“Stage Door Behavior: The Plays” by Cara Joy David

[quizking101]

Posted: 9/18/23 at 3:35pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Stage-Door-Behavior-The-Plays-20230918
 

Not sure if any of you had read this article, but while I did enjoy most of it - feel-good stage door stories are always nice to read - I did find myself taking umbrage with the last paragraph as it relates to the cast of “Jaja’s African Hair Braiding”

And then there is Jaja's African Hair Braiding. I’ve never seen anything quite like the stage door for this show. I tried multiple times, but each night the actors ignored the five to fifteen waiting fans in favor of friends/family. Now, I’ve been to stage doors in early previews before, and usually, there is a lot of greeting friends/family, but then people double back to the fans. In this case, the actors only signed when fans interrupted their conversations. I waited 40 minutes one night alongside fans just hoping the cast members would double back, but they didn’t. This will change—friends/family stop coming in large groups after early previews, so I expect they will be in a different mode in the coming days. I can only tell you what I saw.

I really don’t like the way this was written (or that it was written at all) since it directly contradicts the point made in the byline - Stars don't have to sign at the stage door, but many do. While yes, sometimes actors don’t signing at the stage door, writing a whole paragraph about the cast of a small play at MTC (made up entirely of women of color, mind you) seems to really perpetuate a sense of entitlement on the writer’s end and casts unfair aspersions/disrespects people who may just want to do their show and go.

I think BWW and the writer should maybe reconsider their approach to these types of editorials in the future. While I expect this type of writing from the average message board person, I expect a slightly higher standard from one of BWW’s journalists.

Discuss.

[Voter]

Posted: 9/18/23 at 3:53pm

I wish they would open up these editorials to different industry people more. Some of Cara Joy's stories these past weeks have been huge misses personally imo

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 9/18/23 at 3:54pm

this was a odd read

[Voter]

Posted: 9/18/23 at 3:55pm

This also stuck out 

 "This stage door featured something I hadn’t seen before—a director signing. One night, Kenny Leon came out (before any cast member), introduced himself, put on a mask, thanked people for attending (and somewhat oddly for attending Topdog/Underdog as well), and proceeded to sign."

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 9/18/23 at 4:04pm

It kind of reads like someone who is very entitled. People have become very entitled when it comes to the stage door and it's very disappointing. The way they think it's okay to message actors if they don't come out to sign/take pictures, the way they ask other performers to ask if someone else is coming out, how actors have to apologize if they don't. No one is ever required to stage door. I wish someone would do an article from that stance as well 

[Fordham2015]

Posted: 9/18/23 at 4:09pm

Voter said: "This also stuck out

"This stage door featured something I hadn’t seen before—a director signing. One night,Kenny Leoncame out (before any cast member), introduced himself, put on a mask, thanked people for attending (and somewhat oddly for attendingTopdog/Underdogas well), and proceeded to sign.""

That reminds me of when I saw Sunset Boulevard and Kristen Blodgette (now the conductor of Sweeney Todd) came out the stage door. She said "I've never seen the show before, is it good" (the orchestra was onstage and she had her back to the audience the entire show)

[JSquared2]

Posted: 9/18/23 at 4:26pm

Ms. David is perhaps one of the most clueless and entitled person I have ever come across on these boards.

This says it all:

Now, I’ve been to stage doors in early previews before, and usually, there is a lot of greeting friends/family, but then people double back to the fans.  ...  In this case, the actors only signed when fans interrupted their conversations.

Just pathetic.

[Voter]

Posted: 9/18/23 at 4:44pm

Now if someone wants to do an editorial over some of the shows with/that had frequent stalkers... (ie: Prima Facie, Thoughts of a Colored Man, Grey House, the Tveit fans @ MR...) THAT'S a much more interesting story.

[quizking101]

Posted: 9/18/23 at 4:59pm

Voter said: "Now if someone wants to do an editorial over some of the shows with/that had frequent stalkers... (ie: Prima Facie, Thoughts of a Colored Man, Grey House, the Tveit fans @ MR...) THAT'S a much more interesting story."

…Whoa. What’s happened at “…Colored Man”? I don’t remember hearing anything (unless I just missed it completely)

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 9/18/23 at 5:09pm

quizking101 said: "I think BWW and the writer should maybe reconsider their approach to these types of editorials in the future. While I expect this type of writing from the average message board person, I expect a slightly higher standard from one of BWW’s journalists.

Discuss."

I like low stakes gossip, but this feels like it should be a reddit post, not an article, even on a more informal site like BWW. I don't know why these random anecdotal experiences of a stage door fan were given so much weight and it wasn't written well enough to be compelling. 

[Impeach2017]

Posted: 9/18/23 at 9:27pm

I find her tone and poor writing skills irritating, and I find it mildly disturbing that this publication has chosen to feature a negative know-nothing who is trying (and failing) to be edgy.

[BroadwayRox3588]

Posted: 9/18/23 at 10:17pm

It was a perfect example of "you had me, then you lost me."

The bit about Jaja's African Hair Braiding is really irritating. And the fact that she seemingly has no issue with people walking up to actors and interrupting conversations with their family/friends is just gross.

[Kad]

Posted: 9/19/23 at 12:01am

…I honestly forget this site has editorials. 

[AC126748]

Posted: 9/19/23 at 1:00pm

This column perpetuates the idea that fans are entitled not only to an autograph at the stage door but a certain level of interaction with the company members that they deem acceptable. It really feels tone-deaf considering the many legitimate reasons why many theater workers may wish to avoid the stage door these days.