John Gallagher ever out of American Idiot?/American Idiot Reviews

[AudreyTwoTwo]

Posted: 6/23/10 at 10:50pm

My friends and I trying to make a trip to see American Idiot. Pretty much everyone who is going is going just because of John Gallagher, Jr.
I know that we can't help it if he gets sick, but lately we've been good at going to shows right after the person leaves or something like that.
I was wondering if anyone knew of any certain performances where he will not be performing or if he doesn't do matinees, etc. And is he out a lot?
And also, what did you think of the show if you've seen it?

Updated On: 6/23/10 at 10:50 PM

[steven22]

Posted: 6/24/10 at 12:02am

I know that get very very very very rarely calls out unless there's an emergency, he's very sick or has a prior commitment.

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 6/24/10 at 12:23am

I can't speak for his history with American Idiot, but as I recall he was rarely out of Spring Awakening a few years back.

[jeffmiele]

Posted: 6/24/10 at 1:02am

someone correct me if im wrong but im pretty sure he has not called out once yet since the production has been in New York... in fact, I think of the trio Michael Esper is the only one who has actually missed i believe

[sorano916]

Posted: 6/24/10 at 2:05am

Stark, not Michael, called out because his plane was delayed returning back to NY.

John hasn't called out since the move to Broadway. He missed about 5-6 performances in Berkeley due to illness and injury, but he rarely calls out.

[thespian geek]

Posted: 6/24/10 at 3:13am

Should warn you now though that while your chances of seeing him IN the show are very, very good... at the moment he's rarely stagedooring. So just keep in mind that if you wanted to try and meet him afterward, it may not happen unless you luck out.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/24/10 at 3:35am

He won't be LEAVING any time soon...the show only opened in April. At the very least he's got a 6 month contract, but more likely a one year.

As everyone else stated, he is a true professional and rarely is out. So the odds are on your side.

[sorano916]

Posted: 6/24/10 at 11:06am

If I remember correctly, in an earlier interview, he said that his contract was until the fall so that would be a 6 month contract. But he could always extend.

[AudreyTwoTwo]

Posted: 6/24/10 at 1:25pm

Okay, awesome! Thanks guys. I have a picture I wanted him to sign from Spring Awakening, but I'll bring it anyway. Maybe we'll get lucky. =D

[steven22]

Posted: 6/24/10 at 1:47pm

I saw AI two times on broadway so far and he hasn't come out either time

[AudreyTwoTwo]

Posted: 6/24/10 at 1:53pm

Aww! That's so sad. Do a lot of people run for the stage door? He came out at Spring Awakening (maybe I was just lucky that night). I would understand if he didn't come out but I feel bad because some of the people I'm trying to go with don't go to shows as much so I'd be more disappointed for them.
Like when I went to Rent when Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal were in it. I went for Anthony, my friend went for Adam. I met Anthony already so I would have been fine if he didn't come out, but he came out and Adam didn't. I felt so bad.

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 6/24/10 at 2:02pm

I hate to say it, but that's how it is...I saw American Idiot on Tuesday and I didn't stage door but he used to come out frequently after Spring Awakening. I don't blame him if he doesn't come out, he's probably exhausted because the show is an hour and a half with no intermission and he hardly leaves the stage.

[sorano916]

Posted: 6/24/10 at 3:43pm

He explains why he doesn't stage door as much during American Idiot in his blog post: http://juniorjumped.wordpress.com/

[Ariella]

Posted: 6/24/10 at 8:21pm

Lots of people stagedoor, yes. Of the three leads, Michael Esper comes out most frequently (unless he's gotten jaded in the past couple weeks).

[AudreyTwoTwo]

Posted: 6/25/10 at 12:13am

I figured it was probably because of the Spring Awakening fans, but thats understandable. People said to me, "what? is he too full of himself now that he has a Tony?!" I think he's really nice so I figured it was because he was getting attacked by all of the fans.
But that's understandable, definitely. I'd rather see him, I met him already so it's not that big of a deal. I just have to scrape my friends off of the ground now. lol

[Kad]

Posted: 6/25/10 at 12:15am

John Gallagher is really a sweet and humble guy, even post Tony and with his burgeoning career. He loves meeting fans, but American Idiot is wildly taxing. It's exhausting just to watch- I can't imagine carrying it every night.

[sorano916]

Posted: 6/25/10 at 1:05am

Short story:
My friends and I watch the Tonys in Times Square and afterwards, moseyed by the St. James Theatre and ended up greeting the cast as they returned from Radio City. We got hugs and ended up chatting up with a lot of them, John included. Since his birthday was later that week, we told him that we had something for him that we wanted to give to him (it was a card) on Tuesday. He told us that he'll meet us by the stage door after the show.

