My personal Wedding Singer experience: there were probably 75 or so people at the stage door, 90% of whom were there to see Constantine. I think I was the only person there to ask for autographs from the ensemble. I would not say Constantine was into it, but he was extremely patient and signed and posed for everyone (which took probably 20 minutes or more). I have to give him credit for being so patient.
While Constantine was at the far end of the barricades, I heard a sudden shriek above the crowd of "Omigod! He said that he loves me!," which was one of the funniest things I have ever heard at a stage door.
I had a horrible experience with Molly Ringwald during the Northern California leg of the Sweet Charity tour. A handful of people waited for her at the stage door and when she came out...WOW...she was one rude woman. Some girl about 10 years old told Molly how much she liked her 80's films and Molly remaked "Haven't heard that one before!" before covering her face with her purse and running to a car that was parked about 20 feet away. No autographs, no pictures, no "thank you's." I've heard that from a lot of people who waited at the stage door for her. One of my best stage door experiences was with Eden Espinosa (Wicked). She was very nice and spent about 10 minutes taking pictures and signing autographs for everyone.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/04
Robert Goulet was a bit rude to my mom. We are getting ready to take a photo of me and him right, and she was getting the camera up and aiming it at us and everything that she doesn, and a couple of seconds passed by and he said "Take The Photo Already!" Now, I don't know if he was trying to be funny or if he was rude, by mom still takes it as being rude.
Some of the elderly audience members who wait at the Jersey Boys stage are like really rude. The first time I saw it(it was my birthday) and we were waiting there, there was no barricade and Daniel Reichard came out and he was signing and talking to people and me, my sister, and a friend of mine were the next one to him right, and then these three old ladies who had way too much perfume on just walked right infront of us and plopped down(I hate when people do that). I said something under my breath to my sister and friend and one of the old ladies turned around and kinda looked at me weird.
When I went in September, it was the day of the Flea Market and we were at the door again and there was a fairly large amount of people there waiting, and some of the ensemble members like Kris Coleman, Mark Lotito, Jen Naimo(I think) were coming out, John Leone, who filled in for Bobby came out, and then as soon as Christian came out, the crowd really went nuts, and this one old guy was just shoving his way through the crowd to get to Christian. Now, I tend to get really claustrophobic, and I just left where I was and went over to an open area by the side.
Same day, there was also this old lady that we let go ahead of us because she said she wanted to get Mark's or Kris's autograph and afterwards she was just standing there and I gave a look to my mom and my mom said to the lady "Could you move please?" To which she was like why and my mom said cause my son was there and she moved back.
One of the times I went to wait at The Boy From Oz's stagedoor and it was before the show and it started to rain, and so these two ladies in front of me and my mom took out an umbrella and opened it up. Now, that is particularly one of the more dangerous things you could possibly do in a closed space where no one is moving, open an umbrella. They could've hit someone, everyone around there were PO by it and they eventually closed it.
I really hate alot of the rude people in the stage door crowds like the ones that were mentioned before were the parents use their kids and shove them forward and are all like "He/She seen the show ___ times and loves you and he/she might work with you on stage some day.
Broadway Star Joined: 3/3/04
The security guy at The Apple Tree is only doing his job.
I've seen fans deliberately ignore instructions.
If fans do something that he was suppose to let the fans know isn't allowed, he's the one who is going to get chewed out by Kristen because it's his job to make sure her instructions are followed.
He is in a difficult position.
Personally, I thought Kristen was being a total DIVA by insisting that people had to rotate up to where she was standing instead of her making the effort to walk down each side of the barricades to sign. It actually makes for a less chaotic scene. Who does she think she is? Sheesh.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
The doorman at Studio 54 is one of the friendliest doormen out there. He and the staff are just doing their jobs to make sure that nothing gets out of hand.
Kristin, also, is lovely. I've never seen her have a problem signing items from other shows.
