Les Miserables Pre-show SDing...

[glindaberry]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 4:05pm

My friend and I are going up to see the Revival on Sunday with the rest of the cast of our school's production and we were hoping to catch some of the actors on the way in, being that it's uncertain if we'll be able to stay after.

Around what time to more of the cast (Alex, Celia, Lea, Jenny, Drew, etc.) arrive? I remember bumping into Adam in November as he came in for a Wed. matinee, but this was very close to showtime. Is that how they all are?

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you so much! =D

[p.s.]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 4:18pm

Many arrive 50 minutes to 30 minutes before showtime.

Eventhough they may be in a hurry -- since there's no crowd, they should be good for a short comment or chat and an autograph.
Be prepared with program/playbill, marker, etc.


p.s. If Adam arrives within 30 minutes of showtime, you are obligated to say to him, "Marius, you're late".

[MovieGuy1031]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 4:21pm

I don't think stage-dooring before a show is a good idea at all.

I did it at Drowsy, because that is apparently the only way to meet Sutton Foster, and I will NEVER do it again. I did get to meet her, yes, but I felt as though I was inconveniencing her (Which i was...) and her dog. She brought the dog out for a pee (Which she actually told me...) and there I was waiting like a stalker...

Nope. I will never do that again.

But anyway, as for Les Miz, I read somewhere that Lea will not sign if you are waiting for her before the show, because she finds it rude... as would I.

GOD I regret doing that.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 4:31pm

They're all very nice over at Les Miz. Stage dooring before the show is the best opportunity to actually talk to the actors, as there are big crowds afterwards. The cast members are all very nice and shouldn't mind signing.

Alex/Norm get there around noon-ish.

MovieGuy - You didn't inconvienience her.

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 4:35pm

I always feel that if you were inconvienceing them they would say it. As long as you are polite, ask nicely, and say thank you it is usually not a problem.

[glindaberry]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 4:51pm

Thanks for all the help (:

Does Megan McGinnis come in around the same time as everyone else?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 5:01pm

They all have to be there by 1:30.

The exact time they get there is anyone's game.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 5:07pm

I have no idea the answer, but it makes me very happy you mentioned Megan. (as I wear my Les Mis t-shirt) I would assume it's about the same time as everyone else.

[Revolutionary]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 6:00pm

I agree with everything movieguy said.

I had a similar experience like a year and a half ago. I was with a couple friends just walking and we we saw a certain person coming out of the stage door with his dog and turning the corner, it was inbetween shows and basically he was right in front of us so I stopped him, just to say hi. I really just meant to say hi and keep walking, but he was as nice as he usually is and my friend who had met him a couple times before, mistaked his 'Hey, how's it going?' for an invitation to converse so she kept talking and talking about completely random stuff. I felt that we were really inconveniencing him and I'm sure he was annoyed. I think it was like 15-20 minutes before the show was going to start, and after about 5 minutes he stopped her when she was mid sentence and was like, 'Sorry, but I better get going, I have to get ready, but we can talk later, ok?'. Then he turned around so his dog didn't even get to finish her walk, LOl...

Ugggh, I was so embarassed, when he stopped my friend she was just like 'Oh, Oopsies. Ok, break a leg, blah blah blah...' and then we kept walking and she totally forgot about it a minute later but I remembered and even now I can still feel the embarassment. I would never ever do that again, and if I was with someone who wanted to stop an actor and ask for a photo or a signature on their way in, I would kindly or maybe not so kindly tell that person not to. I think it is rude and an inconvenience to whoever it is, and really, it's just kind of bad etiquette.




Updated On: 3/22/07 at 06:00 PM

Posted: 3/22/07 at 6:07pm

MovieGuy - You didn't inconvienience her.

Technically, he unfortunately was. I've said this time and time again on these boards, but if Sutton Foster doesn't exit via the stagedoor after the show, she obviously considers meeting fans an inconvenience. It's quite sad that she's suddenly above meeting fans or even signing something left at the stagedoor to sign on her own time (ahem...), but it doesn't feel right to wait around before the show in an attempt to catch someone knowing that you won't be seeing him or her later.

I should probably clarify that I don't see much wrong with asking for an autograph before a performance provided that the performer typically comes out of the stagedoor as well after the show (although why not just wait after the show, then?). However, waiting for an autograph before the show knowing that the performer in question usually tries to avoid his or her fans? Kind of awkward and unnecessary. Updated On: 3/22/07 at 06:07 PM

[myManCape]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 6:14pm

Waiting before a show while an actor is on his/her way into work is nothing compared to what real stars go through. Imagine having a crowd of people out side of you hotel every day or people interrupting you in a restaurant. Those are examples of rudeness. As the actor goes into work you may be slightly inconveniencing by a minute or two, but as long as your polite it certainly isn’t rude to do.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 6:22pm

Although I did meet Sutton before the show, I did feel a little bad. There was another girl there with gifts for Sutton. And Sutton certainly seemed anything but annoyed.

It all depends on the actor...some may care, some may not.

[KQuill]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 6:31pm

I don't reccomend it either - i stopped pre-show SD'ing. Gary Beach actually was really nice and it went smoothly...but as for Jenny Galloway and Daphne..didn't go so smoothly. It surprised me because I heard how extremely nice Daph is...but thats what u get for pre-showing i guess...

