Meeting Actors on Tour

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Meeting Actors on Tour

Posted: 7/10/17 at 12:18am

Ok, I'm prepared for the responses calling me a stalker and the general snarkiness this board is know for. But I want to ask...

One of favorite actors is coming to town on tour. Is it ever acceptable to just write a touring actor, welcome him to town, and ask if I could say hello at the stage door...or better yet, get a backstage invite. San Francisco is not known for having stage door crowds like NYC so it would seem odd being the only person waiting unannounced. I truly and genuinely like the work he's done and I'd like to meet him, and him being here for a month seems like a rare opportunity.

I know, I know, actors and all public figures need to be suspicious and cautious. But could I just ask? He's very active on social media and has public conversations with fans, so he seems accessible and receptive to fan interactions.

For those of you who have toured, when you're on a stop have you ever met random fans in this way -- is it common -- or would something like this be a red flag to avoid?

On a related note, the other day, my buddy and I (we just saw Curious Incident... a few days earlier) were at a bar when "Christopher" walked by. I almost said hi and invited him to join us but he walked by quickly. My friend thought that wouldn't be appropriate. Frankly, I just wanted to ask how he remembered the right doors to open when running across stage building the train set. :)

Meeting Actors on Tour

Posted: 7/10/17 at 12:26am

Writing and wanting to meet him at stage door...totally appropriate. Asking to go backstage, to me, steps over the line.

I think stage dooring outside of NY is seldom a crowded thing.

If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.

Meeting Actors on Tour

Posted: 7/10/17 at 12:29am

I have a friend who once followed the National Company of TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA around the Midwest like a camp follower, and they were always THRILLED to see him. Generally, folks on the road appreciate the attention (in my experience Hal Holbrook, Julie Harris, Lotte Lenya, Mary Martin, and Robert Preston to name a few). And the bigger they are, the more gracious and grateful they seem to be- they act like you're the one doing them the favor. Like no business I know.

Well-well-well-what-do-you-think-of-that-I-have-nothing-here-to-pay-my-train-fare-with-only-large-bills-fives-and-sevens....

Meeting Actors on Tour

Posted: 7/10/17 at 12:31am

Totally agree...I wouldn't ask to go backstage, but would only do so if invited.

The handful of times I've gone backstage here are through a former co-worker's industry connections.

Meeting Actors on Tour

Posted: 7/10/17 at 3:28am

Write to him on whichever social media platform he uses the most. Don't mention anything about backstage. If it turns into a conversation, *maybe* mention that you'll see him at the stage door. If you meet and that goes well, *maybe* mention you'd like to buy him a coffee and talk about the show/touring life/etc. One step at a time, and as long as you're aware to stay clear of the "crazy fan" stigma, you should be fine.

Meeting Actors on Tour

Posted: 7/10/17 at 4:05am

trpguyy said: "Write to him on whichever social media platform he uses the most. Don't mention anything about backstage. If it turns into a conversation, *maybe* mention that you'll see him at the stage door. If you meet and that goes well, *maybe* mention you'd like to buy him a coffee and talk about the show/touring life/etc. One step at a time, and as long as you're aware to stay clear of the "crazy fan" stigma, you should be fine. "

Love this, thank you, exactly how I thought I might approach it.

Meeting Actors on Tour

Posted: 7/10/17 at 8:55am

Try logging on to grindr or tinder

Meet a few people on tour that way. :)

Updated On: 7/10/17 at 08:55 AM

Meeting Actors on Tour

Posted: 7/10/17 at 10:51am

I have totally been the only one at the stagedoor for a touring production. It's a little awkward, but you get to have a nice conversation with them. I'd do it again.

Meeting Actors on Tour

Posted: 7/11/17 at 12:21pm

Do remember that company members accommodations can be distant from the theatre and few touring actors have independent transportation. In some instances, they may have no choice but to hurry to whatever transportation they have from the theatre to their hotel, even if they wish they could stop and sign playbills or chat.

