Nicest & Worst — Page 4

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#76

re: Nicest & Worse

Posted: 12/13/05 at 2:27am

One of my fondest "stagedooring" memories from growing up in New York was speaking with the cast of "Parade" the night before they closed on Broadway. I was chatting with them outside the stagedoor for like, half an hour. Very cool.

Also, it was a real treat to finally get to meet George Hearn, being the die-hard "Sweeney" fan that I am.

#77

re: Nicest & Worse

Posted: 12/13/05 at 2:35am

The nicest person on the PLANET is Cherry Jones, followed very closely by Phylicia Rashad.

johnraymondbarker.com

#78

re: Nicest & Worse

Posted: 12/13/05 at 4:00am

Stephanie J Block is *the * nicest Broadway person I've ever met and probably one of the nicest people I've ever met, not only was she so kind and talked to me a lot at the BFO stage door last year but the last time I was there I'd sent flowers inside for her and she actually came back out again (this was before the show) to thank me and say goodbye!

Talking of BFO I think mention should be made to how kind Hugh Jackman is to people at the stage door.

Also great was Matthew Broderick, very paitent and kind despite being quite shy (it seemed to me) when I met him he got pushed aside by some annoying ebay type guy wanting autographs just when he was about to take a picture with me but after signing he came back and took a picture. Kevin Cahoon (who I met at the same time) was also really sweet like 'You want to talk to me wow!'

'It was six hours! I don't even like to have sex or eat bacon for six hours!' 'You are faboulous creatures each and every one'

#79

re: Nicest & Worse

Posted: 12/13/05 at 5:12am

As I've said many, many times before, Hugh Jackman was incredibly sweet at the stagedoor for "The Boy from Oz", even when his bodyguards tried to drag him away from posing for a picture with me, he whispered that I should give him something to sign and then we could take a picture together while he signed...and although I had heard less than complimentary stories about Adam Pascal in the past, he was incredibly sweet and friendly when I met him.

And then, of course, there's the nicest people I can remember ever meeting: Anthony Rapp, Julia Murney, Julie Danao-Salkin, Terrence Mann, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Jonathan Sharp, Kevin Cahoon, Raul Esparza (like Jonathan, he kind of runs hot and cold, but my experiences were all good), Max von Essen, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Tracie Thoms, Liz Larsen, Sharon Wilkins, Jenn Gambatese, Mark Price, Yassmin Alers, Alice Ripley, Jarrod Emick, Kristen Chenoweth, Kristen Lee Kelly, Ray McLeod, Tom Hewitt, Mandy Gonzalez, Darin Murphy, Asa Somers, Caren Lyn Manuel, Matt Morrison, John Tartaglia, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, John Jeffrey Martin, Denise Summerford, Boy George, Joey Fatone, Lori & Will Chase... and John Stamos was very nice to me, and to anyone who didn't scream the "Full House" theme song when he went near them.

Gosh, I know that's a long list, and I'm sure I forgot somebody, but these people were and are always so incredibly friendly and happy that I couldn't *not* mention them.

And then there's the worst.

MOLLY RINGWALD was very nasty when I saw her in Cabaret. She refused to come out the door until we left, I had to pass my copy of "The Breakfast Club" to the security guard who held it while she signed it, and then she was ushered into her car without ever attempting to make eye contact.
ROBIN LEACH was downright rude outside of "Rocky Horror", ignoring everyone except his "girlfriends" until one of the girls told him that there were people who wanted to meet him--well, I didn't want to meet him anymore, lol.
Also, I've never found Chad Kimball to be overly friendly until you directly compliment him--not the show or the overall production, but specifically him alone.

"It's not for sissies, contrary to popular belief." - Tommy Tune, on musical theatre.

My avatar: Yummy, no?

#80

re: Nicest & Worse

Posted: 12/13/05 at 12:05pm

"Why have so many people had bad experiences with Bebe Neuwirth? A friend of mine just met her a few weeks ago and said she was funny and nice and talked with her and stuff backstage. Hmmm, I suppose it's all about the situation."

She's just one of those people who either instantly likes you or doesn't. She's always been enjoyable around me. In fact I think she's incredibly funny and sincere. I know for a fact her biggest pet peeve is when people call her Lilith, so I'd hate to be on the recieving end of her wrath in that situation.

"You! You are the worst thing to happen to musical theatre since Andrew Lloyd Webber! And you, well, I just plain don't like you."
~Stewart Gilligan Griffin

#81

re: Nicest & Worse

Posted: 12/13/05 at 12:15pm

Greg Jbara. wow...nicest ever! nice and engaging and truly seems interested in people. even before he meets them.

and a side note...Greg is the only person i've personally met, as i don't usually approach people, however, i've watched idina meet people (at the Public as i was waiting for friends in the bathroom), and she has always seemed wonderful.

