Stage Door Exits In Covid 19 World

[BobNC]

Posted: 5/14/22 at 9:07pm

I realize and understand that stars do not stop to sign/take photos/greet fans post show, but, I was saddened that on a recent trip to NYC, I did not even spot one “Company” cast member exit the theater. Someone told me Patti was gone before the first audience member exited the theater. Do the “Company” stars use the 44 thStreet back exit or a side entrance to make their exits? I would’ve melted just seeing any of the cast members high-tail it out (esp. Patti, Claybourne, or Matt) It was a Wednesday evening so I imagine they all wanted the quickest route home after giving two performances that day. On my last trip to NYC, pre-Covid, I got to meet Chris Evans, Lucas Hedges, Mercedes Ruehl, and Michael Uris after their shows

Updated On: 5/15/22 at 09:07 PM

[UncleCharlie]

Posted: 5/14/22 at 9:20pm

BobNC said: "I realize and understand that stars do not stop to sign/take photos/greet fans post show, but, I was saddened that on a recent trip to NYC, I did not even spot one “Company” cast member exit the theater. Someone told me Patti was gone before the first audience member exited the theater. Do the “Company” stars use the 43rd Street back exit or a side entrance to make their exits? I would’ve melted just seeing any of the cast members high-tail it out (esp. Patti, Claybourne, or Matt) It was a Wednesday evening so I imagine they all wanted the quickest route home after giving two performances that day. On my last trip to NYC, pre-Covid, I got to meet Chris Evans, Lucas Hedges, Mercedes Ruehl, and Michael Uris after their shows."

You clearly indicated you know they are not going to stop to talk, take photos, sign, etc. but you were still saddened that you weren't able to catch an 12 second glimpse of someone walking 10 feet before getting into a limo after you just got to stare at them for almost 3 hours? Those additional 12 seconds mean that much?

[BobNC]

Posted: 5/14/22 at 9:21pm

Yep.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 5/14/22 at 9:25pm

BobNC said: "Yep."

I understand why you say this, because there was a time in my life when I felt the same. But I’d encourage you to consider that what you saw on that stage was, in many ways, a more authentic, more vulnerable, more intimate version of those actors than what you would’ve seen bolting out a door. 
 

But to answer your implied question, the reason they go out a separate exit is probably because they don’t want to feel any guilt or pressure from the people waiting, and it might be logistically easier for them to not have to navigate through a crowd anyway. 

Updated On: 5/14/22 at 09:25 PM

[Broadway61004]

Posted: 5/15/22 at 12:12am

BobNC said: "I realize and understand that stars do not and cannot stop to sign/take photos/greet fans post show, but, I was saddened that on a recent trip to NYC, I did not even spot one “Company” cast member exit the theater. Someone told me Patti was gone before the first audience member exited the theater. Do the “Company” stars use the 43rd Street back exit or a side entrance to make their exits? I would’ve melted just seeing any of the cast members high-tail it out (esp. Patti, Claybourne, or Matt) It was a Wednesday evening so I imagine they all wanted the quickest route home after giving two performances that day. On my last trip to NYC, pre-Covid, I got to meet Chris Evans, Lucas Hedges, Mercedes Ruehl, and Michael Uris after their shows. "

Not sure what time you get off work, but, can you let me know if you use a separate entrance so I can watch you sprint to your car? See how creepy that sounds? Just enjoy the show and let the workers be on their way afterwards. 

[Fosse76]

Posted: 5/15/22 at 1:02am

BobNC said: "Do the “Company” stars use the 43rd Street back exit or a side entrance to make their exits?"

First of all, "Company" is on 45th Street, two blocks away from 43rd Street, so there is no 43rd Street "back exit."

Second, there is no 44th Street back exit, as the Majestic Theatre and The Row NYC hotel completely block 44th Street from the The Jacobs.

Third, the stage and auditorium run parallel to the street, so there are technically only side exits/entrances. The Jacobs' stage back wall abuts the Schoenfeld's stage back wall, and the back of the Jacobs' seating area abuts the house left wall of The Golden. Though cast and crew can and do leave from the street side of the theatre, the actual stage door is on the other side of the building, in the alley.

