Something strang happened to me at the stage door of The Little Mermaid

Tonight I went to the box office and got a student rush ticket for the show. I noticed that there were two understudies. Chelsea Morgan Stock was on for Boggess and JC Montgomery was on instead of Norm Lewis for Triton. Both were very, very good. Now, I had seen the show twice before but the last time I saw it was in I want to say April. Or sometime in the spring or sometime between the spring and summer. Either way it was a while ago. Due to the fact that the understudies were great I thought that I would get their autographs. I also knew that there were a good few of the leads who's autographs I couldn't add to my collection because both times I saw it it was on a Wednesday afternoon and they don't come out between shows.

So, I get to the stage door and the guy there gave me this strange look, as if he was scanning me or something. I think the best way to describe it would be to say that it was similar to what Larry David does on Curb Your Enthusiasm when he thinks someone is lying to him.

He says in a very rude tone that he has seen me before and then asks if I saw the show. This was very strange to me because this never happened to me at any stage door ever. I said yes, and then he in the same rude tone said that he meant tonight. He then in a very rude tone asked me if I was getting autographs for myself and I said yes. He then said also very rudely that he wanted to make sure that I wasn't going to sell them on Ebay or anything like that.

While I was standing at the stage door waiting for people to come out he kept darting dirty looks my way that made me feel very uncomfortable, so I left.

Two things came into mind when I was leaving the theatre. The first one was that the guy was WAY to harsh and WAY too rude. And, there was no reason at all for him to ask me those questions or talk to me in such a rude tone. I mean compared to let's say the stage door guard at The New Amsterdam which is the only other Disney stage door that I have had recent experience with. It was totally night and day.

And, the second thing is is this. If I wanted to get a playbill autographed and sell it on Ebay isn't that technically my prerogative? I mean, I never have nor will I ever get autographs just to make a profit and sell them on Ebay. But, if I wanted to why would it matter to anyone else?

Sorry for the long post.

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OH NOES! NOW HOW WILL I GET SIERRA BOGGESS TO SIGN MYZ PLAYBILLZ

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Wow, this is rude.

It's not like you're taking money out of his pocket in any way, or like you recorded the show or anything. You paid money to see the show, and he decided to stick around for stagedoor. He should atleast hide the antagonism. (If I were you though, I would have just walked away).

And I think he has a superiority complex. I mean, I doubt that "Little Mermaid" playbills signed by understudies sell for millions. And if you do decide to sell it for a half-penny, he shouldn't care because it's your property and it's not illegal in any way.

I just want to add that after the discussion with me and the stage door guy, I stayed there almost all of five min if even that and then walked away.

Manny2, your right. My brother is in law school and I told him about this and he said that I wasn't doing anything against the law. And, I didn't think I was either. I was always under the impression that if a person wants to sell an autograph playbill on Ebay then more power to them. Not, that I wanted to in this case but I am just talking in general terms.

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I mean I posted this thread to share my story because it was something unfortunate that happened to me that I wanted to share. And, second of all, I had always THOUGHT that it was okay to sell your playbill on Ebay if you wanted to. But, with the way the guy was acting I was having second thoughts. I am glad to know that selling a playbill on ebay isn't against the law. And, that there was know way the he could have (if he wanted to) kick me out because I wasn't doing anything wrong.

I am just wondering. Is there anyway that I can report this? Should I report this to someone if I can?

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He couldn't kick you out anyways, even if you were doing anything wrong, seeing as you were already outside. :)

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I think a letter to management is the way to go if you decide to pursue this further. It's a Disney, family-oriented show. I cannot imagine the PTB would like anyone on their payroll being rude to paying customers. Having worked for Disney I can tell you that everything is done with a smile and this sort of behavior is not acceptable. Not that it would be acceptable at another stage door but Disney is a bit more anal about this sort of stuff.

As Manny said if you do decide to write to management just stick to the facts. Clear and concise is all that's necessary.

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I know of people who stage door the same show every single day whether they've seen it or not. If they don't get asked to leave I don't think you would be asked to leave either. It isn't his job to police how many times you've seen a show or stage doored it. He's there to protect the actors from the crazy people. And I'm guessing you're not one of them.

If you see the show again I strongly recommend you stage door. Don't let his bad attitude scare you away. And what if, perhaps, he was simply having a bad day and you just happened to get the brunt of it (not saying that's right though). I'd say give it a second chance. Unless you're creating a disturbance or threatening anyone he cannot not allow you to be there. If that's where you want to be then that's where you should be. Forget him.

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Winston, go back there when ever you can, just stand there getting as many autographs as you possibly can, all the while totally ignoring him. He will get really pissed off and you will know the exact moment that you can ask to see the company or theatre manager and then explain all to them about this ridiculous behavior.
Is he trying to get rid of a 100 year old tradition of collecting autographs- autographs for which you are free to do with what ever you wish!

"I think the best way to describe it would be to say that it was similar to what Larry David does on Curb Your Enthusiasm when he thinks someone is lying to him. "

Loved that.


Anyway that is very rude. And people sell Playbills all the time, think about BC/EFA they do it for $50+

A few years ago I was at Rent and Frenchie Davis came out and some of the people who are there regularly (Not creepy people though, very nice) wanted to get her autograph. She obviously knows them and she said "...as long as you aren't selling them on eBay or something" Because they have a lot of her autograph.

I had a similar experience. When I saw a Chorus Line with Mario Lopez. The guy at the door asked me all these questions about why I was there and if I was going to sell it. This was one of the first shows I stagedoored. He also asked me my age and then Mario came out and I told him and he said I was not the only one who had complained, and this was only like his 4th day. I went again and it was another guy who was really nice. He asked how everyone liked the show and how long everyone usually takes.

Does anyone know how I can go about reporting this?

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Speak to the theatre manager or ask for the shows company manager