Leave Celebrities Alone at Shows

I spotted Lindsay Mendez and Hunter Parrish last night at Nice Work. All I did was take a mental note and that was that. Some older people outside were taking pictures of Hunter while he's just trying to have a conversation with Lindsay and someone else. Then the woman proceeds to pester him into taking pictures with her and her friends. At intermission inside the theatre the same thing starts happening with some younger people.

I understand that you might think it's soooo cool to have a picture taken with a celebrity but you should also realize that they're people too. Leave them alone and let them enjoy an evening out without being bombarded by idiots!

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What if your van hit Jan Maxwell?

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I think you have to read peoples body language- I have had great conversations with some celebrities and others give off all of the signs that say "don't bother me!"

I've had great conversations with Morgan Freeman, Raul Esparza, Riedel, Marc Anthony and a host of others- but you could tell they wouldn't mind- they were talkative to people around them, when you looked at them they would look back and smile or gesture.

I knew 100% to leave Vince McMahon alone at Shrek, and James Gandolfini at Stritch at the Carlye- they had they "leave me the f*** alone" face on- didn't even look their way!

I think it just depends on the person.

There's sort of a flip side to the "I vant to be alone" issue. As intermission began at a performance of THE BOY FROM OZ eight years ago, I saw Peter Krause sitting with Carla Gugino, both of whom I knew were about to do a revival of AFTER THE FALL. As I passed by, I smiled slightly. Mr. Krause looked me in the eye and asked, "Would you like an autograph"? That took me by surprise, as I had no intention to so ask. But I felt it would be churlish and insulting to say "That's OK, thanks anyway"--so I offered them a spare playbill I was holding, smiled again and thanked them. That was the only time I've ever experienced that happenstance.

How embarassing would it have been if you didn't know who Peter or Carla ware

Wear sunglasses and ask tourists. Will probably work every time.

Hey, THAT'S a good idea. Charge money too. Say it's for The Human Fund. See what happens.

I can only imagine what would happen if someone approached.... Faye Dunaway? from RC in Austin, Texas

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I've seen lots of celebs and generally I act as if they weren't even there out of respect for their privacy.

I ended up standing directly behind Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman at the intersection of 57th and Madison once. Some woman asked to take a picture with them and they obliged (which I thought was pretty darn nice). When the light changed and everyone started walking I heard her say "see, I told you we should have taken the car".

The exception I always make though is when I see a composer whose work I love. I can't help myself. I feel compelled to let them how much their work has moved me.

Nothing long or too intrusive, just a simple compliment on their work. The three times I've done that (William Finn, Jerry Herman, and Alan Menken) they have all been quite gracious and appreciative.


But also as someone earlier said, if there is obvious "leave me alone" body language then I would never intrude.

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Updated On: 8/23/12 at 01:28 PM

I was out to lunch and Helen Hayes was at the next table. I made her sign the menu and then recite a few lines from Victoria Regina. I had my young niece with me who had no idea who she was- so I had Helen recap her career and draw a few of her most favorite costumes so my precious could appreciate who she was meeting. I asked Helen to read through my one act and make a few suggestions. Bitch CLAIMED to be too busy. Damn celebrities are so full of themselves.

My favorite reaction was of Lea Michele a couple years back when she was only on Glee. It was Xmas time and she was at the Marc Jacobs store buying a gift for her bf. This Asian woman flipped her sh!t and of course took out the camera to ask for a picture. Lea shot that bitch down and you can't take pictures inside that store anyway.

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I recently came across Julia Roberts in the most unlikely of places ( a remote beach in the West of Ireland) and as I passed her, I just froze. WTF?? I couldn't help but think. I wouldn't dream of approaching her, but it was obvious I recognized her and I felt that even that was a bit of an intrusion. Ridic, I know.

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Lea Michele is someone who needs her delusional fans to pay for her cars and houses. Without them, she'd be singing on a Subway platform for nickels. She should damn well sign autographs.