Spotting Celebrities at Shows — Page 2

When I saw the Barrow Street Sweeney Todd in February, both Ethan Slater and Tony Goldwyn were in the audience, one table away from where I was sitting (the immersive seating, for those familiar with the production).

Matthew Morrison was also at Moulin Rouge the second time I saw the show during the Boston tryout.

Edited to add: Almost forgot that I also saw Lillias White at Hello, Dolly! at Donna Murphy's 7/20/18 show.

Updated On: 9/7/18 at 03:04 AM

veronicamae said: "Oh, calm down. lol

If your copious actor friends are pissy about a fan saying hello when they spot them at a Broadway show - where they are VERY likely to be recognized given the audience- they need to think about it."

who said anything about pissy? All I would ask you to do is put yourself in their shoes. You're out (on a date, with a friend, etc.), you had a long day at work, you want to relax and have a conversation with the person you are with. But that's not possible because everyone wants to say hello because...why? I really do hope some reading this will get it, and stop being self-entitled nuisances. Sorry to be so blunt about it but it's obnoxious.

Lea Salonga (along with half the cast of Once on this Island) at Phantom of the Opera

Michael Urie at Gently Down the Stream at the Public Theater

I was working the box office at my local big theater during Hamilton's tour stop, and Thomas Kail came to the window to pick up tickets. I was overwhelmed when I realized it was him! I thanked him for all the good work he has done for theatre and for Hamilton itself, but the woman next to him heard me and asked for a picture with him (which I never would have done had I been on the other side of the glass). He asked her if she knew who he was, and she outright said no! All cavalier and laughing as if it wasn't rude to ask for a picture with someone you don't even know who they are. I was very embarrassed and apologetic, but luckily the person who came up after the woman knew a mutual friend of Kail's and they had a nice chat, so hopefully he got something good out of it. I know I'll try to never be overwhelmed again if I run into someone famous!

This was a long time ago. I was sitting in the balcony of the Lyceum for Jules Feiffers' "Grown Ups" when I noticed a spare orchestra seat. At intermission I went down to grab it. I asked those seated next to it if it was vacant, and the woman put her head down. I realized it was Meryl Streep, who obviously did not want to be recognized and who believed I was planning to talk to her. I took the seat and positioned my head so that I could hardly see her. If she didn't want to be recognized, I wasn't going to intrude.

yesraccoons said: "Last year I saw Andrew Rannells at Bandstand. He actually left through the stage door which seems odd but what do I know."

He knew someone in the show, went backstage afterward, and then exited. Pretty basic.

bfreak said: "(I later learned that Steven Spielberg was also there!)"

This reminded me that he was at Jagged Little Pill when I was. I actually ran into him in the bathroom and had no clue it was him until after the show. ART has gender neutral bathrooms if anyone was wondering why I ran into him in the bathroom.

Reading these are fun!

Evita Revival - Sat next to Marc Anthony, and it just so happened I was wearing one of his sport coats from his line at Kohls - got a very fun picture with him!

Stritch at the Carlyle - Sat next to James Gandolfini and his wife - he had just done a movie with Elaine and it was so funny to hear Tony Soprano say to his table “I hope she sings The Lady’s Who Lunch”

Gods Of Carnage - Sat directly in front of Morgan Freeman

Promises Promises Revival - didn’t realize it until I was getting up to leave, but I was sitting next to Raul Esparza the entire night, he told me I had an infectious laugh

Once - sat next to Brian Yorkey, who was so wonderful to talk to

Once - sat in front of Rosie - she made it perfectly clear no one was to even look her way let alone speak to her

Shrek - sat in back of Vince, Linda & Stephanie McMahon from the WWE - they were there with Stephanie’s little girl

Buckley at the old Feinsteins - sat next to Mr. Riedel - we were both there alone. I know we all love to hate on him, but I will tell you that in person, at least to me, he was extremely funny and gracious. He even talked about recognizing what an ass he came off like in the documentary “Showbusiness”. He even told me stories about going to college in the city where I live and asked me if an old record store was still in business. What I will never be able to forget to this day, and will forever be grateful for, was he said he had never met such a huge fan of Betty Buckley, besides him of course, and wanted to know if I would like to accompany him back to the green room and meet her. I of course said yes, and ended up spending almost 45 minutes back there with him, her and Seth Rudetsky. Eventually I said I needed to be going, and they both said I was welcome to stay longer, but it is a night I will cherish forever.