Updated On: 2/20/07 at 04:39 PM
it's the job of the bodyguards and stagedoor managers to protect the actors
I've seen fans deliberately ignore instructions
millie_dillmount and musicalsFan, I understand your points, but at the same time there has to be some level of trust that the fans out there are going to follow instructions and behave, otherwise why even bother with doing stage door autographs? Why not just pass out signed copies of the playbill to people who come to the stage door wanting one, it would be easier and less hectic. I've had other stage door experiences with much bigger crowds and don't generally see stage door managers and bodyguards be outright rude to people who didn't warrant it. They typically treat people based on their behavior, those who are acting out of hand get treated accordingly and those who are listening they have no problem with. If it's going to come to the point where you're just rude to everyone for no reason I think it's uncalled for and from what I could tell the stage door manager had an attitude with pretty much everyone he talked to out there. And as for protecting the actors, I have no problem with that, I'm fine with people doing their job and I understand why it's necessary, but I wasn't exactly going to hurt her with my book either.
Broadway Star Joined: 3/3/04
otherwise why even bother with doing stage door autographs?
It may eventually come to that with Kristin C. if it becomes such a scene at the stage door. Remember, it is not what YOU think; it is what SHE thinks.
If the guy is reporting to her that the crowds aren't being cooperative, which you are by ignoring him, then she may well decide to not come out. All it takes is for a few idiots who ignore instructions to ruin it for everybody. How does he know
you weren't intending to "surprise" Kristin with the book to sign?
Harry Connick Jr had the idiotic rule that you couldn't take a picture of him while he was signing autographs at the stage door. I thought it was stupid, but I followed the security guard's instructions, because I did not want to ruin it for future fans.
If you don't want to abide by the rules, then leave.
It is not your g*d given right to get that autograph.
As they say, beggars can't be choosers. In this case, you are the "beggar".
When I stage doored Apple Tree I felt like a fool with their system. I was roating with other people and it felt like an audition - we each got like 5 seconds to talk to her. Pathetic.
She's a great talent, but not at all worthy of the diva status that stage door gives her. Patti Lupone, Chita Rivera, and many other much more famous people have gone to each person. It's more respectful for the person who just waited in the cold NY weather.
I agree WickedGeek. We paid to see the show and stood out in the cold, the least we could've gotten was some respect. I know that none of the stars have to come out and sign anything, I don't think it's my "g*d given right" to get an autograph and I do appreciate the fact that anyone takes the time to do it. I cooperated with the manager, but I wasn't going to put my book on the ground - winter in New York doesn't exactly make for clean sidewalks. And as I have said, I had no problem with the rules, if she wasn't going to sign it she wasn't going to sign it, I understood and I "abided by the rules" which I have always done at the stage door.
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/9/04
In defense of Ramona, when I met her, she stayed and chatted with me for at least 15 minutes about her career, mastering RAVEN, how she stayed in fine voice, etc. etc. Was delighted to snap a picture, asked me my name and gave me a hug,
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/3/05
Rotating? Wow. I am planning on seeing the show in March. How is it with Brian and Marc? As they are the two I am most interested in seeing. Do they come out the same door and stay and sign?
Brian and Marc are out fast and sign/take pictures in the normal style.
In regards to Ramona, I found her very nice everytime I was there.
Brian was very nice when he came out. Initially when he came out no one seemed to recognize him, but he signed autographs for whoever wanted them and was very sweet about it. Unfortunately, Marc didn't come out the night I was there.
Marc usually parks his motorcycle right next to the stage door. So he really has no choice but to come out.
I don't recall seeing a motorcycle next to the stage door, but I might've missed it, although there was a lot of snow still piled against the sidewalks, so maybe he had it parked somewhere else and went out another door. I know he didn't come out before Kristin.
Swing Joined: 12/23/06
I thought the rotating worked really well. Earlier in the run, people were missing out on autographs because they couldn't get to the front and it isn't as if she can walk through the crowd. So they rotate, and everyone gets a chance with her. I don't see how it makes her a diva.
The only problem is, if one of the men is signing at the same time, you might miss him, unless you keep your eyes peeled.
Also, to the Constantine comment, he's really not terrible to his fans. I've met him twice and both were good experiences. All actors get sh*tty sometimes. You can't single him out for that. This thread is for bad stage door experiences, not actors that you think are bad with their fans.
Well, if you had actually *read* the other comments instead of just accusing them of something they didn't say, you'd know that dancingthrulife clearly said "He was nice if you were falling all over him and saying how great he was." I'd assume that fans such as yourself would fall under the "saying how great he was" category, while the average stagedoorer at The Wedding Singer would not. No one said anything about Constantine's fans until you brought it up. Next time, instead of rushing to blindly defend him, try to work on your reading comprehension skills.
