ask them anyway. It just wastes time and is annoying for them to say no. 

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 3/27/18 at 7:03pm

Yes, just ask them. Usually if it's between matinees many actors have less time to take selfies because they have to go back and do another show. Also they might be less willing if it's freezing cold, raining, etc.

I was really surprised that once Sara Bareilles came out between matinee shows and signed all the programs even though she was visibly struggling with a cold. She said "no selfies' but anyone could snap a picture of her. She's pretty tiny in real life. For whatever reason I had always thought she was Taylor Swift-tall and barely recognized it when this petite lady came out and started signing. 

[msmp]

Posted: 3/27/18 at 9:20pm

Seconding what's been said above: for the most part, just politely ask if they'd mind posing for a selfie unless there's been an announcement by security or the actor/actress that they won't be posing.

Fun story, though: when I stage-doored for War Paint, Patti Lupone wasn't able to sign because she was suffering from hip pain pre-surgery, so it was just Christine Ebersole. Christine came out and said something like "It's just me tonight, guys, so let's not do selfies." And then immediately started signing and said "Well...alright, one a piece!" and posed quickly for people who had their cameras ready.

Basically, extend the same courtesy you do when asking someone to sign: be polite, be kind, and be willing to take no for an answer and you should be just fine!

[Lauren2]

Posted: 8/8/18 at 4:15am

Do you know what the issues were? I am curious!

[WestEndGal]

Posted: 8/8/18 at 2:33pm

I’ve found it just depends on the actress or actor. Recently I saw The Boys in the Band and some of the actors wouldn’t take selfies (I forget which lol) but others did. Sara Bareilles came out and signed for everyone but didnt take selfies, but seemed under the weather. Kat McPhee was happy to take selfies when I saw her (even tho the night I went the security guy said she had to catch a flight so don’t ask for selfies but everyone ignored that and asked her anyway, lol!). Anyone know about Mean Girls? I’m going to the show in a few weeks.

[BroadwayNoob]

Posted: 8/8/18 at 4:27pm

Most do take pictures, but some will not take pictures with you. I think when Pippa was in The Parisian Woman, she didn't want any pictures of her whatsoever.

 

I saw DEH this Friday and was able to get a picture with everyone that came out except for RBJ (she was moving super quick and I'm not sure she was taking pictures anyway). Michael Lee Brown said he wasn't allowed to take pictures, but he did take one with me and probably 3 other people. I am not sure exactly why that is, but I'm assuming it's for time.

[darreyl102]

Posted: 8/8/18 at 7:08pm

Patti LuPone FANatic said: "Example: During "Addams' Family", Bebe N. would not pose with a fan, but it seemed o.k. to take a picture of her. Some artists prefer that. She did sign autographs at the stage door."

Bebe did pose for a photo with me after ADDAMS when I saw the show. 

[broadwaybabywannabe2]

Posted: 8/8/18 at 7:14pm

YES!!...look to your left here and see my selfie with Charlie Carver at the stage door of TBITB!!

Updated On: 8/8/18 at 07:14 PM

[morosco]

Posted: 8/8/18 at 8:18pm

I can think of only 2 occasions where an actor has requested that no photos be taken of them whatsoever - it's very rare.

Well don't just leave us hanging!  Who?   

[Avery Berlin]

Posted: 8/8/18 at 11:21pm

To answer someone’s question about Mean Girls- the night I went, the stage door was PACKED. I mean, so crowded that I was practically getting stomped on. I still had fun because I made some new friends (I had to considering we were all so close together). But to answer your question, I was only able to ask for a picture with Taylor because I waited till the very end (I was the last person to ask for a picture). She had already signed my Playbill but I walked around to the other side of the line of people so I could get a picture. She happily took one. I didn’t ask for a picture with anyone else because I was buried in a crowd but I saw pretty much everyone taking pictures. Erika, Ashley, and Kate didn’t come out so I can’t answer about them (although I’ve seen many pics with Erika on Insta and Twitter).

[Lauren2]

Posted: 8/9/18 at 12:20am

It depends on who. I have heard DEH you can't take photos with the cast, legit one of the actors said "I can't take a photo I am sorry", but I have seen pictures of the performers with fans so I am confused. For Boys In The Band it depends. When I went Matt would not take photos but other nights I have seen he will. Jim and Zachary didn't come out so I don't know what they do, Charlie didn't come out either but I heard he does take pictures and takes great ones. Everyone else took pictures, Andrew included. For SpongeBob everyone would take photos, Ethan barely did but he went through pretty fast and was on vocal rest so he didn't talk. For Anastasia Christy is amazing and will take photos, talk to you for ever and will even sing Happy Birthday to fans. But everyone there will take photos. Also Harry Potter everyone will take photos as well and they are super nice! 

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 8/9/18 at 6:49am

"For Anastasia Christy is amazing and will take photos, talk to you for ever and will even sing Happy Birthday to fans"

I think she is the sweetest person I have ever encountered signing at stage door.