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#126

re: Stage Door Egos

Posted: 4/26/05 at 7:51pm

Barbara Walsh was rude because, not only did she walk past me while on her phone, but she looked right at me and saw me smile and extend my Playbill toward her to get her attention, and she gave me this evil glare that I had never seen from anyone before. A grin, a shake or nod of the head, or something to acknowledge my existence as a human being wouldn't have been that difficult.
#127

re: Stage Door Egos

Posted: 4/26/05 at 8:17pm

When I saw the Little Shop revival I found Hunter to be very..cold, I guess - however, after reading that story about his utter sweetness to that girl at Urinetown, I'm willing to blame my experience with him on his supposed shyness.

Roger Bart is the sweetest guy - I felt so lucky to be gifted with a look and smile from him...and to get a picture with him...and to talk to him...and getting a hug from him. He's the greatest.

When I saw Spamalot last Thursday, both Chris Sieber and Christian Borle sprinted out the stage door. I was very disappointed, because they were both phenomenal - I have a feeling, though, that it had something to do with getting Hank Azaria, Tim Curry, and David Hyde Pierce through autographs as quick as possible (but they were all so nice and sweet!!). And they do the same thing with Sharpies there as they do at Hairspray (or so I've read).
Merrily we roll along, roll along...

Updated On: 4/26/05 at 08:17 PM

#128

re: Stage Door Egos

Posted: 4/26/05 at 8:24pm

To be rude to fans waiting outside a stage door is analogous to someone who works in a department store being rude to a customer once they've clocked out. They're not obligated to be polite or even acknowlege the person, but such behavior reflects poorly on them. And such ingratitude usually results in a karmic payback.
Also a reality check might be in store for anyone on Broadway with a bad attitude toward fans - most of the nation probably wouldn't recognize them or their name and they make a pittance compared to their Hollywood counterparts. They should be grateful they have fans willing to line up and wait.

That said, I cannot imagine why someone would wait very long at a stage door. I used to work for a big opera company and was always startled when we would have a post-performance party at the theater and there were people STILL waiting. Sort of borders on the creepily obsessive. And if it is true that little teeny bop girls are mobbing WICKED stage doors, well, that alone would put me over the edge.
#129

re: Stage Door Egos

Posted: 4/26/05 at 8:26pm

"And they do the same thing with Sharpies there as they do at Hairspray (or so I've read)"

I'm intrigued! What do they do? (My time to see the show is coming soon. I'm seeing a matinee and I'm hoping that they all come out afterwards. If not, I'll have to run back there after the evening show!)
www.thebreastcancersite.com
A click for life.
mamie4 5/14/03
#130

re: Stage Door Egos

Posted: 4/26/05 at 8:29pm

Mamie: The guard guy at the door gives the actors Sharpies with which to sign things.

I absolutely, totally adore your icon.
Merrily we roll along, roll along...

Updated On: 4/26/05 at 08:29 PM

#131

re: Stage Door Egos

Posted: 4/26/05 at 9:24pm

re: Stage Door Egos

Thank you! Actually I recently ran across an old school pic of me at the same age. I think the fact that Scout and I shared the same hairdo is one of the reasons I liked her so much. (Of course it looked a lot better on her.)

www.thebreastcancersite.com
A click for life.
mamie4 5/14/03
#133

re: Stage Door Egos

Posted: 4/26/05 at 9:32pm

actually at hairspray there is a stagedoor guy who gives the actors sharpies.i would know ive been there enough
"gimme a bottle of bourbon and half a chicken and i'll conquer the world!"
#134

re: Stage Door Egos

Posted: 4/26/05 at 9:40pm

Yes, the man does give the actors Sharpies at HAIRSPRAY, if they want one. He doesn't automatically hand one to them, but if they ask him, he takes out a wad of Sharpies and gives them one. It's quite convenient. I've been to the stage door there twice.
#135

