Stage Door Egos — Page 4

I was surprised at how nice Jessica Lange was after THE GLASS MENAGERIE, especially after being told by many that she was very cold towards her fans at the stage door. Absolutely not. She was so sweet, signed everything, and spoke to everyone personally. A real class act.

MEF, I gotta say you broke my heart with your Maggie Smith story....I've been a huge fan of hers for years and it's sad that you had that experience with her - I always wondered what she'd be like at the stage door.. Still, I'm not going to judge her according to this.

I haven't really had bad experiences at stage doors. All the performers I've met were always extremely gracious to me - Donna Murphy stands out as she was a total sweetheart - but I can understand performers who don't want to do the whole stage door thing. It's also hard to judge according to one night...Who knows what happened on that particular day?
On the other hand, I know I was really dissappointed after Little Women, when Maureen M. went out the other door, even though it was only 3 people waiting for her, and we had waited for about 45 minutes...

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the only problem with Donna Murphy is that in order to see her at a stage door, she had to show up for work and be on the stage beforehand.. now THAT she is what she has a problem with.

Okay, so maybe I am biased here because they are two my favorite performers - but I think two of the nicest performers I've met at a stage door are Terrence Mann and Eddie Izzard. Amazingly sweet. Especially Mann when I babbled about my undying admiration of his talent and he hugged me to shut me up. Ha.

That said - and I love Terrence Mann and that quote posted earlier - but I actually disagree with him! I love having the opportunity to meet my favorite performers. But if they are tired or not in the mood, they are under no obligation to put on a happy face and sign a Playbill or take a photo. It can be disappointing but you have to give them some grace.

Rudeness though. That irks me. Whether it's a performer or an everyday person on the street. There is far too much rude behavior in this world.

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magic, of course they were nice. they were in shock that someone paid MONEY to see that wreck of a 'show'

This isn't current, but when I went to see Into the Woods, I went to the stage door. Everyone was so pleasant and charming (specially the princes- heh...no pun intended) but when Vanessa Williams came out, she had her sharpie ready in her hand, signed maybe 10 autographs for the people on her right side. She was headed to her limo and some old ladies asked her to sign their posters so she asks, "Have you seen the show before?" they answer "Yes" and so she gets into her limo and leaves.

Updated On: 4/26/05 at 12:36 PM

WOW! I didn't know Vanessa Williams was like that! That's awful!

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Tesse, my feeling is that THIS attitude is what is wrong with many people in todays's society and businesses, compared to the American work ethic of the 50's. If you have a job, even if you are "off" a shift, if you work there and you see another waiter over- booked with tables and someone sitting there needing water or whatever, get your ass over there and serve them, even if you are on the way out the door. If you work in a department store and have just checked out, I do not care if you are on the clock or not, if a customer stops you and asks for help finding a product, show them! In the end what you pass on to others comes back to you two-fold. You are still representing a company or venue that pays you, and I would hope a person would have enough respect for their employer, themselves and the customer to go the extra mile....not every day, every time, we are human, but as a general habit. Broadway casts work their tails off 8 shows a week, but part of their job should remain that you promote the show whenever possible including signing playbills after the show for a few minutes, it's not like you have to go to dinner with the people and entertain them after you sign your name and say
"thanks for coming to the show, so glad you enjoyed it, or my character or I see you bought a souvenier t-shirt, I have one just like it" gees!!! Again, just my opinion, but I feel strongly about it!

*standing ovation for starlight2*

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I did not know that, Chloe. Thank you for filling me in. I know that Judi Dench's husband died during the run, which was the central reason that it never came to New York. I'm sad to hear that her husband was going through a rough time health wise.

PS-both ladies are on Charlie Rose right now.

Just want to agree with whomever it was praising Dixie Carter. She's one of the most pleasant, sweet, kind and enjoyable celebrities I've ever had the pleasure of working with.

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Wow - I really do see both sides of this. I guess the point I want to make is that we shouldn't think a performer is rude just because they walk by us if NOT asked for an autograph. I mean, are they supposed to just stand there and grin until someone asks? Those in smaller roles or in the chorus may feel embarrassed or "no one wants MY autograph, they're all waiting for the STAR star" and hurry by - not out of rudeness, but shyness. However, I am not excusing TRULY rude behavior of any kind, whether on the part of the actor or the part of the autograph seeker.

It should also be noted that MANY "autograph seekers" just turn right around and sell the Playbill on Ebay.

Since when does buying a ticket to a show entitle someone to a "meet and greet" with the cast afterwards?

If some performers go above and beyond what is expected of them, that's GREAT. However, I'd never hold it against someone who "snuck out another exit" or wasn't engaging while they were signing.

From my own personal experiences, Greg Edelman is the nicest man in show business today. I felt like I was talking to an old friend the two times I've met him (after Wonderful Town and Into the Woods).