[Crapgame13]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 6:46pm

Performers are generally a bundle of nerves/trying to concentrate pre-show on doing the job at hand (no matter how many times they do it)

I could see why most would be a little thrown off by the request (especially if it's pre-show) and could come off as aloof or annoyed

Wait til post-show, take your chances
Updated On: 3/22/07 at 06:46 PM

[Katurian2]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 7:04pm

Yeah, I pre-stage doored for "The Odd Couple", since I was seeing a matinee and was not able to return later on in the night. The stage door man was insanely friendly, and warned me ahead of time that Nathan Lane would probably rush by and not sign or chat. He was right. I sort of just moved out of the way as he zipped in. A few minutes later, Matthew Broderick showed up riding his bike in a bright yellow biking-shirt. I politely asked him to sign a picture of himself, and he very sweetly, obliged. Sadly, it was about 35 minutes before the show, and I soon as I said, "Excuse me, Mr. Broderick," about twenty other people rushed over going "Matthew Broderick? Where? ahhh!"

Posted: 3/22/07 at 7:16pm

Waiting before a show while an actor is on his/her way into work is nothing compared to what real stars go through.

Right, but honestly? Coming out of the stagedoor AFTER the show to sign some autographs for fans is nothing compared to what real stars go through, and since apparently Sutton deems herself above doing that, I think it's a bit weird to decide to impose yourself on her before the show when she obviously doesn't want to see you. Again, just because she doesn't act annoyed before the show doesn't mean that she isn't annoyed, and honestly, I've read quite a few stories of Sutton looking exasperated over having to sign a couple of autographs before the show.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 7:18pm

I find it quite rude when an actor or actress refuses to sign autographs. To me, it's part of their job, to support the people who so support them. Even the Great Patti LuPone graciously stayed and signed every Playbill and poster after Sweeney Todd.

[NJRae]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 9:28pm

KQuill: Dare I ask what happened with Jenny and Daphne? Jenny I know tends to duck and run out the stagedoor. I've even seen her push past yelling, "I'm a diabetic, let me through! I need food now!" But I've never seen Daphne be less than friendly at a stagedoor, nor have I heard of it. Am curious what it is that she said or did.

[theminutepast]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 10:01pm

I agree I wouldn't stage door before the show again for the inconvenience reasons, but also because standing out there alone can make you feel very ridiculous.

I'm not sure if you can interpret Sutton Foster's not coming out after a show as indicative that she doesn't want to meet fans. She brings her dog to work with her. Can you imagine leaving at night with a huge crowd around you and trying to protect your little dog from being stepped on or trying to hold the dog while you sign playbills?

Posted: 3/22/07 at 10:09pm

I'm not sure if you can interpret Sutton Foster's not coming out after a show as indicative that she doesn't want to meet fans. She brings her dog to work with her. Can you imagine leaving at night with a huge crowd around you and trying to protect your little dog from being stepped on or trying to hold the dog while you sign playbills?

Oh, c'mon. The crowd at Drowsy is so small and hardly as rabid as the fans at Wicked or Rent. I think she's an amazing performer, but let's face it, the woman doesn't want to sign autographs.

[theminutepast]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 10:11pm

I'd disagree. The crowd at Drowsy can get big.

Posted: 3/22/07 at 10:15pm

I've been there/walked by there numerous times and have never seen more than a handful of people. I'd say a big crowd is the exception rather than the norm, really, and again, the fans are hardly as rabid as those at the shows geared more toward teeangers. There typically aren't people jumping all over performers.

And really, unless the crowd is just absolutely gigantic, Sutton could manage signing a few autographs. The fact of the matter is that she does not want to. Why people constantly make excuses for something that the woman just does not feel like doing is beyond me. I remember when someone tried to claim that she didn't want to sign autographs because she wanted to spend more time with her husband and dog at home. Sheesh.

[NJRae]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 11:07pm

Besides . . . Kristin brought her dog to work with her (at the Apple Tree) and still managed to sign autographs. She just had her dog brought out to the car ahead of her. So where there is a will there is a way.

I agree that trying to stagedoor before the show just seems like an inconvenience. I doubt that when the actors leave for work they factor in time to talk to fans. They need to get into the theater by a certain time . . . fans stopping them for autographs/pictures/to chat probably just makes them late.

Posted: 3/22/07 at 11:14pm

Exactly. Hell, according to my friend, Heather Laws signed autographs with a BABY wrapped around her chest.

Also? I asked the stagedoor attendant at Drowsy if Sutton would sign something I left there, and he said no, she doesn't sign anything at all anymore. Yes, I suppose the militant Sutton Foster defenders could just chalk it up to the stagedoor attendant being mean, but all signs point to her not wanting to deal with fans... which I disagree with on a personal level, but I wouldn't have such a problem with it if Sutton defenders didn't attack every time anyone dares to suggest she doesn't want to sign autographs.

[KQuill]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 11:50pm

NJRae - With Daphne, I was casually standing beside the door and she was coming in before her 4th to last show. I said "Daphne..?" and she mildly smiled and kept walking towards the door. Right before she walked in a just said "I just wanted to tell you i've seen your Fantine many times and I really love it." She chuckled and said "well, thats good to hear!" and walked inside the door (and out of my life). Her tone definitly suggested that she doesn't hear that kind of comment very much. Oh, well - it wasn't BAD..it just wasn't at all the warm and fuzzy Daphne i've heard all about.

As for Jenny...I gently approached her w my sharpie in hand, and she seemed to look very annoyed. I then asked her to sign my ticket from last time, and she chuckled and loosened up a bit and asked me to hold her Starbucks coffe while she signed. She turned annoyed again, signed it, said "cheers" (reminding me she was british), and out of my life SHE went

I must say again though Gary Beach had a little time and he gave me an awesome autograph and chatted for a minute. Such a nice guy.