Stage Door Experiences Lately

[kevinr]

Posted: 4/8/24 at 2:13pm

With all the new shows opening i was wondering what experiences you have had at the Stage Door. I am visiting New York April 18th through 22nd and will be seeing An Enemy of the People, Uncle Vanya, Mother Play, Teeth, Kimberly Akimbo and another show to be determined. Thanks!

[spicemonkey]

Posted: 4/8/24 at 2:41pm

I stage door-ed for enemy of the people and teeth.

 

for Enemy: almost everyone came out and signed. Only items from this show are allowed. Due to the large number of ppl waiting, to make sure everyone gets an autograph, it’s announced beforehand that no selfie is allowed.

 

Teeth: super easy, you just wait in the lobby 

 I didn’t stage door after Mother Play - but saw some posts online with Parsons signing and posing for selfies (i don’t think he often does stage door, if you got him you are lucky)

Updated On: 4/8/24 at 02:41 PM

[Kitsune]

Posted: 4/8/24 at 2:44pm

This was back in January, but I found the Kimberly Akimbo stage door to be very chill. The crowds were small, everyone came out and signed, and we chatted with a few of the cast for a bit.

[Ptero2]

Posted: 4/8/24 at 4:35pm

Enemy of the People was surprisingly chill. Was able to get a spot on the railing without rushing out, and the main cast almost all came out (including Jeremy and Michael, who were both lovely).

[TranVanDinh]

Posted: 4/8/24 at 5:40pm

We stage doored Kimberly Akimbo last Tuesday and everyone but Alli Mauzey came out.  Despite the awful rainy weather everyone chatted with my daughter and it was a great experience. 

[LuckyDipster]

Posted: 4/8/24 at 6:00pm

Looking at your list, I don't imagine you would be interested in seeing Back To The Future, but I want to mention their stage door experience anyway because they are superb at it.  Almost everyone comes out to sign and have a chat and they occasionally do backstage tours.

[MasterThespian 2]

Posted: 4/8/24 at 6:02pm

Ptero2 said: "Enemy of the People was surprisingly chill. Was able to get a spot on the railing without rushing out, and the main cast almost all came out (including Jeremy and Michael, who were both lovely)."

I echo this. Saw Enemy last weekend. Lots of people along the gates, but no pushing or shoving. Everyone behaved. Jeremy and Michael were both great. Very patient and gracious. Made sure everyone got an autograph. 

[Broadway61004]

Posted: 4/8/24 at 7:33pm

LuckyDipster said: "Looking at your list, I don't imagine you would be interested in seeing Back To The Future,but I want to mention their stage door experience anyway because they are superb at it. Almost everyone comes out to sign and have a chat and they occasionally do backstage tours."

I see Broadway Flash has recruited you to work for Back to the Future too?

[kevinr]

Posted: 4/8/24 at 7:42pm

Thanks everyone for the responses.  I won't be seeing Back to The Future this trip because the tour will be playing Toronto.....though it's great the cast are so accomodating at the stage door.  All experiences are appreciated.

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 4/8/24 at 11:36pm

Suffs Stage Door was pretty chilled. A bunch of people were there, but it was calm and relaxed. When I went to Gatsby First Preview, THAT WAS CHAOTIC! First of all, as I was walking up some stairs in the front mezzanine to exit, a bunch of fangirls of Eva and Jordan rushed past me, causing me to trip and slam my leg really hard on the edge of a step. No one even came out that night because the security detail failed to meet the demands of a first preview audience. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 4/9/24 at 11:15am

Enemy - Echoing everyone who said it was surprisingly chill and they seem to have already put a chill on the SUCCESSION autograph hunters with relation to Strong. (Imperioli signed a few Sopranos headshots, but that’s his prerogative). They were all very pleasant and engaging.

Teeth - They all come out through the main entrance, and some just bounce and if you blink, you’ll miss them. One thing to be EXTREMELY mindful of is that, each time I’ve gone, the cast usually seemed to have friends or family in the audience and they meet up with them after the show in the lobby. Be patient and polite - don’t be that demanding a-hole. The cast is super sweet.

Suffs - Also super chill (although the Collela stans were a little amped up the night I went). Everyone is super nice. Many of the ensemble Suffs tend to cut and run, but most of the more well-known Suffs (sans Emily Skinner) stayed to sign. They love the engagement at the stage door and the conversations it’s been starting.

[WanderFul]

Posted: 4/9/24 at 11:21am

I've never stage-doored before, how long after the performance do the actors typically come out to sign and greet?

[quizking101]

Posted: 4/9/24 at 11:35am

Just some others for posterity:

HELLS KITCHEN: 5/6 principles (not Brandon Victor Dixon) came out, as well as many ensemble - even in the rain! All were very nice and great to talk to, even though I completely lost my speech in front of Kecia Lewis since she moved me so deeply.

WATER FOR ELEPHANTS - A bit messy when I went. Two ensemble, Wade, and Grant all signed, but the guards were a bit nasty and rushing Grant along.

DOUBT - Liev will always sign but everyone else you have to catch. I got them all, but Amy Ryan was the result of some autograph hunter bullying her into signing. I felt bad for her so I made sure to show I was super thankful.

OH MARY - They all come out through different doors of the Lortel so it’s a matter of waiting on the sidewalk. Cole and Conrad are naturally lovely, as are all the others.

