I second Sutton being really sweet before the show.
I wasn't able to see "Drowsy" during my trip to NY this week, but really wanted to meet Sutton, so after being advised by a fellow BWW-er, I planned to go to the stage door before the show on Thursday.
I thought the show was at seven, and was told by someone that when they went she got there at around 5:15, so my plan was to get there around five. My Dad and I ended up being in the area at around 4:30, and figured we could just hang out till then. (For those that are wondering, the stage door isn't that hard to find. It is next to the second pillar by the Broadway NY store, and has "Stage Door" stamped on both the door and wall outside it in white. The door is usually open, and the attendant was very friendly, as were the people in the gift shop.) I wandered around in the Broadway NY store and bought a "Drowsy Chaperone" window card for Sutton to sign, as well as a sharpie, and hung around outside at around five. My Dad asked the attendant what time Sutton usually got there, and he said between five and five thirty most days, so I figured it wouldn't be much of a wait...
Around 6:30, I started to get nervous, since I hadn't seen any of the principle cast members go in (I was the only one there) and it was getting pretty close to what I thought was showtime. Turns out the show started at EIGHT that night (as I was informed by a woman who worked at the theater as she exited out the door.) Around that time, I saw Jennifer Smith (Kitty) enter, but she looked busy so I didn't bother approaching her. I also saw Georgia Engel, but she literally ran in, so I didn't talk to her either. Closer to seven, I spotted Beth Leavel coming down the street in a "Drowsy" t-shirt, and figured she must have performed at Broadway in Bryant Park that day. She had a whole bundle of things in her hand, so I didn't bother her for a picture or anything, but I did congratulate her on the Tony and said how much I enjoy her on the cast recording, and she couldn't have been nicer about it, saying thank you and everything. Right after Beth went in, two teenage girls arrived, so I was no longer the only one there. One got out her Playbill to show the other one what Sutton looked like so she could keep an eye open for her, so I knew they too were there to meet her.
Finally, around five minutes after seven, I saw Sutton coming down the street. I took the poster out and my Dad handed me the sharpie, and she smiled and waved. I asked her if she could sign (I said if she was running late I'de understand,) and couldn't have been sweeter, saying it was no problem. She gave me a hug, and asked if I'de seen the show (I said I wanted to but loved her in everything else she'de done,) and as my Dad got out the camera to take the picture, she asked if that was my Dad and if we were having a good time in NY. He snapped the picture, and I said thank you. She waved goodbye and thanked me for waiting so long for her, and went over to talk to the two girls. As I started to walk away, my Dad didn't, and I turned around to see why he wasn't behind me when I see him go up to Sutton as she is going inside and the little girls are walking away. He asks if we could take on more picture just in case the other one didn't come out, and she said sure!! She joked about posing on the opposite side this time so we could "catch her glamarous side," and my Dad apologized and said he knew she had to go in for the show. She was very cute about it, and said "Yes Dad, I have to get all dolled up you know!" and patted me on the back. We took the picture and left, but I was just amazed at how friendly she was.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.