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 5/15/22 at 12:41pm

Broadway61004 said: "BobNC said: "I realize and understand that stars do not and cannot stop to sign/take photos/greet fans post show, but, I was saddened that on a recent trip to NYC, I did not even spot one “Company” cast member exit the theater. Someone told me Patti was gone before the first audience member exited the theater. Do the “Company” stars use the 43rd Street back exit or a side entrance to make their exits? I would’ve melted just seeing any of the cast members high-tail it out (esp. Patti, Claybourne, or Matt) It was a Wednesday evening so I imagine they all wanted the quickest route home after giving two performances that day. On my last trip to NYC, pre-Covid, I got to meet Chris Evans, Lucas Hedges, Mercedes Ruehl, and Michael Uris after their shows. "

Not sure what time you get off work, but, can you let me know if you use a separate entrance so I can watch you sprint to your car? See how creepy that sounds? Just enjoy the show and let the workers be on their way afterwards."

Thank you.I always think this when people talk about stagedooring. I really hope they realize they’re not an exception to the rule, that two shows have had to cancel performances because of breakthrough cases and while stagedooring isn’t the first thing to cause that, it CERTAINLY does not help. People should be going HOME after performances. I don’t get people who are still stagedooring right now 

[BobNC]

Posted: 5/15/22 at 8:51pm

Pre-Covid, stage-dooring after a show was a ritual for many passionate theater fans. 

Updated On: 5/15/22 at 08:51 PM

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 5/15/22 at 8:57pm

I get it Bob, but the world is different now. Sadly. 

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 5/15/22 at 9:27pm

I agree and understand Bob completely.  I’m curious will stage door ever return. (Like within the coming months or years. ) or had this become entirely a thing of The past.  

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 5/15/22 at 9:49pm

I stopped doing stage door a long time ago — unless I happen to know someone in the cast personally, a rarity in my world (but I hope and intend to expand my theatre connections in the years to come!).

My post-show "conductor chats" offer what I think is a more comfortable environment, more private and all. The audience typically scrambles for the exits, no one's standing shoulder to shoulder pushing each other around just for autographs, and I make sure whoever I'm talking to is masking up as well. I spoke with someone relatively recently with the house almost completely empty, and I wouldn't have it any other way. 

 

 

[n2nbaby]

Posted: 5/15/22 at 10:03pm

Theatrefanboy1 said: "I agree and understand Bob completely. I’m curious will stage door ever return. (Like within the coming months or years. ) or had this become entirely a thing of The past. "

Multiple shows have already started doing the stage door again. POTUS, Take Me Out, Funny Girl and Chicago, just to name a few.

[BroadwayRox3588]

Posted: 5/15/22 at 10:33pm

Like n2n said, stage dooring is starting to come back right now. But I do think less people will do it now. And I'm not just talking about actors, but audience members too.

Before the pandemic, I was a pretty frequent stage door attendee. But over the past several months, since Broadway's return, I have greatly enjoyed not having to worry about booking it out of the theatre to get a good spot at the stage door. I never left during bows, but I was stressing during them, because of having to get a good spot. Since the reopening, though, I've been able to enjoy bows, stress-free, continue to take in the atmosphere of the theatre after the show at my own pace, and, when applicable, listen to the orchestra finish playing. It's been really nice to end my evening at the theatre with those things, rather than people stepping on my feet at the stage door. So personally, while I'm not ruling out ever stage dooring again, I'm not in a particular hurry for it to come back in full.

Like I said to someone in the city last month, I love the stage door, but I love the theatre so much more. That's what I've really embraced since the return of Broadway, and it's been wonderful. 

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 5/15/22 at 11:21pm

This is just a friendly reminder that many stars respond to fan mail, and requests for autographed photos or playbills. Some are also on Cameo.

[lilpunkin]

Posted: 5/15/22 at 11:55pm

I wouldn’t stage door personally (even though stage dooring is commonplace here in London, where there are zero Covid restrictions) but waiting outside a theatre stage door to catch a glimpse of a celebrity is not by any stretch of the imagination “terrifying, illegal stalking.”  
 