Fast-forward to Tuesday, the first show since the Tonys... We waited outside, chatting with Esper and Christina, before we saw John come out. There was quite a crowd, but he saw us and came over. It was my friend's birthday and she had asked him on Sunday if he would save his guitar pick for her on Tuesday, which he pulled out from his pocket and gave to her. We gave him the card and he took his time with it even though there were lots of people waiting for an autograph and/or picture. He thanked us and gave us all hugs and then read the card again before talking to everyone else.

So yeah, he's really nice and he does wish that he could meet and talk to everyone but after "American Idiot," he just need rest. Yet, if you do catch him after the show, he usually doesn't mind saying 'Hi.'

[silversurfer2]

Posted: 6/25/10 at 8:15am

Kad: I agree. Since his beginnings @ the Atlantic Theater where SA premiered and through the Broadway run,his TONY award, John remains a well grounded person ,aside from being a supremely talented performer, he is very humble and very appreciative of his fans.And doesn't take his fame for granted...NO DIVA ACT HERE. Many times after the show {SA}, he would hang around and talk to all of his fans. He never left until the last person got an autograph and a picture. He greeted fans after the shows @ the Atlantic- PORT AUTHORITY and FARRAGUT NORTH.He hasn't changed, doubt he ever will. He is that kind of a person.
sorano 916: That's a great story, so typical of how John goes out of his way for his fans.
But he just can't fo this after performances of AI--not to say, that when he feels able to, he will stage door. But due to his demanding role, it is understandable why he doesn't.
As for his contract, I had heard it is only until SEPT 4, unless he renews. He said after AI, he would like a nice, quiet dramatic play to be his next venture.
Updated On: 6/25/10 at 08:15 AM

[Piper3500]

Posted: 6/25/10 at 8:48am

"John Gallagher is really a sweet and humble guy, even post Tony and with his burgeoning career. He loves meeting fans, but American Idiot is wildly taxing. It's exhausting just to watch- I can't imagine carrying it every night."

-with a lot of people, the explanation in the blog would have granted an eye roll for sure. With John, I believe him. I think he is very sweet to his fans by all accounts.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/25/10 at 8:49am

Sept 4? If that's true, that's a really short contract!

But Gallagher is anything but egotistical. As another poster mentioned...his not stage dooring has only happened for THIS show.

And then, of course, there's this: If he doesn't WANT to stage door FOR ANY REASON, he's entitled not to. NO actor is required to appear during their PERSONAL time for an audience members enjoyment.

I'm sorry, but I get really annoyed with people that think it is their RIGHT to get to meet ANY stage performer and when that doesn't happen, they turn it into a personality flaw of the actor. (I know that no one posting has made that claim, on this thread.)

[mamaleh]

Posted: 6/25/10 at 8:58am

My friend and I happened to encounter him at a theater district diner pre-show a few weeks ago. Both of us had seen AI (I had also seen SA), so we recognized him and said hello. He was very gracious and we had a lovely chat for a couple of minutes.

[thespian geek]

Posted: 6/25/10 at 12:03pm

Regarding his contract only being until Sept 4th, I have no idea how factual that is, but it doesn't surprise me since their original block of tickets were only selling until about that same date. It also won't surprise me if he extends his contract.

The handful of times I've heard about him legit stagedooring for Idiot, the situation has been the same as previous times. He stays until everyone has had a photo and/or autograph that wants one, chats people up, etc. A friend of mine who saw the show early on in the run lucked out in having him stagedoor one of those times and she said he was there until around midnight.

[AudreyTwoTwo]

Posted: 6/25/10 at 12:05pm

Would that diner happen to be the Edison Cafe? Almost every time I go there, I meet an actor or someone else working on the shows. I sat next to Christian Borle for a while and my friends saw Brad Garrett and some people from The Odd Couple.

[mamaleh]

Posted: 6/25/10 at 12:55pm

No, but I've seen plenty of stage thesps there over the years: Rosemary Harris, Tony Roberts, Harry Groener, Chris Sieber, Jim Brochu and others. Plus the matzoh ball soup is to, well, plotz for.

[AudreyTwoTwo]

Posted: 6/25/10 at 1:05pm

Ahaha yes it totally is.
I'm still getting used to seeing John's hair... well... normal, because of Spring Awakening. I kept saying to my mom during the Tony's: It's so... flat! xD