Stage Door Thoughts

[ComingUpRoses]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 11:06am

It is strange to read posts about people here becoming angry if a performer does not appear after the performance at the stage door. Some theatregoers seem to believe they deserve to be part of a nightly, prolonged meeting/photo op session with their favorite stars.

Get over it. The actors owe the audience one thing and one thing only: a good performance. And, remember, they have just finished several hours of extremely hard, concentrated work and may not be in the mood to socialize.

[xxnewgirlxx]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 11:10am

I agree completely.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 11:18am

Look, a dead horse! Let's beat it!

Updated On: 7/28/05 at 11:18 AM

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 11:20am

What is this "stage door" you speak of?

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 11:20am

I've never asked anyone to use the search function before... but I'm about to. There are about 12,000 old threads with people yelling and scolding others for this same thing. I'm sorry but just seeing one more thread about this really pisses me off.

I like going to the stage door and meeting the actors, but I do not believe that it is my god-given right to get a picture with them. When I went to SpamAlot, I really wanted to meet Sara Ramirez... she didn't come out. I didn't get "angry"; I didn't throw a tantrum. I am most grateful to performers who do take the time, but I don't get angry at those who don't. It's not my right, but I do think it is polite for an actor to stop and greet the fans, even if just for a few minutes. I do tend to think higher of those that do.

Just my thoughts on the matter, as someone who has been collecting autographs since I was 6 years old, and has dealt with celebrity rudeness since.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 11:22am

Where's my stick?



OTA2, this has been discussed at GREAT length. Most folks here feel the same as you, but there are others to believe they are entitiled to a meet anf greet.

You'll learn very quickly who they are.

[lildogs]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 11:25am

what's your most prized one TheActr97J?

[ComingUpRoses]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 11:27am

I apologize for bringing up what has obviously been discussed to death here. I am a new "poster" here and didn't realize I was beating a dead horse.

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 11:34am

lildogs- My most prized Broadway stage door experience was actually meeting John Bolton, the standby for SpamAlot. Although he is not a big star, I had a great conversation with him at the door, and when he found out that I'm going to be a musical theater major, he offered to take me backstage. Of course this was not something he was required to do, nor something I expected anyone to do, but he went above and beyond and in the process made a kid's dream come true. I would never expect anyone to do something like this, but he went out of his way to do something nice for someone else, and all it cost him was about 15 minutes of his day.

I totally agree that no person who sees a show is entitled to anything but a good show, but I appreciate any performer who takes the time to meet the people who are keeping their show open.

[JACXR71]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 11:35am

*EDIT* - sorry, by the time I finished writing this, there were 5 more replies about how this has been discussed at length, meaning what I said has probably been said before a billion times (we swings should really learn to think before we post...) So feel free not to read on...

I agree in theory. However, what actors have to understand is that these "stage door" fans come with the job. Some actors may view it as a bother or an inconvenience. Others may love it and revel in it, but everyone needs to accept it as a reality. What bothers me are actors who act surprised and annoyed that this has happened, as if they expected to never come into contact with fans - highly unrealistic, especially for stage actors. TV/Film is a little more understandable.

Being a star means that thousands of people are going to know who you are. Your voice is going to reach for hundreds, even thousands of miles away from the stage where you perform. And if you are particularly good, you are going to touch the lives of people you haven't even met. Because of this, you're going to get all kinds of feedback - people who are "in love" with you, or think you'd be the best of friends. People who are "convinced" that they know you simply because they've heard you sing, seen you act, read an interview, or even possibly met you briefly.

Of course these are very misguided feelings, but the power of a performance is stronger than a lot of people understand. People will relate to plots or stories personally and feel a real and deep connection with a character. Oftentimes, this feeling will translate over to the particular actor, who may or may not be anything like the character in question. But what many actors don't realize is that coming out the stage door, saying hi, signing a playbill, anything - gives the fan some form of validation and fulfills (to a point) the sense of connection they developed after seeing/hearing the show.

Now before you yell at me for claiming it's the actor's responsibility to handle the emotional issues of their fans (broadway fans? emotional? issues? never!), I'm not saying that at all. Like OntheAisle said, their job is to give a good performance. That's why they went into the business (hopefully). I'm just saying that to one person, what seems like a fleeting, inconvenient moment consisting of coming out the stage door and greeting some people, to another is a heartfelt, meaningful experience that they will always remember. Hell, look at half the signatures of BWW users - quotes from actors spoken directly to them. Do you think any of these actors remember saying these things to the fans? Maybe, but probably not. But it meant enough to those fans for them to display it as their signature - something they're proud of.

