GETTING BACKSTAGE...

[corfriends]

Posted: 12/21/03 at 12:37am

alright, i'm super determined to get backstage of wicked, mainly to meet the stars. i'm seeing a matinee of the show and know that they don't come out after, so this would be only way of meeting them. before the show, i'm sending idina some flowers backstage with a card, in hopes that she will come out to meet me real quick, or allow me to come inside. any other suggestions? have cards worked for anyone else??

[singnyc]

Posted: 12/21/03 at 12:50am

I don't know how everyone else feels..I may be in the minority here...but I believe backstage is really only for family and friends of the performers or others involved with the production. Backstage really isn't as glamourous as it seems. I'm not saying you're one of these people, but it baffles me how many people go to Broadway shows *expecting* to go backstage afterwards....

[corfriends]

Posted: 12/21/03 at 12:54am

oh, i definately don't expect to get backstage, i just never have any friends or family on broadway, and so i was just curious. i love broadway and i think it would be exciting, that's all, i certainly don't expect to get backstage, otherwise i wouldn't post about it on a message board, lol

[say what?]

Posted: 12/21/03 at 12:56am

OK, I always hang out by the tour bus before a gig and chat it up with the crew and band members and ... Oh wait, you said for a Broadway show.

I agree with singnyc, backstage is mainly reserved for those who know a member of the cast, crew, house, etc. Sometimes you hear great stories on the boards of how someone got backstage, but those are few and rare. Just hang out pre-show and try to catch the cast as they go in.

[corfriends]

Posted: 12/21/03 at 12:58am

i think i'll have to resort to that. thanks for your comments!

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 12/21/03 at 12:58am

A girl I saw waiting at the Millie stage door was taken backstage by Anne L. Nathan because the girl had written an extremely nice letter, and when they met, Ms. Nathan thought it would be a nice gesture to let her in.

Write them both really nice letters, and see if it works!

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 12/21/03 at 1:00am

...or Celebs can go backstage.

[newyorkuniq]

Posted: 12/21/03 at 1:01am

I'm scared. Anyone else? :P

[say what?]

Posted: 12/21/03 at 1:05am

Celebs can go backstage 'cause more often than not, they have house seats and the company manager, etc., knows when they will be attending the show to cater to their whim. We should all be so lucky, eh?

[corfriends]

Posted: 12/21/03 at 1:06am

we could call them lucky...or rich

[StateOfJade]

Posted: 12/21/03 at 1:28am

Wealth doesn't have to do with it.

[newyorkuniq]

Posted: 12/21/03 at 1:36am

The only shows I have been backstage for are Chicago, Rent and Hairspray. Its really not that exciting. I was working for diff. shows during the summer so that's why.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 12/21/03 at 1:42am

I think the reason she wants to get backstage is for a nice quiet talk with the stars. Not with all the fans asking them to sign their playbill. I doubt she cares where she meets them...the actual backstage has nothing to do with it. Am I right corfriends?

[StateOfJade]

Posted: 12/21/03 at 1:44am

When I waited at the stagedoor for Wicked, I saw about 20 people come out of the stagedoor who were just fans, because they were holding their autographed playbills out and looked very self satisfied. I'm not sure how they managed to get back there though. With some shows it's easy to go backstage. In RENT they actually let you, because there's a wall that hundreds of people have signed, and anyone can just go back there to 'look around.'

[LiTtLeDaNcEr729]

Posted: 12/21/03 at 2:05am

I wrote a certain star of a show (not mentioning names) a letter with my friend, and she brought us backstage after the show. Try writing a letter- mention when you are seeing the show...and possibly say something like "I hope I get to meet you after the show" or something...

[corfriends]

Posted: 12/21/03 at 10:36am

you are totally right broadwaytheater

[BroadwayBaby3]

Posted: 12/21/03 at 5:55pm

I waited for Peter Gallagher to come out of the Stage Door after "Noises Off". I was all alone except for my sister and it was dark, cold, and raining. He felt bad that we were standing in the rain just to get his autograph so he took us backstage and we got to meet the other cast/crew members. It was awesome.

[corfriends]

Posted: 12/21/03 at 5:56pm

so i guess i can pray for really bad weather, and maybe that will work, lol

[Broadwaylilhead]

Posted: 12/21/03 at 5:58pm

It's actually not as hard as you think- you just have to look like you know what you're doing and where you are going. if you can mix yourself up with a crowd walking in, then you're golden. some of the stage doors are tricky because they are on different streets, ala, Lion King is on 42nd but the cast stage door is back on 41st street. But, everyone is right. Backstage is sorta a safe sacred zone for the actors and invading that space can be seen as rude if you were not invited. While many of the actors are nice everyday people and you think you know them because you have seen the show a bazillion times, they don't you from Adam.

[corfriends]

Posted: 12/21/03 at 6:15pm

alas, ive never really seen any large crowds go into the wicked stage door

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 12/21/03 at 6:17pm

Don't just walk in. That will show obsession over the performers, not respect.

[Hello Gorgeous]

Posted: 12/21/03 at 6:21pm

I got to go backstage for WICKED (wow you're going to kill me corfriends), but I went with my sister's school and the people there had connections. It wasn't that amazing, just walking out of the stage door was pretty cool. But I agree with the writing of the letter. That would work..

[Broadwaylilhead]

Posted: 12/21/03 at 6:24pm

Your best bet is to catch the main leads coming out the "other" stage door on 50th street. Most of the cast uses the backstage door on 51st but Joel, Idena, and Kristen's cars usually drop them off and pick them up at the door on 50th.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 12/21/03 at 6:24pm

I thought Idina uses the regular door?

[corfriends]

Posted: 12/21/03 at 6:27pm

hello gorgous, no i'm not going to kill you, but yes, i am SUPER jealous. lol. so where is this second stage door? i know that most of the leads enter the regular stage door, but exiting they don't always.
ideally, i suppose what i'm looking for is someone who has a connection backstage and is willing to share that connection with me. unfortunately, i doubt that will happen... Updated On: 12/21/03 at 06:27 PM