Come on, no one possibly believes that every single person who has ever gone to stage door, or waited outside a red carpet at a movie premiere, is engaging in extremist stalking.

Celebs are public figures, and the tradition of stage dooring is old. Wanting to catch a glimpse of a celeb at a high profile showbiz event they have been publicly advertised as appearing at is not remotely comparable to turning up outside a regular person’s private workplace.

This hysterical ranting harms and dismisses victims of genuine stalking.

[OffOnBwayHi]

Posted: 5/16/22 at 12:15am

lilpunkin said: "I wouldn’t stage door personally (even though stage dooring is commonplace here in London, where there are zero Covid restrictions) but waiting outside a theatre stage door to catch a glimpse of a celebrity is not by any stretch of the imagination “terrifying, illegal stalking.”

Come on, no one possibly believes that every single person who has ever gone to stage door, or waited outside a red carpet at a movie premiere, is engaging in extremist stalking.

Celebs are public figures, and the tradition of stage dooring is old. Wanting to catch a glimpse of a celeb at a high profile showbiz event they have been publicly advertised as appearing at is not remotely comparable to turning up outside a regular person’s private workplace.

This hysterical ranting harms and dismisses victims of genuine stalking."

!!!!!!

I was about to write the same thing. A lot of y'all did the most with these dismissive replies in here.

Big or small, whether you know them or not, these folks are actual celebrities at the peak of the theater industry. They have fans who want to see them, if only a glimpse.

I personally don't miss the stage door and I'm beyond jaded when it comes to celebrities, after stints in LA and now living in NYC. But I know the power of the celebrity to inspire and completely change one's life, even if just seeing a glimpse of one.

So yeah, chill out, Negative Nancys. lol

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 5/16/22 at 12:16am

n2nbaby said: "Multiple shows have already started doing the stage door again. POTUS, Take Me Out, Funny Girl and Chicago, just to name a few."

Was there stage dooring at Into the Woods? I've never seen anything as crazy there as Little Shop of Horrors but with the "star" casting, I can see people wanting to gather. 

I wouldn't rule out ever doing it again when it's actually safe but I agree with BroadwayRox that it's been nice just to go straight home after a show.

[OffOnBwayHi]

Posted: 5/16/22 at 12:28am

To add, I see stage doors happening EVERYWHERE now, so you might have a chance at one of the shows you see, BobNC. I saw Take Me Out do it.

And a side story: One of my friends is a Broadway darling (lol) and I once met them backstage after the show. We left the theater together out the stage door and...ummmm... wow.......... It is a SHOCKING feeling! You feel like a true rockstar LOL But I also found it to be scary — people screaming, begging for your attention, flashing lights from the camera... It's hard to explain, but you feel it ALL. Especially the screaming...you physically FEEL the voices. And you also pick up the energy of folks desperately wanting an autograph or picture — you don't want to disappoint anyone.

This might be motivation/validation for some actors, but I can see how this is too much for some of them to go through regularly, and completely understand why they wouldn't want to do it anymore. lol

Hope this story helps for a different perspective, for people who may be disappointed if a stage door doesn't happen.

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 5/16/22 at 1:43am

100% agree with what lilpunkin and OffOnBwayHi said. Stage Dooring is not inherently creepy at all and all of you trying to prove that it is always use some massive stretches and leaps in logic. 

My personal opinion is that Stage Dooring (now, pre-pandemic, or in a truly post-pandemic world) should always just be the actors' choice. If they want to do it, wonderful! If they don't want to, that's totally ok too and it is my opinion that we should respect that decision and not go seek them out at back doors or outside of the stage door environment. In my opinion, that is when it starts to cross a line. (Also want to be clear that I am NOT at all trying to accuse BobNC of doing that, I know he was just curious).

[msmp]

Posted: 5/16/22 at 6:13am

jkcohen626 said: "100% agree with whatlilpunkin andOffOnBwayHi said. Stage Dooring is not inherently creepy at all and all of you trying to prove that it is always use some massive stretches and leaps in logic.