I've had good and bad experiences at the stagedoors. The good outweigh the bad. At Drowsy, apparently you're not allowed to leave anything for Sutton to sign, in addition to her never stagedooring anymore, so that's...odd. I'm not sure if that's her rule or Drowsy's or just an uninformed lackey at the door, but I've never run into that before.
I've been furtunate enough to not have any horrible experiences at the stage door. But as far as them signing and the guy working the door that day, he's only doing his job. Don't take it personal if he harsh with you. He may have had some people who weren't willing to obey. I would probably be the same way. Just be happy that they even sign. Their job is done when they walk of that stage. They aren't required to sign/meet with the fans afterwards. The guy working the door could probably set it up so she doesn't sign if he wanted to.
Updated On: 2/20/07 at 06:53 PM
No offense, but there is a reason you can't take pictures of sets or costumes, and many times it's becuase of legal issues. This is even happens in college shows, and it is because if they are with a union, it may be against the union rules, etc. You must respect their work.
Not rude directly to me, but it was definately annoying! I was standing in line at the 'Wicked' stagedoor at the Fox Theatre in St. Louis with about 10 other people. Unfortunately, there was a little girl, probably 11, with her mom waiting for the cast to come out. While they waited, the girl kept whining and complaining, "Can I go backstage? Amy got to go backstage, why can't I?" over and over again! Finally, the mom who was just as annoying as the girl went over to the door and opened it the same time the door man did and asked if her daughter could go backstage. The man said 'No' and then the girl complained some more! While they waited, I heard her mom say, "So what else has the Elphaba been in?" The little girl said like she knew everything, "Mom! She was in 'The Boy from Oz' about the Wicked Witch's son!" I was really tempted to just turn around and slap her! We moved away from them after that!
Other than that, I've never witnessed any thing rude! I did, however, witness Mary Bond Davis get her earing stuck to a woman's coat and couldn't get loose!
I guess I was lucky to have missed the "rotating" thing, which I have to confess I don't really understand -- it seems like it would take much longer than the usual method. It really sounds like things are very variable at the Apple Tree stage door.
Not Broadway, but...
David Copperfield.
I saw one of his shows (at Proctor's Theatre in Schenectady, NY) around 1986. The stage door opens into a nice long arcade where they had a line set up for autographs. You stood in the long line. David was sitting in a folding chair on a stand...so high that I was barely eye-level with his sneakers and I was a tall girl. When you got to him, a big bodyguard took your poster or headshot (only those...you couldn't hand them your program instead). He handed it up to David as you kept moving past. David scribbled his initials and handed it to another big bodyguard on the other side of the rise. The second bodyguard handed it back to you just as the line reached the exit doors.
It effectively ended my pre-teen fandom.
when I was at the Wicked SD on my birthday 1/31 this lady had 6 FRIGGIN GRIMMERIES and had Kendra (who was obviously sick and wanted to leave) and al the leads sign them all. also had them sign 4 of the sheet music books. then this little girl next to me kept screaming when someone came out "WHERE'S THE WICKED WITCH?!" and when Christy signed my playbill I was talking to her and the little girl was like Who's she? And Christy was like "The one in the wheel chair!" and laughed and the little girl took her playbill and gave it to her mom and said "The Wicked Witch isn't coming out let's just go!"
Leading Actor Joined: 5/4/06
How about leaving the show with wonderful memories as opposed to rabidly trying to get another PERSON'S SIGNATURE?....SIGNATAURE???!!!)
I think people forget that actors are human. They are tired, anxious, grateful, weary, hungry and many other things after a show. If you can't listen to a security guard at a stage door AND you're an adult, the clearly you are a stalker or mentally deficient. Being an actor is a job folks, albeit a great one but For God sake,get it togehter.
We're also saying that the manager might've not known if you were going to "surprise" Kristen with the book. He was only making sure. Why lug a whole Grimmerie to Apple Tree anyway? You're seeing Apple Tree, get the playbill signed at least.
***
Personally, I thought Kristen was being a total DIVA by insisting that people had to rotate up to where she was standing instead of her making the effort to walk down each side of the barricades to sign."
Maybe it has something to do with her being short and reaching people in the back that way people aren't pushing into each other and leaning over to try to get her autograph.
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