re: Stage Door Egos

Posted: 4/26/05 at 9:44pm

Stage door etiquette is how some stars build their reputations. You are more inclined to remember someone who took time to sign your program or take a picture and have had a good experience and next time something they're in comes out, you'll probably go buy a ticket. It's called building a fan base.
There's no obligation to do so, but there is a reason people like Tom Cruise has such a "nice guy" reputation, it's because he's out there at the barricades of premieres shaking hands, signing, taking pictures.
You can go to a show like Wicked and see the show, tell someone about it and go, "oh I got to meet Idina Menzel after the show at the barricades and she signed and took pictures" people may not to run to see the show, but they'll remember the name and story that followed after.
On a side note, the folks that work at the Public Theater. Those ladies need some people skills classes, Ben Stiller and Amanda Peet do NOT need an army of 5 women to escort them to a taxi, especially when there's only 3 people wanting their autograph.
If you really want to help the American theater, don't be an actress, dahling. Be an audience..... Don't be taken in by the guff that critics are killing the theater. Commonly they sin on the side of enthusiasm. Too often they give their blessing to trash... Tallulah Bankhead
#136

re: Stage Door Egos

Posted: 4/26/05 at 10:05pm

with my week in ny, i got to see wicked, waited outside for idina for about 45 minutes but she never came out. I got pictures and autographs from everyone. The next day, we saw the producers and waited outside for richard kind and hunter foster. Hunter came out last and was actually shocked to see us there but he was so sweet. Seeing bklyn was interesting b/c there is only 5 of them and they were all pretty lukewarm After that atrocity, we decided to go back to wicked (b/c brooklyn is so short) we waited about an hour (and somebody gave me an extra playbill). Because we were in the front, i was able to get pics and autographs w/ everyone including idina (except for the picture because that was not allowed).
the only person i met that was horrible, was frenchie davis in rent. She was a complete b*tch and waved us off
#137

re: Stage Door Egos

Posted: 4/26/05 at 10:08pm

Oh, sorry. He does have them

At Dracula, they handed them out as each actor walked out. Without anyone asking. Then when each actor finished, he or she handed back the sharpie.

It was very well organized.

That's why I asked somewhere if Julius Caesar does that...
Mama Korey

The Beauty Is: Kelli O'Hara Online

#138

re: Stage Door Egos

Posted: 4/26/05 at 11:28pm

I agree about Natalie V. Belcon in Avenue Q. She isn't very friendly at all. She tries to walk out of the stage door often with a hate covering her eyes and unless you run after to her to sign or take a picture will she stop- and still she isn't very friendly. I heard its because she doesn't wear much make-up for Q *cause she plays a guy* and she doesn't like to be seen without make-up. Whether thats true or not, is yet to be determined.

On the other hand, Jen Barnhardt is such a doll at the stage door. She would take a million pictures and sign a million autographs. I was once there and I had to give something to the stage door person and she waited with me until I could get in. Really is an all around sweetheart and I don't think she gets enough recognition so here it is! re: Stage Door Egos
People like you are the reason I'm on medication.
#140

re: Stage Door Egos

Posted: 4/26/05 at 11:36pm

as far as i am concerned, almost everyone at q is sweet, except for Jordan. He just ran off. Oh and Jeremy Kushnier is also very nice.
"At the opening night party, they had clowns on stilts, jugglers, a chocolate fountain, popcorn, hot dogs. [My son] looked at me like I had been holding back. Like, 'This is what you do?' I had to tell him, 'No, no, darling. Opening nights don't usually look like this.' It's usually a dark bar with a bottle of vodka." ?Chitty Chitty Bang Bang's Jan Maxwell plus i proudly share the title of the shortest member over the age of 10 with wickedrentq!
#142

re: Stage Door Egos

Posted: 4/26/05 at 11:39pm

why thanks Thenardier!
"At the opening night party, they had clowns on stilts, jugglers, a chocolate fountain, popcorn, hot dogs. [My son] looked at me like I had been holding back. Like, 'This is what you do?' I had to tell him, 'No, no, darling. Opening nights don't usually look like this.' It's usually a dark bar with a bottle of vodka." ?Chitty Chitty Bang Bang's Jan Maxwell plus i proudly share the title of the shortest member over the age of 10 with wickedrentq!
#144

re: Stage Door Egos

Posted: 4/26/05 at 11:43pm

okay well not-so-nice cast members... When Natalie Venetia Belcon was in Rent, she was never nice. I barely ever even tried to talk to her, and when I would say 'have a good show' or 'great job!' she'd just turn her head and look and then keep going. Who knows, that may've changed though. I don't really know who else,.

Onto really NICE people at the stagedoor...

Jan Maxwell is not only one of the most talented women on broadway, but is the sweetest. I came out the stage door after Chitty last week, and she was still there, and I adore her in the show, so I stopped her after she got done signing playbills, and I introduced myself and told her she was fabulous and she hugged me like WHOA.

