Does anyone know what time actors usually come into the theater for the performance?

I wanted to see if anyone knows what time actors usually go into the theaters for their performance that night. I am a huge Dennis Haysbert fan and would love to meet him before he goes into the theater. I can try when the performance is over but would be quite late for me. Any help is greatly appreciated.

I know when Tarzan was on Broadway Jenn Gambatese (Jane) got there very late because she did not come on until later in the second act. Most shows will do 2 hours to 1/2 hour early, but it can be different in some cases depending on the role and show.

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Half hour is mandatory, except in very unusual cases. I'll take the previous poster's word that an actor was allowed to come in after the show started, but I've never heard of a case of that. With dance shows, performers will often come in 1 1/2 hours beforehand in order to properly warm up. I have never heard of anyone coming in any earlier except in the case of extreme make-up. I don't know of anyone who comes in at two hours ahead of time. Due to union rules, they're not allowed onstage, though if they want to warm up vocally, they can go to their dressing rooms at any time that the theater is open with a doorman.

I don't know about Haysbert specifically as this is his Broadway debut, but as a rule, performers do not wish to meet fans on their way into the theater. They are finishing their errands and preparing for the show. Generally, they are much more relaxed and receptive afterwards. It's a short show. I'd recommend you try after. That said, I doubt he arrives any earlier than 1/2 hour. There's no need for him to. I can't imagine why Kerry Washington chose to, if that's so.

Updated On: 7/16/10 at 02:17 AM

"but as a rule, performers do not wish to meet fans on their way into the theater. They are finishing their errands and preparing for the show.

Thanks for the laugh.

Kate Finneran's call time for PROMISES, PROMISES is around 8:30pm since she doesn't appear until the start of Act 2.

And no... there ISN'T a damn class for dancers to warm-up before a performance. Each dancer has his own warm-up regime and each dancer is responsible for his own doings as long as their performance schedule isn't affected.

LOL, thanks, Phyl! Amoni's post was a bit of a wtf for me. So, okay, "finishing up their errands and preparing for the show" sometimes means "Oh my god, I'm late, better get to the sign-up sheet before the the SM writes me up for not making 1/2 hour" while scarfing down dinner, but otherwise, in my experience, most actors would rather see fans after than before.

Thanks, too, to morosco. I'd heard the term "staggered call" but have just never run across that situation.

"Do the dancers in "dance shows" arrive early and do their own class/warm-up or is class provided to them?"

"there ISN'T a damn class for dancers to warm-up before a performance. Each dancer has his own warm-up regime and each dancer is responsible for his own doings as long as their performance schedule isn't affected."

Well, PReeves, what BrodyFosse says simply isn't always so. A case in point that immediately comes to mind is the A Chorus Line revival, where for around the first six months of the show, Baayork Lee had gotten dispensation from other unions to hold a rather strenuous class/warm-up onstage before every show. It isn't an isolated case.

Updated On: 7/16/10 at 10:35 AM

You can show up earlier then the half hour call time. As it was said, performers who have a lot of makeup often do so to get ready for the show. Another example of those characters who are makeup heavy would be The Phantom in Phantom Of The Opera. If I recall correctly, the actor performing the role usually comes in an hour prior to showtime.

And yes, it is generally considered rude to stage door prior tothe show.

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Thank you for all your responses. After thinking about it I do believe meeting an actor before a performance would be bad form so I will try after a performance. I actually did see Dianne Wiest once before she got into the theater for her performance in All my Sons but I just said hi and opened the door for me. I felt bad bothering her before she was going to work.