"Company" stage door

[karen24]

Posted: 3/29/07 at 6:02pm

OK, so my son and I are preparing to see "Company" for the third time--our second with Raul (we hope, of course.) The last time we saw it my son (who's almost 15) really wanted to stage door, but it was late, raining and we didn't have umbrellas, so we wimped out and went home. Could someone tell me--I gather you can't get right to the stage door, that it's behind the metal gates to the right of the entrance as you face the theater? If you wait by those gates, does some of the cast eventually exit this way? And if so, about how long would we have to wait after the end of an evening show? I think my son would think his life was complete if he could meet Raul. (He felt the same way last year when we stage doored after "Sweeney" and he got autographs from everyone, including Michael Cerveris and Patty LuPone.)
Thanks! (I did do a search for this in the archives, but didn't find an exact answer--apologies if I missed it somehow.)
Karen

[ashley0139]

Posted: 3/29/07 at 6:11pm

Yes, if you're looking at the theatre, stand outside to the right of the front doors, in front of the metal gate. I believe they all exit from there, and are extremely nice. Raul was last out and took about half an hour. Not that bad at all.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/29/07 at 6:13pm

I was there one night when Raul was out and gone before half the audience left.

Yes, it's the metal gates (towards Times Square, not 8th Ave). They all exit that way.

[jayfpinker]

Posted: 3/29/07 at 6:15pm

Hey Maggie~
Having been to COMPANY a couple times, I've noticed that if you exit the theatre through the LEFT SIDE DOORS,(as you exit the theatre), and NOT the front... you'll end up in the Alley between Stage Door and those Iron gates. I've never seen anyone thrown out of there.

When it was cold and snowy, people waited there.
Several weeks ago on a rainy night, ANGEL DESAI who plays Marta, got the Stage Manager to open Gates and let the folks standing in the rain into the Alleyway.

Raul ~ as well as the rest of the cast ~ is always gracious and generous with his time...THOUGH he occasionally does NOT exit theatre between matinee and evening show!
Good Luck!

[Ariella]

Posted: 3/29/07 at 6:16pm

BC/EFA has been doing a lot of fundraising lately, so they may announce a picture opportunity after the show - you pay $20 that will be donated to BC/EFA for a picture. That takes place inside the theatre. Otherwise, it's as Ashley said, and the cast will exit via the big gate.

[mattrob]

Posted: 3/29/07 at 6:20pm

when i saw the show, we were able to wait in the alley for everyones autographs but they told us to wait on the sidewalk for Raul.
Dont know why exactly

[ashley0139]

Posted: 3/29/07 at 8:00pm

I've never seen anyone thrown out of there

I believe they almost always throw everyone out eventually. Unless it's raining or something.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 3/29/07 at 8:22pm

When I saw it Raul came out after about an hour. But it was because his brother was there so they were visiting.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 3/29/07 at 10:03pm

I've waited in the alley at least 5 or 6 times, sometimes when the weather is fine, and they've never thrown me out.

[Cages or Wings]

Posted: 3/29/07 at 11:01pm

I've been 11 times, and the alley seems to be a complete crapshoot. There are days where they ignore it, but there were other times, in the middle of the winter no less, where they would throw people out. In general though if you wait by the metal doors on the Broadway side they all usually come out.

[WickedOne2]

Posted: 3/29/07 at 11:13pm

I agree, it really depends on the mood of security whether they will let you wait in the alley. Once it was kind of rainy and they let us wait in the alley and a bunch of the supporting cast came out but then they made us wait behind the gate until Raul came out. He was a complete doll.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/29/07 at 11:15pm

The only time I've ever been able to stay was a few weeks ago, because I know someone in the show who had put my group and I on the backstage list. I think they probably get worried if the alley gets too crowded. Maybe it's dangerous or something? They don't seem to have a problem if just a handful of people are there, but then they get strict as the crowd thickens.

Anyway, the entire cast is very, very kind. Have fun.

Updated On: 3/30/07 at 11:15 PM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 3/30/07 at 12:16am

When I saw it Raul came out after about an hour. But it was because his brother was there so they were visiting.

Did Raul actually say that his brother was visiting?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/30/07 at 12:18am

Isn't he an only child? Heh.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 3/30/07 at 12:19am

That's why I was asking.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 3/30/07 at 1:27am

No comment.
His "brother"
get it?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 3/30/07 at 1:43am

... yeah, I really do.

[karen24]

Posted: 3/30/07 at 8:07am

Thanks for the info. and advice, everyone!
When we were there last time, they did do the BC/EFA fundraising, and the actress who played Sarah was in the lobby with her collection bucket. I'm not sure if others were also there--I didn't see anyone posing for pictures that evening, but I could have missed them. They did have the signed posters for sale for $50. I didn't buy one at the time, but if we go again I might just spring for it!
Karen

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 3/30/07 at 8:13am

Go for it Karen

Great Cause!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/30/07 at 11:26am

Karen, they're also selling paper weights that are modelled after the cubes on stage. I haven't seen them, but I heard they're cute. I don't think they started the pictures until this week. I agree, though; go for it (at any show, really). It's a wonderful cause.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 3/30/07 at 11:30am

Oooh one of those cubes sounds like something I would like. The posters were too expensive for me, but I might have to look into the paper weights.

[bially082]

Posted: 3/30/07 at 1:38pm

how big are the paper weights?

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 3/30/07 at 3:03pm

Raul was the reason I went and between feeling charitable and wanting a picture with him, I spent the $20. He was very nice and made a point of mentioning that he pre-signs the little "frame" the Polaroid goes in...so when he says "with Looove," it's not referring to me? Rats!

Not the greatest picture (he looks way tired), but it's all good.

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 3/30/07 at 3:06pm

..and I'm willing to cut him slack on the "brother" thing.

He did an NYT interview a while back that revealed perhaps too much about his complicated private life...just makes him more endearing to me because I've been there.

[antiandrewx]

Posted: 3/30/07 at 3:14pm

So does Raul do BC/EFA pictures after every performance? I might have to stop by tomorrow and get one..