My personal opinion is that Stage Dooring (now, pre-pandemic, or in a truly post-pandemic world) should always just be the actors' choice. If they want to do it, wonderful! If they don't want to, that's totally ok too and it is my opinion that we should respect that decision and not go seek them out at back doors or outside of the stage door environment. In my opinion, that is when it starts to cross a line. (Also want to be clear that I am NOT at all trying to accuse BobNC of doing that, I know he was just curious)."

Absolutely agree with this. I enjoyed the pre-pandemic stage door experience; it was fun getting an autograph or a picture with someone whose performance I enjoyed, or who I have been a fan of. But it was a neat bonus, not something to which I ever felt entitled. If people chose to come out and sign/pose for photos, that was great and I cherish those signed Playbills! If they chose to just go home, that's their right--they did their job and worked hard for the audience's and my entertainment. I bought a ticket to see their performance, not a meet-and-greet package.

I hope that if and when the traditional stage door experience returns/any Equity restrictions are lifted that people will have more of this attitude. It's fun to meet the actors, but it's a bonus and not something you are ever entitled to experience.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/16/22 at 7:26am

"But I know the power of the celebrity to inspire and completely change one's life, even if just seeing a glimpse of one."

I'm sorry: Catching a GLIMPSE of a Broadway actor completely changed people's life? Or even a big name celebrity?  It may have (understandably) added momentary joy to someone's life....but CHANGED it? Completely?  Do tell.

I don't care about stage door, I think it's ridiculous - but to each his own.  I also think it's ridiculous AT THIS TIME to be attempting it.  For your own health, as well as that of the company.

 

And yes, I DO think it's creepy when someone wants info on how to catch a glimpse of someone from an alternative exit - when it's obvious they do not want to be seen.

 

 

[BroadwayRox3588]

Posted: 5/16/22 at 7:35am

I've already said my peace about my approach to stage dooring in the near-to-medium-term future.

However, I think people throwing out the "it's not safe" card to shame anyone for electing to stage door at the present time are forgetting one very important component of stage dooring: it's outdoors.

At this point, any epidemiologist worth anything will tell you that when you engage in outdoor activities, your risk of immense spread decreases dramatically. Add KN95 masks on to that (which I would personally do, if I were stage dooring right now), that risk gets lowered even more.

Not using this to try to encourage anyone to stage door, or not, right now. But we can't ignore the outdoors aspect, which I think is THE reason some shows/performers have resumed stage dooring.

Updated On: 5/16/22 at 07:35 AM

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 5/16/22 at 9:52am

dramamama611 said: ""But I know the power of the celebrity to inspire and completely change one's life, even if just seeing a glimpse of one."

I'm sorry: Catching a GLIMPSE of a Broadway actor completely changed people's life? Or even a big name celebrity? It may have (understandably) added momentary joy to someone's life....but CHANGED it? Completely? Do tell." 

Man, there are a lot of jaded folks on here. Yes, some people are thrilled by a glimpse. Back before everyone had a camera on their phone (remember those days) glimpses were a lovely, thrilling and satisfying thing. My childhood only consisted of glimpses of stars. Long before anyone felt entitled to an autograph much less a photo, people watched stars from afar. We felt like they were in a different orbit and I'd be over the moon for days having seen one. 

So there is nothing creepy about wanting to see a star. There is nothing creepy about stage dooring. It only becomes creepy when boundaries and common sense cease to exist for the fan. 

 

 

[hollebolle]

Posted: 5/16/22 at 10:05am

Bettyboy72 said: "So there is nothing creepy about wanting to see a star. There is nothing creepy about stage dooring. It only becomes creepy when boundaries and common sense cease to exist for the fan."

Key word is boundaries. As dramamama said (which you didn't include in your quote of their post), if someone is using an alternative exit, they probably don't want to be seen. That's a pretty clear boundary IMO. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/16/22 at 10:11am

THRILLED by a glimpse is understandable - but that's not LIFE CHANGING.   

 

So there is nothing creepy about wanting to see a star. There is nothing creepy about stage dooring. It only becomes creepy when boundaries and common sense cease to exist for the fan. 

WHICH IS WHAT I BASICALLY SAID.