Stage door "virgin" at "Caroline"

After last Sunday's performance of "Caroline," I was rushing up 8th Avenue to catch a bus at Port Authority, when I realized I miscalculated the time and had an extra hour. Before I knew it, I was rushing back down 8th Avenue to the Eugene O'Neill to lose my stage door virginity to the cast of "Caroline"! I have been going to New York and London shows for over ten years, but I have never gone around to a stage door. I missed the men in the cast, who must change and leave fast, but arrived to see Tonya Pinkins signing Playbills, taking photos, and chatting with people. Too intimidated to go over to her right away, I hung back near the door, and was soon face-to-face with Veanne Cox. She smiled so I was emboldened to extended my Playbill and asked if she would sign it, she did this as I told her my favorite line (lyric?) in the show was hers: "So sue me already Mrs. Crabby Appleton." Turning, I found Capathia Jenkins (The Washing Machine), who was very friendly, mentioning she'd have loads of friends there for closing night, when I told her I was coming back then. Shannon Antalan, who was the Emmie, seemed surprised I wanted her signature, but I thought she was wonderful in the role, playing it with more anger than Anika Noni Rose (who is also great), which I felt made her link to mother Caroline all the stronger. Alice Playten and Moon Lady, Aisha de Haas were also gracious. The crowd had finally thinned around Pinkins, so I made my way over, and she couldn't have been nicer. She was really engaged in what people were saying, looked them in the eye as she listened, and posed for pictures (luckily, I had a disposable camera in my backpack). It was such a nice experience, I am ready to do it again. Any suggestions as to which cast I should try for my second time?

Wicked. Idina and the rest of the cast couldnt be nicer!

She is always a bitch.
-d.b.j-

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The current casts of Avenue and Hairspray were the nicest I had ever met.

This is NOT a WICKED thread!!!!

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and that scares me!

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Agree about the "Q" cast !!! Unbelievably nice !!! Overall, however, Veanne Cox is the nicest actor that I have ever met !

I wouldn't ask that question - most people think it's not right to go before the show! I'd have to agree - and besides, waiting until after you see the show and while you are still caught up in the "moment" really makes the stage door experience more worthwhile.

Tonya Pinkins really is the nicest person I've ever met at the stage door. She is so real and looks at you and really listens to what you have to say and is genuinely flattered. The entire cast is really nice. They seem so thrilled that you want their autograph because, I think, it says to them how much we (the audience) really appreciate their work.

Veanne and Tonya ARE the nicest people in the world. And really listen to what you have to say. Anika also, first time I saw Caroline, 3 days before the Tonys, she stayed and talked to me for a full 20 minutes afterwards.
damn this is so depressing. Less than a week left of it.

Updated On: 8/25/04 at 06:43 PM

the avenue q cast couldnt be nicer. they will take pictures, sign autographs, and talk to everyone who is waiting for them (even if theyre in a rush). Gotta love 'em

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That's a really cool story :)

How long do you generally have to wait at the stage door? I might be going on a college sponsored trip to see Hairspray, Mamma Mia, Wicked, and 12 Angry Men. I would really like to meet the Hairspray cast and meet Carly, if she is there that night.

Plus I'm thinking of doing it at Chicago performances.