So long status quo/ I think I just let go/ You make me want to be/ BRAVE

#82

re: Nicest & Worse

Posted: 12/13/05 at 1:39pm

Nicest:
Cast of Avenue Q- so funny, kind and actually make conversation with you
Cast of Gypsy- genuinely grateful for their fans
Cast of Sweeney Todd- kept telling the first preview audience how lucky they were to be in this show and kept thanking us for being there.

Worst:
Kathleen Turner at the last performance of Virginia Woolf. Not as much mean as just plain cold hearted. She didn't really make eye contact and just signed in a row and left.

Happy...Everything! Kaye Thompson

#83

re: Nicest & Worse

Posted: 12/13/05 at 2:03pm

Or maybe Ms. Turner was tired or sick? My God--did you want an encore???

johnraymondbarker.com

#84

re: Nicest & Worse

Posted: 12/13/05 at 2:20pm

No, Gypsy - "cold-hearted" would be if she walked away from you without signing. The woman signed everyone's Playbill at her final show - in the midst of the breakup of her 21-year-marriage.

Who's cold-hearted here?

Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson

#85

re: Nicest & Worse

Posted: 12/13/05 at 2:25pm

Some fans aren't pleased unless they get a masterclass following the performance.

johnraymondbarker.com

#86

re: Nicest & Worse

Posted: 12/13/05 at 2:43pm

Nicest: Avenue Q cast...definately, Anthony Rapp, Tracie Thoms, Linda Eder, Idina, Aaron Lohr, Sutton Foster, Eden Espinosa (not so much at the SD of brooklyn but i recently saw her outside another theater and we talked a bit. She really is sweet without millions of people wanting her autograph, Jennifer Laura Thompson, MEGAN HILTY, David Ayers

i havent had a bad SD experience yet...knock on wood

#87

re: Nicest & Worse

Posted: 12/13/05 at 3:17pm

Nicest--
Marin Mazzie
Brent Barrett
Rachel York
Audra McDonald
Brian Stokes Mitchell
Victor Borge (not an actor I know, deceased)

I haven't been at enough stage doors to have a bad experience, but as far as meeting celebrities elsewhere?
--Demi Moore is very sweet
--Bruce Willis is rude and unfriendly

On the road of life, do not pause for suicidal chipmunks who freeze in your headlights, seeking death by your tires...

#88

re: Nicest & Worse

Posted: 12/13/05 at 3:21pm

Nicest: Another vote for Greg Jbara... a genuine gentleman in every sense of the word, and one of the few who REALLY seem to understand how lucky he is to be doing what he's doing.

And also Scott Bakula... he talked with me for almost an hour after Romance/Romance, then hailed my grandmother a cab!

Excellent experiences also with: Lynn Redgrave (see below), Howard McGillin, Betty Buckley (I was coughing and she handed me a cough drop!), Chita Rivera, the entire cast of Mamma Mia national tour (Lauren Mufson needs to be a star!!!), Glenn Close and Joel Grey.

Tie for the WORST: Mary Tyler Moore came out the stage door at Sweet Sue (a play in 1987) and people cheered. She held up her hand and announced, "I don't DO autographs!" and walked to her limo... but not before the guy next to me yelled, "Well, we're all here to meet Lynn Redgrave,anyway!" TOO FUNNY... and the other WORST? (And it broke my heart) JULIE ANDREWS... I ronically enough, I was talking to Greg Jbara at Victor/Victoria, and he introduced me to her. I said,"It is so nice to meet you Miss Andrews." and she said, "Well, of course! "and walked right by me! Greg, nice guy that he is apologized for her. God, I love that man!

"Cor! me bones is weary!" -Mrs. Lovett

#89

re: Nicest & Worse

Posted: 12/13/05 at 3:42pm

wow, Sweeneyfan, Ms. Buckley was nice to a fan?!

My mother always used to say, "The older you get, the better you get, unless you're a banana." - Rose Nyland

#90

re: Nicest & Worse

Posted: 12/13/05 at 4:16pm

Jim-Betty Buckley is incredibly accomodating to her fans. When she was in SUNSET BLVD., she would literally spend hours outside the stage door signing for fans. She may not be the nicest person to the people who are close to her, but she has always been very appreciative to her fans.

I've only stage-doored like, 10 times in my twenty-five years of theatregoing. The absolute nicest person was Glynis Johns. She is a total sweetheart.

#91

re: Nicest & Worse

Posted: 12/13/05 at 5:00pm

The nicest would be David Hyde Pierce, NAthan Lane, Ana Gaestyer, and Telly Leung...

