STAGE DOORS AND EXITS

[Made4Broadway]

Posted: 12/10/03 at 4:53pm

hey everyone! I've been to Wicked 2 times, 1 time the entire cast came out, and another time only Idina came out, but i know there is 2 stage doors, the one on 51st street.....but Kristin's limo driver was waiting for her and i overheard this conversation with some man from backstage...

Driver: hi i'm here for Kristin do you know if she has left or if shes not ready?

Man: Miss chenowith?

Driver: yes.

Man: she is still here but she is leaving out the door by the resturant.


so the driver got into the car and pulled away........Does anyone know of the other* stage door? or exits?

[JoizeyActor]

Posted: 12/10/03 at 8:05pm

Well, if he mentioned a restaurant. I know there was this little outdoor cafe thing outside of wicked. If you're looking at the entrance to the theatre, its to you're left around the corner. It's across the parking garage entrance from the stage door basically.

[Lorelai]

Posted: 12/10/03 at 8:23pm

this may sound weird.....but actors usually leave through different entrances when they are in a hurry, tired, meeting people or something like that in which case they probably want to leave without being stopped. It's not a mean thing really, actually it's not mean at all because they COULD come out the stage door and just not sign anything. so sometimes maybe they have good reason for needing to leave through another exit

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 12/10/03 at 10:46pm

Exactly. I think it's rude for fans to go searching for the alternate exits, because if those actors are going out those exits it's because they do not wish to be stopped by fans for whatever reason; and fans should respect that. When actors sign autographs and take pictures they are going above and beyond. It should not be expected of them to be that kind, and people should not become upset when a celebrity does not come out after a show. Americans are spoiled...lol and I'm American. But I know that in London, stage door signings and picture taking are not the norm.
What I hate the most is when people go to the stage door with about 10 playbills and/or other memorabilia...and the best part is they hadn't seen the show in question. They just go for the celebrity meeting. I swear, if I were one of the actors I would start quizing people about the show and then not sign anything for someone who clearly hadn't seen it.

[Made4Broadway]

Posted: 12/10/03 at 10:55pm

i know they have things to do, but she hasnt come out in a long time because my friend has seen it 9 times and they said they never seen Kristin...i totally agree with what you said, but without the fans the show wouldnt be selling so many tickets

[Made4Broadway]

Posted: 12/10/03 at 10:57pm

and if someone takes the time out and wait for an autograph the least you can do is sign.

[GirlfriendFromCanada]

Posted: 12/10/03 at 11:06pm

I actually know of a now much more famous than he was then Broadway actor who did quiz someone on the show he was in, the role he played and the song he sang before he signed an autograph. Because of nerves, this girl had accidently referred to him by the wrong name at her first meeting, and on the second, he reacted that way. He even signed the autograph quite rudely, but I guess that is what happens sometimes.

[Musetta1957]

Posted: 12/10/03 at 11:08pm

"but without the fans the show wouldnt be selling so many tickets "

They're not there to pander to you.

You pay your money, they perform, and that's all they're obligated to do.

[Phantom2]

Posted: 12/10/03 at 11:10pm

Another stalkerish thread. Give these actors a break. Some people just gotta go home!!!!!!!!!!!

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 12/10/03 at 11:19pm

Well like when I've been to some stage doors, I always hear people ask their friends or whoever is with them, "Who did he/she play?" It's like, hello! Did you not just see the show. I know they look a little different without makeup, but do you not look at the playbill at all?!

LOL When I saw The Boy From Oz a couple of weeks ago, my friend and I had stopped by the stage door after with the hopes of meeting Hugh Jackman. This girl (about 14 years old) and her mother were out there. My friend and I were near the baracade, and the Mother must have been afraid that we were going to block the girl (even though this girl did not see the show...she didn't even have a playbill). We would not have blocked her, but whatever...the mother didn't know that. lol So anyway, she pushes her daughter into the baracade and says, "Get in there! Don't move!" I thought this was very ammusing and I said (I guess rather loudly), "OK Mama Rose." The woman kept giving me such nasty looks after that, but I guess there are a breed of "Stage door mothers" as opposed to "Stage Mothers."

My parents never brought me to stage doors when I was younger. lol I developed that on my own. But it was like they wanted me to appreciate the show and not focus on whatever celebrity was in it. And I use that up-bringing still today. Yes, it's nice when I can see a favorite actor or actress in a show, but when I'm watching the show I can seperate the actor from the character and focus on the work at hand. It's great to be able to do that, and really appreciate the art of it all. :)

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 12/10/03 at 11:21pm

When does a star's job end? I know this is a controversial question. In a nutshell, it ends when the star has done his/her best in "their" personal opinion, to please their audience and that varies from actor to actor. You just have to accept that. When it's enough...it's enough. Hounding and hunting down is not polite in any profession is it?

[Lorelai]

Posted: 12/11/03 at 12:18am

theaterbaby-
only makes makes my comment stronger clear. If I'm am looking for autographs I usually hit the stage door. but i've found that in social situations having a normal, every day conversation is ten times better than an autophraph and sometimes when you see in the future, sometimes they will even remember you. One that comes to mind is Kate Burton,I had met her awhile ago and asked if i brought my hedda gabler and she was great. when I finally went back I was actually sitting outside where she cane out reading a play and when she finally came out we started talking about the play and things like that. then i saw her againat the bc/efa flea market aand she totally remembered me
also about people who bring million this get to get signed obviouly to sell? the kinda the same thing theaterbabdby does. give them total dirty looks and sometimes they haven't been to the show and just to be a b**ch and start asking them about what part of they show they liked the the most. It raelly makes them look like morons in front of a lot..oops, oh well.

[lc1965]

Posted: 12/11/03 at 10:22am

I really do need to agree w/ everyone who says that chasing down performers at alternate stage doors is rude & inconsiderate. Someone posted a very good point, which I will reiterate: if someone is going through an alternate exit they clearly do not wish to meet with people--for whatever reason. It really isn't for any of us to judge them.

[rlbgbc]

Posted: 12/11/03 at 10:27am

Also another consideration: I'd venture that 35% of the folks that loom outside of stage doors haven't actually seen that performance at all. Or any performance: "they're not indoors long enough!" (Thank you, Margo Channing.) There is an element that deals in celebrity autographs, pics, etc. and I'd wager that it becomes tres annoying for those employed on Broadway, knowing that their autograph/pic is going to be sold on e-bay or whatever.

I remember seeing this one scaaaaary guy outside a stage door that had a stack of polaroids a foot high in some weird little carrying case, offering them for sale. Too weird.

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 12/11/03 at 4:31pm

I'll admit, I bought some autographed Playbills and things off of eBay because I wasn't able to get them when I saw the show. Or, in my most recent purchase, I bought an original "Into the Woods" playbill signed by the entire OBC. I also bought a "Thoroughly Modern Millie" playbill (from last year), but I know it was purchased during the BC/EFA period last year. I don't think that's as bad. But yes, I do hate when people rush to the stagedoor for the sole purpose of getting autographs to sell on eBay (Ashley Judd, Hugh Jackman, Bernadette Peters, etc.).

I also don't think it's right to hunt down the celebrity. When I saw "Wicked" a policeman told us there would be no signing that night, and I completely understood. The weather was horrible and their roles are very demanding.

Anyway, I've forgotten the point of my post now.