Ok, so I rambled a bit. I suppose I could have left all this out and just said "true, but they have to realize it comes with the job." But I think most of you will agree with me regarding how much an experience like that can mean to a lot of fans.

Updated On: 7/28/05 at 11:35 AM

[lildogs]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 11:39am

Very well said, my friend.

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 11:40am

It's ok JACXR71. I agree completely.

[jczelyph]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 11:55am

I'm in totaly agreement with TheActr. I don't think I'm owed an autograph, but it's nice to get one and I think more highly of those who greet fans with decorum. And I met John Bolton yesterday, and was impressed at how super nice he was.

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 12:03pm

Thanks jczelyph. And yes isn't he wonderful. Wonderful man and performer.

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 12:13pm

"I'm in totaly agreement with TheActr. I don't think I'm owed an autograph, but it's nice to get one and I think more highly of those who greet fans with decorum."

couldn't of said it better!
but i loved meeting brooke shields...nicest star ever! and the rest of the CHICAGO cast was great too :) i like in the west end stage doors are SO less crowded, there was only about 10 other people there after CHICAGO, but in NYC, theres like...LOTS! :)

[jczelyph]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 12:23pm

He was SO good as Arthur. I was kinda miffed that Tim Curry wasn't in but after ten minutes of John Bolton, I couldn't have cared less. Another fantastic guy is Alan Tudyk. And he's hot too.

bwayondabrain: I agree about West End. I feel kinda odd waiting for autographs in London, because no one else does, but here in NY, everyone wants one. I was kinda gutted that Charlotte D'Amboise ran out of the stage door at Chicago here. But oh well, what ya gonna do?

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 12:35pm

yeah, brooke shields was sooo nice! she said that when we see her in CHICAGO again in october, we can just ask for her manager, and we can get up to the front to make sure we can meet her! :)
you guys should really go see her as roxie, she is amazing in my opinion!

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 12:39pm

There are about 12,000 old threads with people yelling and scolding others for this same thing. I'm sorry but just seeing one more thread about this really pisses me off.

You know your negative attitude really has no place on this board. This person just joined today and had a serious issue to discuss but you cut her down and made her feel like poop. You should really examine why you are so negative.

[jczelyph]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 12:39pm

My interest in Chicago is renewed since seeing it on Sunday (I saw it ages ago and thought I hated it so hadn't even bothered to watch the movie) so I would LOVE to see Brooke Shields. I just love it when people are nice at the stage door. Having had many stage door experiences recently, I have quite a list of who is nice and who is not.

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 12:46pm

Excuse me... I'm sorry that I'm the only one on here who has ever been rude to anyone... new poster or otherwise.

Other people seem to be allowed to complain about threads that bother them, but I've always kept my mouth shut. Maybe I didn't say it in the nicest way, but I'm just tired of listening to people complain about how people have no right to go to the stage door. As it was said before... "dead horse".

Here let me try again:

Hi, OntheAisle. Thank you for posting on these message boards. Glad to have you on-board. By the way, make sure to utilize the wonderful search feature BWW provides. It's great for keeping the message boards uncluttered with topics that have already been discussed at great lengths. Have a great day, and happy posting!
~TheActr

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 12:49pm

:)

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 12:56pm

redhotinnyc "There seem to be a LOT of bitter people out there who just want to piss on everyone's wheaties - but I'd rather spend time on a thread like this one where we can discuss the positive affects of theatre on audiences"

TheActr97J "redhotinnyc2- Agree completely..... and can I just express how much I love the expression, "Piss on everyone's wheaties!" "

Let's not cast any stones, Pollyanna.

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 12:58pm

I think we were just having a positive discussion on this thread... but whatever.

Fine, Sueleen... you win. Happy?

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 1:15pm

No, I am not happy because you totally missed my point. You say everyone here is too negative on one thread and then turn around and bitch someone out for not using the search engine and bringing up a discussion that has been written about on numerous occasions, not taking into account that this person just joined the board today.
You can't have it both ways. I just call them as I see them. Hypocrite.

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 1:17pm

Whatever. Can we just let it go and not have an argument.