I think I completely agree withe the depiction of Carole "Divabitch" Kane...lol.

"Not everyone can come and go by bubble"

#92

re: Nicest & Worse

Posted: 12/13/05 at 5:01pm

gypsy, i was at the last performance for "virginia woolf" as well and i didn't feel that KT was coldhearted in the slightest. you have to take into consideration that it's a tough show to get through, and besides that, it was THE LAST performance--it's always tough to leave a show, especially if you've had as much success as that cast had.

"You've gotta have a swine to show you where the truffles are."

#93

re: Nicest & Worse

Posted: 12/13/05 at 5:08pm

i would say a few of the nicest have been:
the ENTIRE cast of "side man"--loved them all; the entire cast of "the pillowman," particularly jeff goldblum (maybe he was a little too friendly); maggie smith was also incredibly kind and soft-spoken.
i wouldn't say that i've encountered "bad" people at the stage door, but charles durning didn't seem that thrilled to be signing autographs, and john goodman was a bit standoffish. i can understand that it's difficult to do that every night, though. i can't really blame them.

"You've gotta have a swine to show you where the truffles are."

#94

re: Nicest & Worse

Posted: 12/13/05 at 5:14pm

Norbert Leo Butz would not come out at DRS because he was apparently tired and getting ready for the next show. We weren't that dissapointed until we were at the Wicked Lottery and saw him SPRINTING into the building and up the stairs. Tired, eh?

Tick Tock

#95

re: Nicest & Worse

Posted: 12/13/05 at 5:17pm

Everyone i've ever meet was very nice.......

#96

re: Nicest & Worse

Posted: 12/13/05 at 5:20pm

http://www.beintheheights.com/katnicole1 (Please click and help me win!) I chose, and my world was shaken- So what?
The choice may have been mistaken, The choosing was not... "Every day has the potential to be the greatest day of your life." - Lin-Manuel Miranda "And when Idina Menzel is singing, I'm always slightly worried that her teeth are going to jump out of her mouth and chase me." - Schmerg_the_Impaler

#97

re: Nicest & Worse

Posted: 12/13/05 at 5:34pm

I think they meant that he was sprinting into the Wicked building.

Jim Caruso: You know, you are doing Wicked.
Stephanie J Block: I am!
Jim: Is anyone coming to that old thing?

#98

re: Nicest & Worse

Posted: 12/13/05 at 6:21pm

I know this isn't what we were talking about, but I still feel the need to throw this out there.

I find it a little weird when actors develop stagedoor "reputations", as it were. If you would like to get an autograph from an actor, that is PERFECTLY alright and very flattering to the actor, hell I've done it myself. But if I had a bad experience (not quite sure how anyone can describe a stagedoor encounter with an actor as a "bad experience".... you'd be spending all of 15 seconds with them) I wouldn't really care enough to spread a "reputation". Here are two cases in point from actors people here have mentioned.

Michelle Federer: I do not know the girl, she may be a bitch, she may be a sweetheart, no idea. However, if she doesn't want to sign any autographs, I get it. The Gershwin stagedoor is ALWAYS mobbed and maybe she doesn't want to take 15 minutes after every performance (that adds up to about 2 hrs. a week) to sign EVERYTHING.

Barbara Walsh: I actually have met her, and she was very sweet to me. In regards to her statement "ugh. I guess I have to sign autographs now." How do we know she didn't have somewhere to go or something to do? Maybe family or friends were in from out of town, or maybe she had a dinner date with her husband. It may take 5 seconds for her to sign your playbill, but to go around to everyone takes time.

I just think that everyone here kinda needs a reality check.

Now, if you ask for an autograph and the actor spits on you or clocks you in the face... get back to me

Doug

Updated On: 12/13/05 at 06:21 PM

#99

re: Nicest & Worse

Posted: 12/13/05 at 6:34pm

I've met Michelle Federer away from the Wicked stage door and she was an absolute sweetheart. She does seem rather shy, though. Maybe that's why she doesn't like the Wicked stage door so much.

#100

re: Nicest & Worse

Posted: 12/13/05 at 6:53pm

about Julie Andrews, "well, of course!" AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA that is hilarious. Oh man. "OF COURSE YOU'RE HAPPY TO MEET ME." ahahahaha...I should just say that to everyone I have no desire to speak with.

about Norbert, I don't think that's rude...sure it's too bad you didn't get to meet him but do you really expect him to tell the stagedoor guy to tell all the fans waiting outside his personal reasons why he doesn't have time to go out that day? People do that all the time--say they're tired, but actually have places to be, things to do.

--Like an odd exotic creature on display inside a zoo, hearing children asking questions makes me ask some questions too...--

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