If an actor doesn't stagedoor, how do they leave a Broadway theatre then?

[aces25]

Posted: 7/20/17 at 11:54am

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 7/20/17 at 12:03pm

The front door. Or they wait in the theatre until no one is standing at the stage door.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/20/17 at 12:06pm

Many Broadway theatres have other exits backstage.  Some into alleys in between buildings.  Many actors who do not leave through the stage door can leave either in whatever alternate option their theatre have or can simply leave thru the lobby undetected.  Many do this while the crowds are waiting at the stage door area and the theatre has since been pretty much cleared out about 30 minutes after a performance.  They just simply walk out and to their waiting car or just simply walk home.  

[TheThreadMaster]

Posted: 7/20/17 at 12:59pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "Many Broadway theatres have other exits backstage.  Some into alleys in between buildings.  Many actors who do not leave through the stage door can leave either in whatever alternate option their theatre have or can simply leave thru the lobby undetected.  Many do this while the crowds are waiting at the stage door area and the theatre has since been pretty much cleared out about 30 minutes after a performance.  They just simply walk out and to their waiting car or just simply walk home.  

 

"

I think there is a tunnel that goes from the music box to the schoenfeld because I have seen Pippin, Shuffle Along, and Dear Evan Hansen stars come out of there while there is a crowd awaiting them at the music box stage door.

[haterobics]

Posted: 7/20/17 at 1:04pm

The easiest way is to just change fast, pop on a baseball hat, and exit with the crowd... no one's looking for them there.

[leighmiserables]

Posted: 7/20/17 at 1:17pm

TheThreadMaster said: "I think there is a tunnel that goes from the music box to the schoenfeld because I have seen Pippin, Shuffle Along, and Dear Evan Hansen stars come out of there while there is a crowd awaiting them at the music box stage door."

I'm about 99% sure this is true; I feel like I've read about it somewhere before. 

There's also an alleyway between the Imperial and the Richard Rodgers that Ham/Great Comet performers sneak through. 

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 7/20/17 at 1:31pm

They apparate.

[morosco]

Posted: 7/20/17 at 1:31pm

Everyone probably knows this but just in case... if an actor chooses not to leave through the stage door, take it as fair indication that they have chosen to leave the theater discreetly.  There could be many reasons why they choose to do so (security issues, not feeling well, rushing to be with family, other appointments, etc.).  Respect their privacy.

[LarryD2]

Posted: 7/20/17 at 1:37pm

morosco said: "Everyone probably knows this but just in case... if an actor chooses not to leave through the stage door, take it as fair indication that they have chosen to leave the theater discreetly.  There could be many reasons why they choose to do so (security issues, not feeling well, rushing to be with family, other appointments, etc.).  Respect their privacy.

 

"

It would be nice if people acted that way, but it's rare (and becoming rarer). I've seen so many instances where an actor was "spotted" trying to leave discreetly and was literally chased down the street for autographs.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 7/20/17 at 3:23pm

I know for a  fact that the "star" dressing room of the St. James has a special door that leads into the restaurant next door. Boyd Gaines had that dressing room during GYPSY and he had to keep scented candles burning to combat the heavy scent of beef that filtered into the room.

[LarryD2]

Posted: 7/20/17 at 3:33pm

Dollypop said: "I know for a  fact that the "star" dressing room of the St. James has a special door that leads into the restaurant next door. Boyd Gaines had that dressing room during GYPSY and he had to keep scented candles burning to combat the heavy scent of beef that filtered into the room.

 

"

Nathan Lane was an investor in Angus McIndoe (the restaurant that, until last year, was adjacent to the St. James), and had the door installed so that he could discreetly leave without going through the stage door, when he was doing The Producers.

[theatregeek6]

Posted: 7/20/17 at 4:40pm

I remember having a drink upstairs at Sardi's and seeing the Matilda kids coming down a fire escape from the Shubert Theater into the alleyway between the Shubert and Broadhurst.

[EvanK]

Posted: 7/20/17 at 4:45pm

LarryD2 said: "Dollypop said: "I know for a  fact that the "star" dressing room of the St. James has a special door that leads into the restaurant next door. Boyd Gaines had that dressing room during GYPSY and he had to keep scented candles burning to combat the heavy scent of beef that filtered into the room.

 

"

Nathan Lane was an investor in Angus McIndoe (the restaurant that, until last year, was adjacent to the St. James), and had the door installed so that he could discreetly leave without going through the stage door, when he was doing The Producers.

 

"

How fascinating! I tried finding any sort of information on this doors online just now and found nothing. Sad. 

[zainmax]

Posted: 7/20/17 at 5:11pm

I've also heard of underground tunnels connected to the Eugene O'Neill.

Does anyone have any photographs of the tunnels? I'd be interested in seeing them.

Also, one of the guys working at the Palace once told me that an actress would slip out a back door onto 6th Ave. Is there really a door there? I wasn't stage-dooring; I was just curious about the construction of the theater, considering the planned renovation project.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 7/20/17 at 5:21pm

Industry secret: when you get your Equity card, you also get a pair of ruby slippers that allows you vanish from your theater at a moment's notice.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 7/20/17 at 5:46pm

haterobics said: "The easiest way is to just change fast, pop on a baseball hat, and exit with the crowd... no one's looking for them there.

 

"

I have seen that A LOT. I never say anything when I notice that. Figure the actor wants to get home or somewhere  in a hurry that night.  

[NoName3]

Posted: 7/20/17 at 6:28pm

The Sewers, of course.

[wntriscmng]

Posted: 7/20/17 at 6:57pm

True story, was at The Great Comet and they said Josh Groban wasn't coming out so these girls asked how he left and security said he had a private helicopter on the roof of the Imperial. The guard was joking but the girls believed him. 

 

I also stagedoored at Hamilton and they said no one else was coming after a few cast members came out, but after they took down the guard rails a few minutes later Bryan Terrell Clark (George Washington) came out and went to his car. It was cool seeing him but I didn't ask for his autograph because I figured he probably wouldn't want to be bothered.

[Wee Thomas2]

Posted: 7/20/17 at 7:27pm

I can't say what show, but there was one where Jeff Goldblum didn't leave the theater for days on end, sometimes even for a full week.

[laureng717]

Posted: 7/20/17 at 7:44pm

This happened at the Music Box a week ago. Everyone stood at the stage door and Colton Ryan (Ben Platt's understudy) was escorted away out the front door. It's pretty common.

[starcatchers]

Posted: 7/20/17 at 11:27pm

zainmax said: "I've also heard of underground tunnels connected to the Eugene O'Neill.

Does anyone have any photographs of the tunnels? I'd be interested in seeing them.

Also, one of the guys working at the Palace once told me that an actress would slip out a back door onto 6th Ave. Is there really a door there? I wasn't stage-dooring; I was just curious about the construction of the theater, considering the planned renovation project.

 

"

It's not *on* 6th avenue, but yes.