Robert Sella, also a sweetheart.
Danny Gurwin, WHOA, gotta love him and not just because he's ADORABLE.
Orfeh, another sweetheart.
Sutton Foster is one of the most gracious people I have ever seen and met at a stagedoor. She signs everyones things and takes the time to make the day of the little girls at the stagedoor. She's absolutely amazing.
#145

re: Stage Door Egos

Posted: 4/27/05 at 12:11am

I certainly do look highly upon those people who go out of their ways to sign everything and talk with everyone. Because certainly being polite and gracious is not that hard, and should always happen no matter what.

However, I think the idea of the stage door in the first place is kinda silly. The idea of people clammering around the exit so they can have their Cd's signed is kinda weird when you think about it. I don't know how the tradition began, but I think the performers should be allowed to just leave without having a mob waiting for them. But thats just me.
#146

re: Stage Door Egos

Posted: 4/28/05 at 12:00pm

I don't know about anyone else, but if someone was waiting for ME, I woundn't even think about being as rude as some people have been desribed.
As someone told me lately: "Ev'ryone deserves the chance to fly!"... He's there, the Phantom of the Opera!... I dreamed a dream in time gone bye... This is the moment! My final test!... PS. Couldn't choose just one :-)
#147

re: Stage Door Egos

Posted: 4/30/05 at 2:22pm

Harvey is a beast.
I saw Nathan Lane at a Starbucks in Boston and he was quiet and ungrateful.
Eden Espinosa was short with everyone.
#148

re: Stage Door Egos

Posted: 4/30/05 at 2:33pm

Wll this is from an old lady, but there were some very nice memories:

1. Fred Astaire would invite people into his dressing room after a performance of BANDWAGON.

2. Marilyn Miller was rude and crude!

3. Ethel Barrymore just passed everyone bye and did not look to the right or the left.

4. Beatrice Lillie would sing a jingle.

5. Ethel Waters would tell you about her church.

6. Jane Cowl was a grande dame.

7. Vivienne Segal would flirt with any man who came up to her.

8. Ina Claire would parade and saunter out to the street.

9. Bert Lahr was very shy and would run away from any fans.

10. Gene Kelly was mobbed by his male fans and seemed to enjoy it.

11. Fannie Brice was quiet and withdrawn.

12. Gertrude Lawrence would give everyone the once over and put on her own mini-performance.

13. Frank Morgan was very kind and would always speak with anyone.

14. Luella Gear would deapan her every remark and look.

15. Ray Bolger invited people onto the stage and would perform for them. That man could not get off the stage!


Miriam
Every movement has a meaning--but what the hell does it mean!

Updated On: 4/30/05 at 02:33 PM

#149

re: Stage Door Egos

Posted: 4/30/05 at 2:51pm

I saw Nathan Lane and Victor Garber together at "The Music Man" revival a few years ago (they had recently done the "Wise Guys" workshop together). I shook Nathan's hand and told him how much I enjoyed his work, and he politely said "thank you" and that was it. He wasn't rude at all, which is especially nice considering that I'm sure he just wanted to be left alone to enjoy his night at the theater!

I didn't say anything to Victor Garber, because at that point I had never seen him perform, I'd only heard him on a couple cast recordings, and I didn't know what to say--"Nice job as Anthony...twenty years ago"? I felt stupid ignoring him like that...oh well.
#150

re: Stage Door Egos

Posted: 4/30/05 at 2:53pm

Mark Kudish once told me that I don't have what it takes. I can never look at that arrogant, pompous ass again without thinking d*ckwad!

Marrissa Tomei once pushed me (very rudely, I might add) walking out of a bar.

Most people I meet at the stage door, though are very pleasant, like Rosie Perez, LaChanze, Rachel York, Sarah Jessica Parker, Debra Monk, BJ Crosby (who hugged me), Lillias White, Chuck Cooper, Roger Bart, etc.
"Do you know what pledge time is, Andrew"? said the PBS Executive. "Yes", Lloyd Webber replied. "My 50th birthday special must be one program that gets done a lot." "No", mused the man from PBS heedlessy. "Not so much. Our Stephen Sondheim Carnegie Hall concert. That's a big one." Spoons, forks and knives seemed suddenly to suspend their motion in horror, all around the table.

Updated On: 4/30/05 at 02:53 PM

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