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

[Winston3]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 1:22am

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.

[it'sjustshowbiz]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 1:28am

I think he was just on a power trip.

How did you like the understudies?

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 1:28am

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

[sgv123]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 1:32am

I think I know who you are talking about Winston. He was very rude when I saw the show last April.

[Manny2]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 1:33am

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.

[Winston3]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 1:34am

it'sjustshowbiz, I LOVED the understudies. To be honest with you I was curious to see what another actor's take on Triton would be and I loved what I saw.

I do agree that he was kind of on a power trip. But, i feel that he was totally out of line.

And PiraguaGuy2, very funny.

[Winston3]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 1:46am

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.

[lakezurich]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 1:49am

No, selling an autographed Playbill is not against the law at all.

[Winston3]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 2:04am

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?

[Manny2]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 2:09am

I think that reporting would be a bit rash. Maybe sending a well-written letter to the management or something along those lines, but I wouldn't "report", merely because he didn't: abuse physically, flat out threaten you or do any other blatant action.
He was just rude, and I'm not sure those are grounds for reporting someone.
Mind you, none of us were there, you were. You witnessed the tone and the look, so if you're gonna write a letter because you feel it's necessary, you write that letter! (just make sure it's not sensationalist, and try to make it as pithy as possible).

[lakezurich]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 2:29am

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

[ChiChi]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 2:37am

I was on the guest list at The Color Purple and the people at the stage door were very rude. They commented on how they'd never seen me with my friend and said they needed to verify how I knew my them and how long. I didn't think that seemed appropriate, but I answered the question anyway. I didn't want to cause a problem. My friend was upset because she had walked up to them specifically and put my name on the list and didn't think the line of questioning was appropriate.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 2:43am

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.

[Winston3]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 2:58am

I am not sure if I do want to take this matter further. I was just thinking off the top of my head. I do feel that if I do see the show again that I would not be allowed another crack at the stage door. I mean, I have been in stage door situations where it was clear that there have been repeat visitors but they don't really do anything about them. If they are getting their picture or autograph and not causing any problems then they don't ask them to leave.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 3:05am

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.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 4:51am

Call the theatre and get his broke ass fired

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 7:37am

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!

[Mamie]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 7:52am

Mamas right. Even if I hadn't originally intended to get any autographs, I would have done it then just to spite him. He had absolutely no right to say that to you.

I had the opposite happen to me just after Spamalot opened. I wanted to do the 'stage door' bit but I had a cast on my leg (broken ankle) and couldn't stand for long. I came back a couple weeks later and saw another show. It let out early so I went back to the Shubert's stage door with my camera to try and get a few pictures. The show was about 5 minutes from getting out and while I stood there, the stage door guy came out to set up the barricades. I obviously hadn't gone to the show that night (or I would still be in the theatre) and he asked me if I was there to get autographs. I told him I'd like to but I didn't have anything with me. He went back inside and came out with a Playbill for me to get autographed! Very, very nice.

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 8:37am

"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.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 9:26am

You should have stood your ground and gotten what you wanted, but I definitely understand your feeling uncomfortable.

A side thought: MAYBE you look a lot like someone that HAD been giving them problems or making the actors feel uncomfortable? Which of course is as wrong as folks that get pulled at borders crossings because of duplicate names!

NOT a great way to cap off your experience. (But I would send the letter....nothing changes if folks don't know about it.)

[dg22894]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 9:39am

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.

[ILoveMyDictionary]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 10:38am

Something like that happened to me when I stagedoored for The Apple Tree. I was 15 at the time, and I had brought by Titanic the Musical CD booklet for Brian D'arcy to sign. He came out signed my playbill, and then I politely asked him if he would sign the CD booklet. He did and I said thank you, and as I was walking away I hear the doorman say "yeah. watch that end up on ebay tomorrow."

I could understand him saying that if I asked Kristin Chenoweth to sign something extra, but I didn't. It was Brian D'arcy James. I don't know anyone who would want to buy a signed Titanic the musical CD booklet.

[Winston3]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 2:32pm

Does anyone know how I can go about reporting this?

[Manny2]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 2:36pm

I would contact the production office...it'll probably be closed after today though.

Edit- sorry, it won't be closed after today, lol. I don't know why I thought we were talking about Gypsy for a second.

Yeah, if you go during intermission or after the show to an usher or attendant and explain to them why you need to see the manager, they'll probably arrange it for you. I'm not sure how that stagedoor works, but you could maybe ask for the stagemanager there as well. Updated On: 1/11/09 at 02:36 PM

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 2:40pm

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