Really useful group outlines rules for return. No stage door

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 5/25/20 at 12:27am

With the post on Really Useful Group putting together an outline of rules to return theatres back. It seems like stage doors or even meeting actors will not be allowed. Which is not unexpected.

But do we see this being a permanent fixture and a complete end to the interaction of the theatre community and actors. (No im not referring to the crazed people Im just referring to a calm stage door experience)
Do you think this will be the new normal. Or a temporary fix to at least get the theatre back up.

I know that the theatre community has been important to have that unique connection compared to the Hollywood or music scene.

I know a number of actors. Including last week Judy Kate saying how difficult it is to even of not meeting audience members. She felt that it was important for the support of the show and was an important part of the experience was connecting with the audience member.

Personally I hope that they eventually build up to a return of a stage door. Even if its just limited to audience members (as it should be)

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/25/20 at 12:29am

If anyone is wondering, here's what OP is referring to:

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Andrew-Lloyd-Webbers-Really-Useful-Group-Outlines-Potential-Guidelines-to-Be-Put-in-Place-When-West-End-Reopens-20200524

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/25/20 at 8:56am

An important connection is what it has become.  It wasn't always "necessary".  We hear all the time about how often people cross this line - and how far.   I think its actually a good thing if it happens here (and I think it will - voluntarily or otherwise) To just take a needed BREAK from the insanity it has become.

 

Will it come back?  Yes.....but hopefully it will be gone for a decent amount of time so that when it returns it can be slowly - and maybe not reach the levels it was recently for quite some time.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 5/25/20 at 9:12am

What ALW wrote is, at best, aspirational. He is attempting to influence his government. I do not think it (i.e., filling theatres without an effective treatment) could ever fly in London, and certainly not in New York. Theatre owners and producers will never open under those circumstances here; all they need is one spread and the theatre may be gone forever. Patience is a virtue. 

One other consideration for Broadway is that it is in America and that means (a) that there is no limitation on the right to travel domestically, and (b) there are these crazies who think they have the constitutional right to infect people. 

Regarding stage doors, which is a silly tangent to focus on (for ALW and anyone else), I think that it will creep back in eventually, but there are a lot of actors who would see the eradication of the scourge of stage dooring as perhaps the only positive to come out of this pandemic. But, as I say, right now, this is a tangent to much more important considerations. 

[darreyl102]

Posted: 5/25/20 at 4:13pm

Was West end stage dooring as popular or big a thing as it was here in the US? It seems every time I went to a show in the West end, the stage door was very much less crowded then here in the US. Like way more casual

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/25/20 at 4:22pm

It depends on the show. For things like the “Les Mis” concert last year it was absolutely insane. Most other times I’ve seen it anywhere between 5-50 people tops.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 5/25/20 at 4:35pm

darreyl102 said: "Was West end stage dooring as popular or big a thing as it was here in the US? It seems every time I went to a show in the West end, the stage door was very much less crowded then here in the US. Like way more casual"

Every West End show I stage doored,  had less than 5 people.  A couple of times, I was the only one.  The only exception was The Misanthrope, with Keira Knightly.  That had about 20 people.

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 5/25/20 at 5:42pm

ArtMan said: "darreyl102 said: "Was West end stage dooring as popular or big a thing as it was here in the US? It seems every time I went to a show in the West end, the stage door was very much less crowded then here in the US. Like way more casual"

Every West End show I stage doored, had less than 5 people. A couple of times, I was the only one. The only exception was The Misanthrope, with Keira Knightly. That had about 20 people."

Honestly that’s why I prefer to stage door in London. It seems like the way stage dooring had been in New York back decades ago

[ImaginaryManticore]

Posted: 5/25/20 at 5:56pm

None of my friends who are casual theatregoers have ever stage-doored in London. It tends to be done by die-hard theatre fans or by people who want to see a famous actor from film or TV. It's probably because culturally most English people are a lot more reserved about interacting with strangers, but I wonder if the geography of the West End makes a difference too, with many stage doors on hidden back streets.

I think stage-dooring will inevitably come back after a while, unless they physically hide the exit. But when it does I hope there's more respect for boundaries. Nowadays so many people aren't interested in interacting with the actors they admire, they only want a selfie. Which means actors have to put up with dozens of strangers expecting to get into their personal space one after another!

[PatrickDC]

Posted: 5/25/20 at 6:40pm

Official stage doors or not, won’t people still be hanging out there? Security may shoo them away but they’ll just stand at the curb, or slightly in the street, and wait. Mega stars like Jackman and Midler will have cars, but what about the mid-level actors who don’t quite qualify for that perk in a contract but still have lots and lots of fans. The stage door barriers at least provide some protection versus an actor leaving the theater and being mobbed while walking home or to the subway.  

[quizking101]

Posted: 5/25/20 at 8:13pm

I think it’s safe to say that stage dooring is definitely going to be reduced, if not axed all together for the time being. Working in medicine, I eventually see this virus going the way of the flu in that it will be a major pandemic for now, but maybe five years from now, it may become relatively routine. It’s clear that exposure is more commonplace than we know of, but how it affects everyone is markedly different. (To be clear, I’m not comparing the current outbreak to the common flu - this is far, far worse but can eventually be contained.)

I do take a bit of issue with some of the dismissive tones toward stage dooring I’ve seen in this and other threads. I’ve been a member long enough and I’m aware that many people balk at the concept. However, there are people, myself included, who used to find joy in those experiences, and the fact that the theatrical rug has been pulled out from under all of us all together has been rough for us all. Even if people may seem a bit shortsighted or ill-informed in their posting, I’m sure they come from a place where they are trying to look forward to something in the future that keeps them going day by day.

Today in my Facebook memories, I found a picture from a year ago when I met Audra McDonald after Frankie & Johnny (which, IMHO, didn’t get a fair shake). I miss those moments and I look forward to when I am able to make those memories again, because sometimes they are all you have to hold on to in times like these.

Life won’t be normal again for a good long while, but maybe take a pause before pouncing on someone who mentions the stage door and think about what that might mean to them, even if it doesn’t mean much to you. Let them have their joy, because it keeps them going.

[sbflyfan]

Posted: 5/27/20 at 11:29am

This is still one of my favorite videos. Can you imagine the number of autographs and selfies they'd be mobbed for today? No one even approaches them!

Updated On: 5/27/20 at 11:29 AM