Encounter Mishaps?

[BreakingTheCircle07]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 1:21am

Has anyone run into an actor on the street or waited at a stage door to sing someone's praises only to have made a fool of one's self? Dropping pens? Calling them the wrong name? Spilling food on them? Anything!

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 1:24am

first time I met Serge Kushnier at Hairspray, I had burned my tongue eating lunch before the show and when we met, my speech was slurred and I sounded like an idiot. Second time I met him, I was much better though! Updated On: 10/17/04 at 01:24 AM

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 1:25am

For me, it seems to be an unwritten rule that I must make an ass out of myself.

[BreakingTheCircle07]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 1:28am

Can I just say super quick that I've never started a thread and I'm juiced you guys are helping. Woot!

[B.B. Wolf]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 2:12am

I just ran into Matthew Broderick and, after chatting with him a few minutes, somehow felt compelled to introduce MYSELF to him. It was fine though. I'm not a spaz or anything. But replaying the event in my head just now, I still can't figure out why I introduced myself to him. So I said, "Have a good night." and walked off. I think it's the first time I've ever been flustered by a celebrity. When I met Kristen Davis over on Park, it was fun and charming. Maybe it was because I didn't realize it was Matthew until halfway into the conversation.... hmmmmm......

[Broadway Matt]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 2:17am

I've shared this before, but it's a damn fine story. since i'm bored, here's the long version:

It was summer 2002, and I was in DC seeing the Kennedy Center's Sweeney Todd starring Brian Stokes Mitchell, Baranski, Hugh Panaro, Celia, etc. I had made the trip to DC specifically to catch this production. So the show was wonderful and it ended. I rush around back to get a good spot for stage door idol-worship.

MISHAP #1: I spot Hugh Panaro come out, with the distinctive sideburns Anthony was given in this production. I run over and shake his hand, not saying his name, and as he's signing an autograph, I mention how great he was in Side Show. Huge looks at me kinda funny, then goes "Oh you must be looking for Hugh! He's still inside." He was actually the only member of the ensemble with the same sideburns, and I was so embarrassed I still have no idea what his name is (can't tell from the sig)

MISHAP #2: after recovering from the Hugh mishap, I spot Stokes nearby, not having seen him exit the building. As he's entertaining various fans, I notice the very classy, poised woman standing off to the side. A few people approached her for autographs, and she exuded a sort of stage presence, which said to me that it must be Baranski, who I wasn't so familiar with close up. I say "Excuse me, you were fantastic in the show! Would you sign..." and she interrupts "I wasn't in the show, my husband and I are friends of Brian's" Still being an idiot and not stopping to let it sink in, I continue "That's great you got to come out and see him. Where do you know him from?" She says "We've performed in a few productions together" I ask which, basically trying to save face while still looking out the corner of my eye for Stokes to finish. I'm pushed out of the way by a big group of fans wanting her autograph, as she explains quickly "Ragtime and more recently Kiss Me Kate!" 3-5 seconds pass, as I run thru the cast lists quickly then "OH SH*T YOU'RE MARIN MAZZIE!"

MISHAP #2.5: Of course I pronounced her name ma-RIN, and she looks at me increasingly annoyed "Yes, it's MA-rin". Then finally I look at her husband's face "AND THAT MAKES YOU JASON DANIELEY!" Luckily I pronounced his name right. I proceeded to apologize repeatedly, insisting that "no really I'm a huge fan", and at some point making an inappropriate awkward joke about the suicide song in FULL MONTY, and somehow in my craziness I basically insisted that Marin sign my Sweeney Todd window card, I guess trying to prove I really was her biggest fan.

It was a horrible experience at the time, but I did get to talk to Stokes, Hugh, and Celia Keenan Bolger, 3 of the nicest I've ever met. And I have a very unique souvenir: maybe the world's only Sweeney Todd poster signed by Marin Mazzie!

[Lois]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 5:34am

This is a great thread. I must have been at the stage door after the same DC Sweeney Todd performance as Broadway Matt, but I somehow managed to miss all of his embarassing moments! I do have a Sweeney program signed by Stokes, Marin, and Jason, however.

Lois

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 9:50am

When I met Sutton Foster:
1-She comes up and introduces herself. My sister says "Hi. My sister's obsessed with you." I wanted to die. I was screamming no, no! And she just gives em a weird look.
2-My mom started talking to her and said "Bernie loves you. She follows your work. You are her idol. Once again that left me screaming and making a bigger idiot out of myself.

[Jon]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 9:53am

I've heard numersous reports of folks telling Andrew Lloyd Webber how much they loved Les Miserables.

[timote316]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 10:15am

ouch lol

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 10:19am

when idina was performing in bryant park over the summer, i literally walked into her when she was taking promo photographs.

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 11:44am

My mother went up to John Lithgow after a performance of Sweet Smell of Crap, and said "Mr. Lithgow, I must ask you...do you know the Muffin Man?"