#10

Meeting Actors on Tour

Posted: 7/11/17 at 12:33pm

My $.02: dramamama is right. Send a very polite request to meet him at the stage door; I would make it clear that you will understand if a meeting isn't possible.

If he wants to have you backstage, let him invite you.

#11

Meeting Actors on Tour

Posted: 7/11/17 at 12:34pm

Try logging on to grindr or tinder

Meet a few people on tour that way. :)

I was just going to post that. Touring fellas are relentless on Grindr while on tour. Heck, even Ben Platt was on Tinder some time ago along with countless other recognizable Broadway guys. Social media is a common denominator that connects us all.

#12

Meeting Actors on Tour

Posted: 7/11/17 at 12:41pm

If I saw this actor on Grindr I think I'd pass out from ecstasy. LOL He doesn't swing my way . . . at least publicly.

But what a great idea. Next time I'm at a tour performance I'll get Grindr and see if any of the boys in the cast are on it. I mean, orchestra to backstage, that's what ~150 feet away? :)

#13

Meeting Actors on Tour

Posted: 7/11/17 at 1:06pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "Try logging on to grindr or tinder

Meet a few people on tour that way. :)

I was just going to post that. Touring fellas are relentless on Grindr while on tour. Heck, even Ben Platt was on Tinder some time ago along with countless other recognizable Broadway guys. Social media is a common denominator that connects us all.

"

Lol. I matched with Ben Platt and thought I was crazy...

Check out my eBay page for sales on Playbills!! www.ebay.com/usr/missvirginiahamm

#14

Meeting Actors on Tour

Posted: 7/11/17 at 10:41pm

Why don't I ever pick up any cute cast members when I log into Grindr at tour shows :,( (Kidding of course haha.)

People stage door in Pittsburgh all the time. I don't do it much but I've actually seen the crowd get pretty big. Granted the stage doors for the touring houses are super accessible and on major arteries so that may be part of it.

Keeping BroadwayWorld Illustrated

#15

Meeting Actors on Tour

Posted: 7/11/17 at 11:35pm

I've stage doored many of the shows that have come through Philly and the crowd is touch and go depending on the show. Generally there's at least a few people but with larger shows like Wicked or Newsies there's generally a larger crowd.

I definitely agree that tweeting the actor to let them know you are coming to show and would like to say hello after is great. I've found that a lot of actors on tour don't realize that anyone really cares about meeting them so they tend to just leave without thinking about it, so definitely tweet them.

"Anybody that goes to the theater, I think we’re all misfits, so we ended up on stage or in the audience.” --- Patti LuPone.

#16

Meeting Actors on Tour

Posted: 7/11/17 at 11:42pm

I certainly don't live at a major tour stop (I'm in Wilmington, DE), but when we have had people of note come by , a good number of people have stage doored. Large group when James Earl Jones was here for On Golden Pond.

The theatre here is in a hotel building (before anyone thinks of the Marquis, the building and theatre are 100+ years old) and the "stage door" exits into the theatre lobby. There's apparently some other way out for actors who don't want to stage door, but I've seen a few simply mix into the crowd and go into the hotel bar with no one realizing.

#17

Meeting Actors on Tour

Posted: 7/12/17 at 9:27am

I was recently in NYC and in line for Kinky Boots and checked out Grindr and one of the main cast was on Grindr only 81 ft away with a picture.

#18

Meeting Actors on Tour

Posted: 7/12/17 at 10:36am

PatrickDC said: "San Francisco is not known for having stage door crowds like NYC so it would seem odd being the only person waiting unannounced. I truly and genuinely like the work he's done and I'd like to meet him, and him being here for a month seems like a rare opportunity. "

No, but oh my god, did you ever do the stage door at the Adam/Anthony tour, Bennytour closing of Rent, closing night of Phantom (the first time), or Mormon at the Curran? (And Hamilton, from hearsay...)

Stage doors on tour are more mellow, but certainly not anymore or less weird than NYC on the whole.

"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt

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