Favorite Stage Door Experiences — Page 2

Two weeks ago, I chatted with Cyndi Lauper as she headed into Studio 54. She was friendy, funny, and PATIENT. When I got my picture taken with her, the flash didn't go off the first time. She chatted with a few other people and then started to head into the theater. I had to ask her if we could take ANOTHER picture because the first one did not come out. She smiled, laughed and said "Sure!" I have always been a huge fan since the 80's, but since that meeting, she's number one in my book!!!

1) Lennon - Just the sweetest bunch of people.
2) Megan Hilty
3) The Wedding Singer cast- Such a nice bunch of people. Particularly funny moment was when I chatted with Laura Benanti (who was a sweetheart). She said I REALLY reminded her of someone else she know. She looked at me and went "Hi! Wait... whoa."
4) Lee Morgan, while he was in BKLYN. He's just an all around nice guy. I copmplilmented him ( he was a highlight of the show for me), and he said thank you, and called me "sweet girl."

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Updated On: 5/27/06 at 12:57 PM

I almost forgot Kristin on my Birthday and Carnegie Hall Stage door.

Also probably the greatest though was when i saw Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Lauren BaCall came out the stage door and talked to my friend and i for a couple of minutes while she waited for her car. Then talking with Bill Irwin and Kathleen Turner. She kept calling me Doll.

My favorite stage door moments were for Lennon, Woman in White, and Lestat. The casts for all three shows were so friendly and very humble.

-Lennon was lots of fun because the cast stayed to chat with us about the show which many actors don't do. The best part was the Mandy remembered me and the people I went with and when we were standing around after the broadway on broadway concert, she came running up to us to say hi. :)

-Woman in White- I got to hug Maria Friedman! She is such a sweetie! I remember it was really cold one night and this girl had a lot of questions about the book and how it was translated into the show and Maria just paid attention to her questions and took the time to give real in-depth answers. She was so nice! And Michael Ball...just meeting Michael Ball was like...woah. He was so friendly!!

-Lestat: the Lestat cast is crazy! Drew Sarich and Jim Stanek fought for my plabill! XD I told Carolee Carmello that I don't pay attention to reviews and she said "right on sister! right on!" hehe. And Hugh Panaro...he is a darling!

Updated On: 5/27/06 at 01:54 PM

That pregnant woman HughE mentioned is absolutely insane. Pregnant women, especially NINE MONTHS pregnant, should have the wherewithall to realize they shouldn't be on a plane. What an idiot.

My favorite stage door experience was probably Dan Aykroyd escorting me backstage to meet Martin Short at the last performance of Little Me. They were both so friendly and personable, and Aykroyd even endured my father's "Does the word Bass-O-Matic mean anything to you?" comment.

I have been lucky enough to meet some of Broadway's best actors at the stage door. I went backstage at Phantom of the Opera(my first broadway show, saw it in June 1988 when I was six) in May of 2001. I went on stage and under the stage where the sets for the lake scene are kept. Talked with the cast including Sandra Joseph and Howard McGillin as well as others in the cast.

I have had my playbills signed by many casts including The Scarlet Pimpernel(Opening Night, special thanks to Doug Sills!) Wicked in April 04, Thanks to Idina, Kristin, and Joel The Wonderful Wizard! I met Jai Rodriguez when he was doing Rent. Recently, I met the cast of Lestat on its Opening Night. After watching the blogs on Broadway.com I felt I already knew them, and yes they were as nice a cast as those who have posted on this site have suggested, good luck to them all! Also met Patti after Sweeney Todd, told her to make up with Lloyd Webber and sing some songs from Sunset and Evita at her next concert.

I have to say the most thrilling stage door experience was meeting Professor Snape himself the GREAT Alan Rickman. I saw him in Private Lives and he signed my playbill for me. We talked a bit about the play and I told him I thought he was one of our greatest stage/screen actors. A lot of people gave him Harry Potter stuff to sign and he was very nice to all.

My dream is to meet my favorite composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. I saw him when I went to The Gala "Longest Runner" show of Phantom but did not get a chance to meet him. One Day!

Mine would have to be...

*Greg Jbara taking me backstage three times. He's one of the nicest people I've ever met and it's an honor to say that I know him.

*Mano Felciano- I had sent him a gift to the Sweeney stage door back in March, and I went to see the show, and I told him who I was and he remembered immediately and gave me a huge hug and a kiss on the cheek. We talked for about 30 minutes, and he hugged me again as he left . Then I got home and a few days later I was on his Top 8 in his MySpace!

*Jeff Goldblum talking to my friends and me for about an hour before a performance of The Pillowman, and then we ran into him again a couple weeks later and he recognized us immediately and we continued our conversation for about a half hour more. We were then later approached by Caroline Rhea and Ben Curtis (The Dell Dude), so we were in this huge circle talking to Jeff Goldblum, Caroline Rhea, and Ben Curtis, it was awesome.

*Hugh Jackman hugging me and talking to my cousins, friends and me for about 10 minutes before The Boy From Oz.

Oh, thanks...yeah I knew he was in Spamalot, but I just forgot and was too lazy to google.

Mine isn't really a stage door one. But I was backstage of the Keneddy Center watching Wicked b/c my friend, Brooke Elliot, got me back there and Stephanie J. Block came up to me and held out her hand and said, "Hi I'm Stephanie." I just about died! We had a nice short conversation and then she went on.

Or Spamalot. The actors are so nice! They took pictures with everybody and Simon was like, "Now you've given me a piece of Virginian Ham" long story don't ask. And no isn't wasn't really ham.

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Every time I have seen Sweeney, the entire cast has been amazing. I've seen it a few times now, so a few of the actors know me by name and they are always willing to stay and talk. Last time I went, I was talking to Donna Lynne Champlin about how fabulous her gig at Ars Nova was, and she then wrote all over the cover of my playbill, thankingme for love and support, and then gave me permission to blame her when the rest of the cast got mad that there was no room to sign. Also, another time, I asked Mano if I could buy a "Save Darfur" bracelet from him. He went inside to see if he had any, but he didn't. I talked to him for a few more minutes, and then as he was leaving, he said "You know what? Take mine.", and he gave his Darfur bracelet to me. That entire cast of that show is so gracious and talented. That was a long post.

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How has everyone gotten backstage? Do you have to ask or do the actors offer?

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My favorite one was when we were waiting outside the stage door and out came a cast member who invited us to go in (out of the blue), and voila, the leads were on their way out but stopped to get our pictures taken and programs signed. That cast member even took us to the dressing rooms, the lounge area for the cast, and showed us how some of the props/sets worked. Thank you, you cast member you, for making our trip to Broadway the best ever.

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