TOMMY - Outside the main big doors of the Nederlander, they set up after the theatre is empty. Most came out and signed except Christina Sajous and Ali Louis Bourzgui (the second time - since he performed on THE TONIGHT SHOW that afternoon)

 

[bekk99]

Posted: 4/9/24 at 11:59am

Had a wonderful experience at Appropriate this weekend! The leads came out pretty quickly and were all happy to sign and quite conversational/appreciative of folks seeing the show. Sarah especially was a treat and took her time with posing for photos when asked.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 4/9/24 at 12:02pm

Lots of action over at Lempicka when I went, with a considerable crowd. Eden Espinosa, Beth Leavel, George Abud, Andrew Samonsky, Zoe Glick, Nathaniel Stampley, Khori Petinaud, and Nicholas Ward all signed. Kyle Brown and Holli’ Conway came out but did not sign. Matt Gould also came out of the stage door to talk with some fans. 

[JWolfpack]

Posted: 4/9/24 at 12:22pm

I was at Uncle Vanya on Sat 4/6. It was very calm. Steve Carell and William Harper Jackson signed and took selfies along the full barricade. Alfred Molina signed a few playbills as he left. The rest of the cast just waved and went on their way. The only person we never saw come out was Alison Pill. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 4/9/24 at 3:19pm

JWolfpack said: "I was at Uncle Vanya on Sat 4/6. It was very calm. Steve Carell and William Harper Jackson signed and took selfies along the full barricade. Alfred Molina signed a few playbills as he left. The rest of the cast just waved and went on their way. The only person we never saw come out was Alison Pill."

I’m curious to know if it was a large crowd or not since LCT (or other non-profits, really) shows, even with bigger stars, never seems to have large SD crowds

[BroadwaySwingTrack]

Posted: 4/9/24 at 6:23pm

I was at The Outsiders last night and a majority of the cast came out and signed/took photos. 

We really need to fix up on Stage Door Etiquette though I must say - there were people puffing on cigarettes and strong stench cigars and literally blowing smoke in the actors faces as they signed and posed for pictures. Sky Lakota-Lynch politely refused a photo with a guy who was puffing on a cuban cigar. Nasty! 

[LuckyDipster]

Posted: 4/10/24 at 6:11am

Broadway61004 said: "I see Broadway Flash has recruited you to work for Back to the Future too?"

It's disappointing that some of you frown upon those of us who tend to obsess over one show in particular rather than going to see lots of different shows.  I'm not going to apologise for loving this show, no matter how many times I get spoken down to about it on this forum.  I saw three other shows while I was in NY so it's not as if I am totally ignoring the rest of Broadway.  It's just that BTTF is the show that makes me really happy.  Why be twunty about that?

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 4/10/24 at 9:30am

BroadwaySwingTrack said: "I was at The Outsiders last night and a majority of the cast came out and signed/took photos.

We really need to fix up on Stage Door Etiquette though I must say - there were people puffing on cigarettes and strong stench cigars and literally blowing smoke in the actors faces as they signed and posed for pictures.SkyLakota-Lynch politely refused a photo with a guy who was puffing on a cuban cigar. Nasty!"

Disgusting. I'm sorry you and other people there had to deal with that! 

Can we also not get upset if people don't stagedoor? There is nothing anywhere when you purchase tickets that says you are also entitled to a meet and greet after the performance. Nowhere. Nothing. And there are people who have gotten upset at performers and lashed out because they don't- it's not okay and it's not right. It's entitlement and bad parenting, promising their child that they could meet an actor. Disappointment, sure. But being angry and lashing out? Not okay. Ever. 

Not to sound hypocritical, but does anyone know if Rachel McAdams stagedoors? I'm just curious- I know someone who saw the show but they did not stagedoor so they were not able to tell  me about this. 

[spicemonkey]

Posted: 4/10/24 at 10:03am

Looks like she does (or did at least after that performance) https://www.instagram.com/p/C5a4gDlrTe6/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link 

[JWolfpack]

Posted: 4/10/24 at 1:05pm

quizking101 said: "JWolfpack said: "I was at Uncle Vanya on Sat 4/6. It was very calm. Steve Carell and William Harper Jackson signed and took selfies along the full barricade. Alfred Molina signed a few playbills as he left. The rest of the cast just waved and went on their way. The only person we never saw come out was Alison Pill."

I’m curious to know if it was a large crowd or not since LCT (or other non-profits, really) shows, even with bigger stars, never seems to have large SD crowds"

It was not a large crowd. I'd say 2-3 people deep along the barricade as Steve Carell came by. The crowd was gracious, and everyone moved aside so those behind could get their playbills signed. He signed and took photos with everyone who wanted them by 10:50 or so. I remember the time because when he was done, I told my daughter we'd wait only until 11:00 for Alison to come out. We also stage doored Sweeney and Gatsby in the same weekend, and the Vanya crowd was a much calmer, more mature crowd. We chatted with several theatre students. 

Updated On: 4/10/24 at 01:05 PM

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 4/10/24 at 6:55pm

Went to Enemy of the People today. Stage door was very chill. Everyone came out. Jeremy Strong came out almost immediately and was friendly and down to earth. Pretty much the exact opposite of that New Yorker profile. He said real ice is being used in that scene. Michael Imperioli also came out, as did the rest of the cast. Crowd was very respectful. Good experience.