No stage door -Will reopening resurge fan mail

Im curious with stage dooring being banned. Do you think this will lead to a higher resurgence of Fanmail to performers requesting autographs and sending letter of congratulations and questions?

Nah. They’ll bitch and moan and make it all about how they’re being neglected as fans. Not one will figure out any alternative way of expressing their thoughts to the artists. No selfie op? Why bother?

unclevictor said: "Fan mail? To Broadway “stars”?!!? Are u kidding me?"



I don't know what it's like these days, but I remember back when I started getting into theatre (2008-2010 and onward), there was a pretty flourishing fan-mail culture among Broadway fans - and yes, those fan letters went to Broadway actors who weren't household names, but were celebrities in the eyes of the fans. And actually, the fact that they aren't mainstream celebrities means they are more likely to receive responses and autographed photos/playbills in return. And this was during a time when stage-dooring was also very much a thing, so they weren't mutually exclusive.

I don't know if fan mail is still as common in the age of Cameo, Twitter, etc. But to imply that it wouldn't or shouldn't happen among Broadway "stars" in general just demonstrates ignorance. And I can definitely imagine there being a resurgence in the absence of stage-door autographs.

I’m planning to write to stage managers to get a few updated playbills. Sending to Waitress and Hadestown next weekend. Will let you know if I get anything in return.

Updated On: 9/11/21 at 04:57 PM

It really wasn't incorrect. There was a video several years where they went behind the scenes of a popular show, I cannot remember the show but a few of the actors said that any package, collage, or food gets thrown out. My friend is a Broadway actor, and while he appreciates the letters, they can be overwhelming at times. Like when Ben Platt stated getting letters during DEH was emotionally and mentally draining to him. So, no, not really "incorrect" or "pointless."

You simply have a different opinion, which is fine.

Updated On: 9/11/21 at 06:23 PM

People have never stopped sending things to actors at theaters.

Also, as I’ve said a thousand times, stage dooring (whether you like it or not) will be back as it always was in time.

Updated On: 9/11/21 at 07:04 PM

Fan letters will always be thing. I imagine the madly popular actors do hand offs to an assistant (if they have one) after reading. There was a popular younger theatre actor (popular in an Instagram way, but not wealthy enough for an assistant) who got many letters who said his mother would reply with signed photos and Playbills if a SASE was included.

I think most actors will read and many will reply if a SASE is included. If not then yes most things surely get tossed. I think it is very easy to become jaded and toss everything. However I think truly grounded people read and respond if/when they have time.

I have written letters to actors at theatres. I only wrote when I feel very moved to, so that makes a difference. I’m not an autograph hound. Therefore I have received handwritten correspondence from people like Jane Fonda, Charles Busch, Estelle Parsons and Bernadette Peters. One might easily think people of their age and status would be the type to toss, but clearly not the case.

I think actors are very sensitive people and appreciate correspondence. I think they read it all and will respond if it feels meaningful. I think they will respond to requests if a SASE is enclosed. I’ve often received photos or Playbills long after a show closed with kind notes and apologies.

Actors are very good and earnest people for the most part.

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darquegk said: "Jordan Catalano said: "People have never stopped sending things to actors at theaters.

Also, as I’ve said a thousand times, stage dooring (whether you like it or not) will be back as it always was in time."

Well... stage dooring will be back as it was since the mid-twentieth century, anyway. I suspect the days of picking up showgirls or chorus boys as a de facto escort service, as every cliched theatre story of the nineteenth and early twentieth century will reference, is over. (Or perhaps, just like Cameo, Broadway folks have moved on to OnlyFans as well?)"

I don’t think Covid will affect actors handling mail. Transmission is low that way. I think signing Playbills will be back sooner than selfies and photos. Most people working outside the realm of the theatre world have altered their physical interactions in their day to day and business life and I see this no different for actors.

I could see actors refusing photos and selfies of all kinds, solely using their own Sharpie and asking a fan to hold their own Playbill as they sign it. I could also see them wearing a mask down the entire line for months or years out. I think that would cut down on the desire for photos as well as even being recognized if they wore a cap and scarf. The days of them jamming their face over a barricade and next to and between heads are long gone at least for years I’m afraid.

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Sutton Ross said: "I don't believe there will be any stage dooring in the early days of Broadway reopening. At least until November, probably until the end of the year? Unless someone tells me that the Waitress or Hadestown casts are out there signing?"

Yes Sutton I’d be very curious to know if anyone has been waiting and if anyone has been signing.

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Bettyboy72 said: "Sutton Ross said: "I don't believe there will be any stage dooring in the early days of Broadway reopening. At least until November, probably until the end of the year? Unless someone tells me that the Waitress or Hadestown casts are out there signing?"

Yes Sutton I’d be very curious to know if anyone has been waiting and if anyone has been signing.

"

To my knowledge, some fans have been waiting, and people have come out to wave to / salute the fans before heading on their merry way. No signing, no photos.

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"Due to Covid concerns, any mail sent to anyone in the theater will go straight into the garbage."

Just tbc, again, the notion that mail will be thrown away without being delivered is a flat out lie. Is it possible/likely that some actor will throw their fan mail in the garbage? Of course. But there is no "rule," and bear in mind that throwing anyone's mail into the garbage is a federal offense. It would be so cool if people who don't know what they are talking about would not guess the answers and post those guesses as facts. When one does that, one is a liar.

"It really wasn't incorrect. There was a video several years where they went behind the scenes of a popular show, I cannot remember the show but a few of the actors said that any package, collage, or food gets thrown out. My friend is a Broadway actor, and while he appreciates the letters, they can be overwhelming at times. Like when Ben Platt stated getting letters during DEH was emotionally and mentally draining to him. So, no, not really "incorrect" or "pointless."

You simply have a different opinion, which is fine."

No, Sutton Ross, I was talking about this statement of yours, posted as fact:

"Due to Covid concerns, any mail sent to anyone in the theater will go straight into the garbage, typically where it went before when people got gifts from strangers.

You state that as a fact, not an opinion, and base it on "a video several years where they went behind the scenes of a popular show,". So, you saw some actors say some things regarding fan mail at a popular show that you cannot remember, and you have a friend who works on Broadway

Updated On: 9/12/21 at 09:57 PM

Just spittin' fax!

And may I say, the anger that have come from posters this week has been over the top crazy. If I bring you to such mind blowing rage, feel free to block me. I state opinions. How I state them is my perogative. Have an issue with that? I couldn't care less.

Have a good evening, maybe take a valium and/or some whiskey?

Jesus Christ.

Updated On: 9/13/21 at 10:07 PM