[CJR]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 11:51am

HAHAHAHA Shbrt, that sounds like something MY mother would have done! lol

[LindsayAnne]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 11:54am

I met Anthony Rapp a couple summer ago, who I'm a pretty big fan of, & when I actually went to talk to him, I couldn't make myself form any words. I just kind of stood there until he nudged me & asked if I wanted anything signed. He looked pretty damn amused. I also forgot to ask for a picture afterwards, & I had my camera. In my hands. *slaps forehead*

And to add onto the camera mishap theme, I met Colin Hanlon (from RENT), who's probably my favorite member of the cast right now, & after stuttering through asking for a picture, we got ready for the shot & my friend informed me that my camera's batteries had just died. I looked at her, & looked at him, & just went, "Oh..." He must have felt bad because he gave me a hug. Nothing quite like a pity hug.

I also got unnecessarily fangirly over Jeremy Kushnier one time. Not my proudest moment. *wince*

[Mamie]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 12:14pm

I stayed late at the stage door for "The Goat, or Who is Sylvia" so I could get all four cast members autographs on my Playbill. Bill Pullman was in a chatty mood so I was later than usual when I left the theatre and started heading for the subway. I remember swinging around a corner onto 8th Ave. and running smack into a guy on a bike. He had stopped for a minute on the side of the road and that, combined with scaffolding on the sidewalk side, made the run-in inevitable.

The embarrassing part for me was that I immediately recognized him but I couldn't remember his name for the life of me. Even worse - I knew I had seen him a million times on TV but at that moment I couldn't remember a single show. I vaguely recall some idiotic conversation like "OMG - You're that guy!... the one from TV... you know, the one from...." and absolutely NOTHING came out. Thank God his sense of humor was just as great as you'd think... it was Richard Kind.

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 12:37pm

my second broadway show i went to see the oklahoma revival and went to gett jessica boevers to sign my poster (keep in mind i was about 14 at the time) so she was signing and started chatting with me...well chatting at me, all i could get out was I...uhh...umm..uhh

[Carl Magnum]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 12:51pm

In 2000 I took a trip down to NYC to see True West, with Hoffman and Reily. This was a big trip cause Hoffman had graduated from my high school and we shared the same acting coach from High School, granted he graduated in 84 and I graduated in 2000. Well I waited after the show untill he came out and he was the nicest man I have ever met. Told him about our connection and he and I chatted for about 15 minutes or so. He gave me some messages to take back to teachers at the high school and I walked with him out of the theatre and watched him envy me as I lit up a smoke, he had just quit or as he informed me "I'm trying like hell to quit, remember that someday". He's since gone back to smoking. So I bid goodnight and started to head back to the apt. I was staying at when I realized I had a camera in my pocket the entire time and never once asked him to take a picture with me and he was long gone by that point!!! My mother still won't let me live that down.

[Delphine]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 12:58pm

When I whipped out my camera just as my favorite actor was posing for a photo with me, I was shocked to see it dripping in chocolate. I quickly realized that I had left choclate Hershey's Kisses in my purse from the day previous. I screamed "Oh my God! I'm so sorry!" and scurried off into the corner, wiping the chocolate off onto my lovely blouse. Oops. When I came back to him (he waited for me, that darling), I was shaking and stuttering even more than I had been before the chocolate. He just smiled and took the photo, and was so nice about it. I am still ashamed.

When I met him the second time, I accidentally blurted out, "I swear to God I'm not a stalker!" He smiled again and was really, really nice. (Love that boy.) But I am still upset about it all, oh so upset.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 1:02pm

I'm just an idiot all around. No need for specifics...

I did - quite literally, in fact - walk into Raúl Esparza once, though.

[TheAudrey3]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 1:11pm

Don't have one of my own... yet, but I have to say, broadwayguy2, you are uber-lucky to have met Serge Kushnier

[Princeton78]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 6:23pm

Ok, so I've made no secret about the fact that I'm a huge Michael Berresse fan. I've seen him several times, but only met him once. Ok, so he's got a great body. And I don't believe he's been in a show where he hasn't shown it off. Think about it....Joseph, Chicago, Fascinating Rhythm, Kiss Me Kate....all had him showing some skin.
I say that becasuse the one time I met him, he was rushing into the Al Hirshfeld theatre before a performance of KMK, and he was wearing a full suit...shirt, tie, coat, slacks....extra yummy. Well, I was the only one there since it was before the show...and I was so awestruck, all I could get out was "Look at you...you're dressed!" I forget excatly what he said, but he looked a bit bewildered and I think he said something like "Well, I can't be naked on the way over here." Sigh....embarassing.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 6:25pm

serge is SUCH a sweetie. I just have to say.

[mleshawn]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 10:13pm

So Broadwayguy2, did you get any pictures of Serge?

[greenifyed]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 10:59pm

My friend and I made asses of ourselves at the Wicked stage door, by pissing Joey McIntyre off. It's not my fault he can't take a few New Kids On The Block jokes!

I totally embarassed the same friend when she met Adam Pascal. I'm sure a few of you know Rich the Aida stage door guy - and how he likes to pick on Adam fans. Rich and I double teamed her, asking if she needed CPR, if she was okay, that it was okay to talk. Pascal actually asked if she was alright. Pretty funny stuff.

[mint0621]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 11:31pm

I was posing for a photo with Jeremy Kushnier, and right before my sister takes the photo, she yells out, "My sister thinks you're really hot!" and the photo came out well, he had the biggest smile on his face!