Getting Backstage

[trpguyy]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 7:29am

I know that you have to know people, or someone. But one member mentioned going backstage for her birthday, and others said they were with a friend of a friend of a cast member. I also know of people getting to know the stagehands.
What I'm asking is, is there a "special way" to get backstage? I always wondered if you just walked in the door as if you were supposed to, would they stop you? How does the 'guard' know you don't know anyone?
Lastly, how about sharing some interesting backstage stories?

[DestinyBeckoned]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 7:33am

I don't know, but I almost accidentally went backstage for Avenue Q last week...it was pretty embarrasing. It was my first stage door experience, and I just started following these people, and then they turned around and said "do you know someone in the cast?" and I felt really stupid.

[wildcat]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 7:44am

There is invariably security at all stage doors to protect those who work in the theatre from simple things like theft. Certainly in my experience you would have to be signed in by a member of the company who would stay with you at all times.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 7:50am

Well, you wouldn't look very good sneaking backstage. Anyways, it really is not THAT exciting, unless you are interested in the technical aspects of the show.

[GirlforTartaglia]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 7:55am

I've never done it, but I've heard of some people writing letters to cast members either *asking* to go backstage when they see the show or just inferring that they wanted to and the actors caught on and invited them backstage..
If it's a birthday, I've heard that the Nederlander theatre, RENT, sometimes gives a tour of backstage..
Of course, if you know someone then you can easily get in, I'm assuming..but writing a letter seems like a good option if the actors write back.

[GirlforTartaglia]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 7:59am

And agreeing with Bwaytheatre11..Sneaking backstage would just make someone look pretty..well, stupid...People waiting for the actors won't like you and the cast might have a bad reaction..someone tried sneaking backstage when I saw "La Cage" and the security guards and some ensemble were like "Wow, you actually thought you could do that..That's sad"..

[trpguyy]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 8:00am

I am. I'll be at theater tech/musical theater double major at Syracuse University coming September. Boy have I got my work cut out for me.

[wildcat]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 8:01am

It's also an insurance issue. If a piece of scenery or a light fell on you, the theatre could be sued and THEN who'd pay Nathan and Matthew's $10 million a week?

[trpguyy]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 8:12am

$10M a week? I thought it was $100,000 a performance. That would be nearly $10M for the whole 3-months they were in it again.

[BwayLover]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 8:26am

I wrote to a cast member....I didn't say I wanted to go backstage, and I didn't *think* I was inferring to it (though in retrospect, I think it probably sounded as if I was) - but she invited me backstage anyway. It was awesome.

I also got to go backstage since I got to know the security guard...That was great cause he was a truly great guy.

[GirlforTartaglia]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 8:48am

BwayLover, just curious, which show did that happen with?

[BwayLover]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 9:36am

The show was Mamma Mia. I wrote to Louise Pitre, and she, being one of the nicest people around, invited me to her dressing room - It was so cool. We talked in her dressing room for a few minutes, and then walked out together. She even showed me around the theater a little bit, as we were exiting. (Check out my fan photos, there's a picture from that night).

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 9:45am

"How does the 'guard' know you don't know anyone?"

They will know you don't know someone because they will ask you who you are there to see, and then check with that person before allowing you to go back. If you see people just walking in with seemingly no one stopping them, it just means they are already known around there as someone's friend, assistant, etc.

[CJR]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 10:16am

I was going to tackle that part of the question, but Rath beat me to it

[Firefly]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 10:24am

Of course, after you try to walk in, they WILL know you, but that is not a good thing to be known for.

[CJR]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 10:27am

No, no it's not.

You absolutely *can* just walk in, but whomever is guarding the door will ask who you're there to see and then page them to come get you (unless you're someone who's there all the time and everyone knows you, in which case you'll be told 'go ahead').

[peterjoshua]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 11:55am

Three years ago, some friends and I were able to meet Patti LuPone in her dressing room after a performance of Noises Off because a friend of mine worked for Equity. He worked it out as a surprise for me when we went to the show. We were told to check at the stage door before the show to make sure we were on the list. We were, so after the show the guard ushered us right in and had someone show us up to Patti's dressing room. I got a little nervous when, on our way up the stairs, we heard the guard call over the speaker, "Ms. LuPone, your guests are on their way up." She had just microwaved some broccoli, so her dressing room had the distinct smell of broccoli.

Patti (thankfully) couldn't have been nicer to all of us. Though I think she was surprised to find several people waiting for her in her dressing room when she walked in. The first thing she said to us was, "Hello! And who is everyone?"

It was a great experience.

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 12:20pm

Updated On: 5/28/05 at 12:20 PM

[CJR]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 12:33pm

Even then it's really not a big deal... a lot of times (unless I'm told specifically to meet someone backstage after a show or in cases of nasty weather) I actually prefer to wait outside. Backstage is crowded and a lot of times crazy..... I hate feeling like I'm in the way standing in the general backstage area. There are enough people running around as it is, I don't need to add to the (sometimes) chaos!

There's a sign backstage at the Shubert I always think of when people express an interest in going backstage. It says something to the effect of "This boat only has enough room for those who know how to row."

[LilMissBway14]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 1:55pm

It's not a big deal in the sense that it's not glamorous or anything like that at all. But as someone who aspires to something like Broadway, it's a big deal at the time. I mean, it was pretty cool for me when I first stood on a Broadway stage and to see what Broadway actors see when they perform every night.

But asking to go backstage is a little on the weird side I think...

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 2:25pm

i went backstage when i saw "chicago" becuz i went with a guy that is a producer and he knew someone in the production...the thing is that i bumped into melanie griffith and dindt know what to tell her...becuz she SUCKED!!!!

[CJR]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 3:45pm

Backstage at the ambassador is so tiny. The dressing rooms aren't bad, but compared to the Shubert it's bitty!

Sorry you bumped into Melanie..... I won't go into how I feel about her.

Yes LilMissBway14, it is a bit humbling to stand on a Broadway stage for the first time, and it *is* interesting to see the backstage area from a hopeful performer standpoint. But wanting to go backstage just for the sake of going backstage is slightly pointless.

[Broadway_Bound_Star]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 3:54pm

I went back stage for Evita.. there was a security guard.. but nothing really happened. And I met Kathy and Kate and them.. they were all very nice people.

I also wrote a letter to someone on broadway.. I didn't get asked to go back stage, but she included a letter and a signed headshot

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 3:57pm

For WICKED, it is a little different than most Broadway shows, I mean, the backstage procedure...

[CJR]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 3:58pm

Backstage procedure is different at every theatre, quite frankly, even though they're all supposed to operate under the same policies. It really depends on the show and the stars in it..... and the person at the door.

Updated On: 3/1/05 at 03:58 PM