I had a wonderful stage door experience when I went to see "Chicago" at the Mandalay Bay in Vegas (waaayyyy back when!).
My sister and I went around the back (snuck out actually) and avoided security standing around the back doors. So I don't think that they got stage doored much. This was also between shows (they did two shows that night we went, and we went to the first show). My sister and I weren't expecting anything, but after a few minutes, Mamie Dincan-Gibbs (who was an excellent Velma by the way, easily one of my most favorite of the five Velma's that I've seen) popped out. She let out a little shriek of surprise, told us to wait there, and went back in (for something, I don't know what). A few moments later, she came back out all smiles, and we politely asked her to sign our playbills. I gushed about her performance, and she was really sweet about it all. I also lamented that I was unable to catch one of the roses that they throw out after the "Hot Honey Rag" (we were five rows from the front, and I almost caught one, but it bounced off my fingertips and towards the person behind me). Mamie told me to wait again, snuck back in, and got me a rose. She said she had to sneak it out because they count all the roses so they have enough to throw out during the week's run. It was super nice of her. She also gave me a tip that some of the chorus girls like to come out and get a breather, and Marilu Henner (Roxie) sometimes comes out. She did warn me that Ben Vareen (Billy) usually didn't come out, and if he did, he doesn't like to sign things. She then went back in to get ready for the next show.
A after thinking we should go, Marilu came out with her two sons. We were thinking she probably wouldn't want to sign our programs because she was with her family, but she spotted us and asked us if we wanted autographs. We politely said yes, and she too was very gracious. We didn't have time to talk, and after she finished signing, we left her alone to be with her kids, but it was very nice of her to take a little time out for my siser and me.
About half of the merry murderesses came out, and they were excited to see us too (I guess there really is a lack of stage dooring in Vegas shows at that time. I don't know how it is now, or if you can even stage door with security being more strict). All in all, it was a wonderful experience, and my meeting with Mamie Duncan-Gibbs has stayed with me forever.
I never did get Ben Vareen's aurtograph though, as he never popped out, just as Mamie told us.
Xanadu! Can't cry on cue!
