Jean Arthur Stage Door Stories

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/31/13 at 8:57pm

The Ethel Merman stories were fun, but as several posters pointed out, kind of done to death. So I thought how about you all share stories of another Broadway Legend JEAN ARTHUR! Stage door encounters, anecdotes, funny stories- anything to do with La Arthur!

I'll start us off!

I was able to score a ticket to a preview of The Freaking Out of Stephanie Blake which turned out to be her last Broadway role. I waited after the preview and there were few if any fans who stuck it out. People speculated due to her stage fright and the show's poor reception she might just duck out a side door.

But after about 25 minutes, there she was. I approached her and she almost flinched away- she was shy! I handed her my playbill and a pen and said "I loved the show and I thought you were magnificent!"

She almost whispered "Thank you very much" and signed my playbill and like that, she was gone! What a night!

I look forward to hearing your stories!!!

Updated On: 7/31/13 at 08:57 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/31/13 at 8:59pm

Wow!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/31/13 at 9:00pm

I KNOW!

[best12bars]

Posted: 7/31/13 at 9:04pm

Jean Arthur was Bea's sister, right?

[D2]

Posted: 7/31/13 at 10:16pm

Her mother.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/1/13 at 12:28am

Joe, I am so jealous. Any time I stage doored for her, she was a no show. I'm glad that after years of assuming she didn't care about her fans, that I was just plain wrong.

Heartwarming. Thanks for sharing.

[Len Gersten]

Posted: 8/1/13 at 1:13am

I adore Jean Arthur, but only know her work from the classic films she appeared in back in the day. I believe "Shane" was her last film role in the early '50's. Unfortunately, she was way before my time of going to live theater. Would have loved to have seen her perform on the stage. Meeting her afterward at the stage door would have made for a magical experience.

Thanks for starting this thread, Joe. Hoping some long-time fans have some stories to share.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/1/13 at 11:23am

Jean and Bea Arthur may share a last name but no DNA- sorry.

They say the best stories are apocryphal so I have no idea if this one is true but it sure rings true to me:

Jean was starring in The Curtain Rises and ducked into the Edison Diner for dinner between shows. The waiter recognized her and said "How about a juicy steak for the Broadway Star?" Jean smiled ruefully and said "You must think I'm Ruth Gordon. I'll have the chicken croquette."

Priceless.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/1/13 at 3:59pm

Jean gave one of her rare interviews to the Village Voice in 1974. The reporter observed that Judy Garland fans often dressed in drag as their idol. He asked if her fans ever dressed up as Jean Arthur. She replied "I don't think so."

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/2/13 at 5:08pm

Jean was known as the "Nicest woman in the world" but she could be quite cutting when she felt the need. Spotted in the crowd at the opening night of Evita, a reporter asked her "What did you think of LuPone's performance?"

Jean cupped her ear and said "I'm sorry I couldn't hear the question."

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 8/2/13 at 6:07pm

" Jean smiled ruefully and said "You must think I'm Ruth Gordon. I'll have the chicken croquette.""

I can so easily imagine her delciously doing this. It makes me wonder whether her screenwriters based her characters on her or vice versa.