Has anyone ever met a *nice* Joanna Gleason? — Page 2

I saw DRS about two weeks ago and Joanna came out the stage door and signed about 4 or 5 autographs. Someone asked to take a picture and she said something like, "Oh, I suppose, if it's quick." I was a bit disappointed that she was not more friendly, but, to her defense, that night a lot of her family was there, so I guess we were lucky to see her at all. I had been wondering if this was common practice for her because everyone else was so gracious and stayed so long to sign (except Norbert, who also had people with him and was in a rush). It was my first stage door and overall, such a treat!

If anyone watches Law & Order, Chris Sarandon often guest stars as defense attorney Howard Pincham (I believe that's the name)...


I'm a sucker for law and order.....

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OK, maybe she's a saint, whatever.

I figured he must have something to do with Susan Sarandon. Now, she's famous...

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Maybe there's another exit?

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The first time I saw DRS Joanna came out and signed for people across from me and then left, it was kind of crushing, because I felt like my emotions had been toyed with, lol. But oh well. She sent me a signed photo in the mail and I appreciate that! .

How did this grotesque tradition of waylaying stars as they exit the stagedoor ever start? I used to think the whole idea of the stage door was so stars could exit discreetly, without being shanghaied by autograph hounds? I guess it's been going on for generations, but why did we decide broadway stars have to give second performance (or third, or fourth) in the alley?

Do any other performers do this? I know pop/rock/rap/R&B stars are out of the venue as discreetly and as quickly as possible. Elton John often travels by helicopter and stages his shows so that the crowds are calling for an encore when he is up & out- off to the airport and home to Atlanta while the fans are still applauding. Do Opera stars come out after? I know country stars often return to the auditorium and greet fans from the edge of the stage.

Maybe it's just because I think autographs are pointless and standing in a line to "meet" a star nto much of a thrill, but I'd let the poor people go home and put their feet up.

I've been to DRS twice and she never came out. I saw her husband there, but didn't think to say anything.

I did write to her with a playbill asking for her to sign it and return it (in a SASE), which she did - and fast, too.

Ugh, I was at the stage door for Spamalot on Wednesday, after the matinee. There was some guy there, with a crazy lady. They were literally shouting at anyone who left the stage door, asking if they were in the show. They asked an exiting musician if he was in the show and he said something like 'Yeah, I play guitar' and they were like 'Oh god no, we don't want YOUR autograph'. It was so unbelievably rude that people aroudn them started laughing. They were rather intense and the woman started crying when John Bolton came out. The guy kept pushing an elderly lady in a wheelchair out of the way so he would be next to the barrier. It was disgusting. The actors dealt with them very well. If I had to face that every day, maybe I'd start escaping incognito. I think people would have told them to stop being rude and scary but they seemed to have some kind of learning difficulty or mental illness so no one thought it appropriate. They were behaving disgustingly.

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I will never understand the sense of entitlement that allows fans to expect...no, DEMAND...all the extras. Certainly, it's very nice if actors choose to throw in said extras, but as long as they are delivering the goods on stage, how does it diminish them if they choose not to go over and above and cater to fans' stage door desires?

And more often than not, bitter sentiments surrounding "non-compliant" stage door behavior (such as not coming out to sign autographs) comes from someone who is not yet old enough to appreciate the reality of job vs real life.

To me, it is a sign that a fan doesn't really care two hoots about an actor, but rather, is invested in reconstructing the illusion of who they want that actor to be. To think that actors are doing anything more than giving just another performance at the stage door, is in most cases, to fool one's self.

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Just because she doesn't come out of the stage door doesn't make her a bad person, or a mean person, or a rude person. She owes her fans nothing but a great performance (which is exactly what she is giving in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels).

I don't *DEMAND* that she comes out. I would like for her to. I would have greater respect for her as a human if she came out of the stagedoor. Nobody *DEMANDS* that she comes out. It's her option, and some fans will judge her for that. I think she's amazing on stage-brilliant and incredible in every way possible.


A lot of us seem to have different opinions. I understand people not wanting to come out of the stage door. It happens a lot. Now, the reason I made this was because I had never heard that she was a nice person and I was wondering if anyone could tell me any differently. There are a few of you who have great things to say about her, but then again-there are some people who don't have much nice to say about her.

I'm sorry if this thread pisses some of you off. I was just curious about it.

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I have an opinion on this issue, and I know my opinion doesn't matter, but I would like to share it.

I LOVE the stage door. When the actors/actresses come out, it's like a living, breathing peice of the show RIGHT in front of me. I have had a lot of great experiences at stage doors before and after shows. However, I do not expect any one certain actor or actress to come out, nor do I think that they should feel obliged. I may think more highly of a person who comes out and talks to me personally, but I do not think lowly of one who doesn't. I am in a position where I have "fans" (strong word) and understand people who wish to keep their private lives seperate from their public lives. I also understand that it can be hard to keep a nice face for these "fans" when I am having an ornery day. So...I would say that if someone has a "bad stage door experience" he or she should not make immediate judgement. And if you don't want to have a bad experience then just be sweet and don't push (verbally OR physically ) the actor or actress. You're experience is sure to be better that way.

I understand that Parks did not mean to make this an issue, he was just curious about Ms. Gleason (who I adore). But I just wanted to say that. So I did.

phew.

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