How does it work meeting actors?

It depends on the actor, the show, the length of the show, the cleaning up involved, the proximity of the stage door, and the security.

There is no one way.

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well... lets see, if it were me and you were going to see your favortie actor of all time and you think a lot of people will be outside waiting, then i would skip curtain call (i know thats horrible) but you dont have to miss the whole thing (watch everyone bow individually then bust out before everyone bows together). try to be one of the firsts ones there. sometimes what takes so long is not waiting for the actor to come out but waiting for them to get to you, and sometimes the actors only sign autographs for peole in the front. make sure you are prepared like know where the stage door is before the show ends. its little things like that that will help. time will always vary.

oh and if you really really really love this actor and the sercurtiy guards say "they left" dont listen the first and hold out for another like twenty minutes, sometimes they say that so the crowd will thin out.

Updated On: 12/9/05 at 05:17 PM

Like everyone said, you never can tell. When I saw the Odd Couple, Nathan and Matthew did not come out for the matinee, but I did get to say hi to Nathan because he was holding the donation bucket for BCEFA at the door. The Rent cast comes out pretty quickly. And if you have big stars, you can be sure there will be velvet ropes to contain the crowd and give the actors room. At Spamalot, David Hyde Pierce and Chris Sieber came out pretty quickly, Tim Curry did not. At DRS, Norbert came out pretty quicky and signed a lot of playbills and let me take a picture with him. Usually if there is little makeup and costuming involved and the actor is not a big star, they will come out within 15 minutes. Golden rule, don't be pushy and ask nicely if you can take a picture. Oh and compliments always help -- i.e. on the performance, NOT babbling "I love you" or " you're my inspiration" -- I have seen actors get very uncomfortable.

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oh
i guess it must really depend on the night and everything, like how they feel, and all that stuff
i dunno
ive usually had very good stagedoor experiences
except for phantom, and little women (how long can sutton take?)... :)

Just be polite, and don't get upset if someone you like doesn't come out---there could be a myriad of reasons, and this is something nice the actors do for their fans, not something they owe us!
BE POLITE!

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I'll add my 2 cents -
I agree with standing by the side that the actor sees when they first open the door. They just naturally seem to head to that side first.

I don't necessarily agree with standing back and waiting. Some actors (like the guys in Spamalot and Greg Jbara) will stay there until everybody gets their autograph and/or picture. Others will only sign the first few they pass and then they'll go on. I agree completely that it depends on the individual and how tired they are. Norbert is great about signing - if he isn't too tired. As you can imagine, that role can totally wear him out and there are times when he just can't sign.

Don't listen to the door man as far as pictures and autographs are concerned. Ask the actor directly. I honestly do believe that some doormen are trying to protect the actors - particularly those who may be just too tired to sign or pose for photos. In most cases I've found that they're more than happy to sign/pose if you ask them directly. (And nicely)

SERIOUSLY consider waiting at the stage door just to congratulate Patrick, thank him and maybe shake his hand. Then go home and write him a short note, thanking him again and asking him if he wouldn't mind signing your Playbill for you. With the Playbill, enclose a SASE for him to return it in. He'll appreciate it and (based on personal experience) you'll get it back very quickly.

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And the stagedoor at the Cort is to the right as you face the theater, right Emcee?

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Before anybody comes and asks (Because it always seems to happen):

SASE=Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope

haha
well, if you just keep on waiting till everyone is gone for someone you wanna meet (in my case, shannon durig), the person running the stage door may let you backstage! (at HAIRSPRAY!!!!!!!!!)

:)

Perhaps; it's becoming common at most shows now, even ones without big stars. But I'd assume that even if they're not concerned about Patrick's relative fame, they might put barricades up because of Amanda Peet, no?

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From my experiences- Be nice to them, its always my main thing to be nice, never push or be rude, thats not good. Also I usually metion my favorite song/scene etc. My favorite cast ever has to be ALL SHOOK UP- they came out revatiely quickly and were super nice, they remembered me from the front row--- it was awesome. Wicked is prolly second- they come out quicky- Usually with the Elphaba being the last one out or not coming out sometimes.

i know for wicked it would take any of the elphabas a LONG time to come out, b/c they have to shower and get all the green off of them. i didnt even bother waiting.

rent on the other hand -- minimal makeup/costuming, no real props/set to clean up... they come out within 10 minutes.