I've gone backstage to many shows: Les Miserables, 42nd Street, Beauty and the Beast (when it originally opened), Gypsy, Annie, and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? My favorite was when I went to see 42nd Street and my grandmother knew Michael Cumpsty and he offered to take us backstage, like TheActr97J, I got to go on the stage, touch scenery, and when my grandmother told him that I do musical theatre he asked me to sing. So I did on the Hilton Theatre stagein front of an entirely empty theatre-it was magical. I loved it. It's so much fun to go backstage and see how everything is done and to be so close to the scenery and costumes, it makes yo ufeel like your almost a part of the show itself.
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/25/04
Little Shop of Horrors revival, Chicago revival, and Wicked...all with a performer.
Dance of the Vampires! Thank you Ray McLeod! He used to take groups of fans backstage for tours. It was amazing!
I went backstage at Mamma Mia. The stagehand randomly asked me and my friend if we wanted to go so we jumped at the chance.
Yesterday, I went backstage with Gregory Jbara after the matinee show. It was great! Met his kids, and wife, and saw norbert, and Andrew Asnes and then saw David Yazbak (greg pointed him out to us.) Good day for us.
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/16/04
I had the chance to get backstage at La Cage, but never did. Oh well.
I went backstage of CHICAGO when it was at the Shubert. I met Stephanie Pope (Velma), Amy Spanger (Roxie), I saw Michael C. Hall from a distance. I also met ensemble member Eric Jordan Young. This wouldn't have been possible without the fabulous Roxane Carrasco. It was neat! Also I've been backstage of the theater at Madison Square Garden, Mindy Wild, a friend of mine...was in the Ensemble of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. I met the amazing director/choreographer Susan Stroman which was also a thrill for me!
When Showboat and Moon Over Buffalo were on Broadway like 10 years ago since I knew people in them when I went to New York. It was cool.
Fiddler last summer...i was at the stage door after the show, and one of the actors just invited me back...i guess it was just luck
Featured Actor Joined: 5/29/05
Avenue Q last January. Angelia Ai went to my school and so my school group met the whole OBC. - the original Christmas eve because well she was busy having a baby. It was cool we got to see all of the puppets and their 'houses'. That Rick Loyn is one wierd dude, but cool. good times
Damn Yankees - Revival
Anything Goes - Revival Patti Lupone
Noises Off! Patti Lupone
Hairspray
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/04
My sole B'way backstage experience was Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and the only reason for that was my husband and I were guests of the Jbara's on opening night. If not for Greg being a friend and being in the show, I wouldn't really have cared about it. When I say "backstage" that mainly refers to hanging out in Greg's dressing room and then just before we all left for the party, we (Greg, Julie, Al and me) went onto the stage, at Greg's suggestion. It was very cool, but I wouldn't have even thought to ask about it myself. Julie took a photo of Greg, Al and me ... have yet to see it ... maybe I broke her camera. lol
Have been backstage a few times for local productions, but those were cases where either I was a volunteer of some sort and/or knew people involved.
I have no interest in going backstage of any show just for the sake of going back ... however, I realize that for some people, especially for young people planning a career in the performing arts, it's a huge deal to get that glimpse of what they hope their life will be like, career-wise, in a few years.
I know I've been telling a bunch of people about this, but- my first and only (for now) backstage experience was on my birthday when I saw Sweet Charity! I got to meet dear Denis O'Hare, who congratulated me. ^_^
I stepped on the stage at Rent and I went backstage of All Shook Up. It is so amazingly cool back there and it was totally sweet for Cheyenne to take the time to do that. Going backstage is truly an amazing experience.
Swing Joined: 7/25/05
My friend went on as Harry Bright in Mamma Mia over Memorial Day weekend and he took up backstage. It was cool to see all the different booths they had to sing offstage, the disco booth, the tropical booth, the gay booth....LOL. My friend was awesome.
Twice
Darling of the Day - Spoke to Vincent Price for about 15 minutes He was a perfect gentleman. I cannot believe I did not get him to sign the program.
The Producers - When our neighbor played the Nazi we went backstage. We saw where the bird was hidden & got a full tour. The theater looked bigger from the stage . I got Stadlen to sign my Minnies Boys program but did not see him ( Bad back for Stadlen was what I was told)
Over the years, I have been on many stages . Basically they were stages of old vaudeville theaters & movie palaces. If I could, my ashes would be put under a stage of a movie palace
I've been backstage at POTO numerous times and got to watch the show from backstage. I've also been backstage at DRS and Wicked.
I've been backstage at Mamma Mia(Thansk Dean Greer) and Avenue Q(thanks Christine). Both very very cool experiences!
I got to go backstage at "the graduate" but only when lorraine bracco was in it. she was very sweet though.
wickedfan, how'd you get to go backstage at "virginia woolf"?
I've been backstage twice at DRS with the man, Greg Jbara. It is just such a special experience being invited back because, first, such a funny and kind guy, and second, a person who cares a lot about the show. Intsead of just the stage door guy saying come on stage for 10 seconds or something, lol. Like Barb said, if I wasn't friends with Greg it wouldn't have been as special.
Scoundrels, Hairspray and Sweeney. I know some people don't understand the pull to go backstage and others would love an oppertunity, I fall into the latter camp. I don't think it even has to be someone who wants to make a career of it, just anyone who has an immense love of the theatre can appreciate the feeling of standing on the stage and seeing behind-the-scenes stuff and such. DRS was the first time ever and when I stepped onto that stage and looked out into the audience, I was just in ecstatic. Ir felt like an unreal experience, and I have no desire to become an actor.
I am a pit geek, and don't plan on playing in pits professionally but perhaps some regional stuff...well I was fortunate to get to go into the pit of DRS for a minute...some BWWers can verify the absolute glory I was in for being in a broadway pit for just one minute
wicked and the producers.
loved both of them so much. i will never forget the amazing experiences i had. i can only hope i'll be able to do it again.
Chorus Member Joined: 12/6/05
Avenue Q, but I would love to go back at Wicked and Hairspray. Hopefully someday...
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