Stage door crowds on tours

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Stage door crowds on tours

Posted: 8/2/10 at 5:04pm

For anyone who has seen a show on tour, do there tend to be large crowds outside the stage door? What cities have you found to draw bigger crowds?

Updated On: 8/2/10 at 05:04 PM

Stage door crowds on tours

Posted: 8/2/10 at 5:20pm

Depends where and when in the year.
Case in point, the Wicked tour came to Philadelphia in January, the dead of winter, and I was waiting alone...so if it helps?

Here in Denver it depends on the show. The last two times I stagedoored was for "The Little Mermaid" and there was a crowd of about 40 people. RENT was here in June of 2009 and it wasn't as crazy as I thought. Although I didn't stagedoor but people were outside of the restaurant across from the theater waiting for Adam to arrive. he was really gracious. He saw them through the window and went out and signed. I got a pic since I covered the opening night party.

https://denver.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Coverage_Opening_Nights_of_A_BRONX_TALE_and_RENT_in_Denver_20090612

Just give the world Love. - S. Wonder

Stage door crowds on tours

Posted: 8/2/10 at 5:37pm

Unlike shows on Broadway, the only shows where there are a lot of people at the stage door (in Chicago) are the shows targeted to a younger audience. For example, Spring Awakening, Wicked, Rent, and Legally Blonde had big crowds at the stage door. Pirate Queen, Billy Elliot, and even the Addams Family have had small to no crowds at all.

"Chicago is it's own incredible theater town right there smack down in the middle of the heartland. What a great city! I can see why Oprah likes to live there!" - Dee Hoty :-D

Stage door crowds on tours

Posted: 8/2/10 at 6:32pm

It depends on both the show and the theatre, even within the same city. Like... stage dooring at the Golden Gate Theatre in San Francisco is nearly taking your life in your hands, but the Curran is a little safer.

"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt

Stage door crowds on tours

Posted: 8/2/10 at 6:53pm

I saw Mary Poppins at the Kennedy Center last Wednesday and there were only two other families waiting.

You gotta be original, because if you're like someone else, what do they need you for? -BP.

Stage door crowds on tours

Posted: 8/2/10 at 9:04pm

Also depends on the names.

Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp in the recent 'Rent' tour - MASSIVE stage door queues!!

Everything in life...is only for now.

Stage door crowds on tours

Posted: 8/2/10 at 9:11pm

In LA, there is usually a modest stage door crowd, but nothing overwhelming. Worst I saw was about 50 people after WICKED in the middle of summer. Everyone I've encountered at the stage door has been extremely friendly and happy to sign and take pictures. At IN THE HEIGHTS recently, there couldn't have been more than 25 after a matinee.

In Boston, the stage doors at the Opera House and Colonial are fairly hard to find. Worst I've seen there was about 20 after DREAMGIRLS. But I haven't seen shows there during the summer, so it could be slightly more crazy.

Stage door crowds on tours

Posted: 8/2/10 at 9:31pm

I live in Cincinnati and I saw Legally Blonde and went to the stage door. It was me, my friend, and 4 other girls.

The Cast:
Becky Gulsvig : Elle
D.B. Dubois : Emmette
Rhiannon Hansen : Margot
Tiffany Engen : Serena
Michael Rupert : Callahan

#10

Stage door crowds on tours

Posted: 8/2/10 at 9:41pm

It really depends on the show. In San Francisco, the stage door for Rent and Spring Awakening were like the crowds for most shows on Broadway. But for Fiddler on the Roof, Jersey Boys, and A Chorus Line, it was only me and a couple other people. Shows with an obsessive fanbase are more likely to draw the crazier crowds.

"You have two kinds of shows on Broadway – revivals and the same kind of musicals over and over again, all spectacles. You get your tickets for The Lion King a year in advance, and essentially a family... pass on to their children the idea that that's what the theater is – a spectacular musical you see once a year, a stage version of a movie. It has nothing to do with theater at all. It has to do with seeing what is familiar.... I don't think the theatre will die per se, but it's never going to be what it was.... It's a tourist attraction." Stephen Sondheim

#11

Stage door crowds on tours

Posted: 8/2/10 at 11:35pm

I think it depends more on if there is a star name. I stage door at every touring show at the Ahmanson and Pantages in LA (plus more) and say if there is a star like Fantasia in a show than there will be a crowd, but if there is a star say not know to the bigger crowd there will usually not be as many people. It also can depend on the show like Wicked ALWAYS had a huge crowd here, as did Grease. Shows like Dirty Dancing I was the only one waiting.

#12

Stage door crowds on tours

Posted: 8/3/10 at 12:40am

I did my very 1st stage door at Pantages for In The Heights. I actually liked the set up because it's located in a long alley. The gate starts near the stage door and stops at the end. The actors only have one direction and will pass you up as they walk through. No one is on top of each other and everyone is more spread out! Well, that was my experience for the opening night of ITH. I would say there were about 30 peeps in the line? Lin-Manuel was actually one of the first ones out and was dressed up in a snazzy black suit!

#13

Stage door crowds on tours

Posted: 8/3/10 at 12:41am

Select a Member Name, you obviously weren't there at any of the (three) closing nights of Jersey Boys here.

"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt

#14

Stage door crowds on tours

Posted: 8/3/10 at 2:37am

Minneapolis Orpheum is almost always a wasteland.

#15

Stage door crowds on tours

Posted: 8/3/10 at 3:27am

In Seattle, I don't usually remember seeing stage doors, except when there are major stars for the show.

Though I've only staged door for the recent Anthony/Adam "Rent" tour (there was a pretty good crowd for that one).

I did overhear in that line that there was a pretty big line when "Young Frankenstein" was in tryouts, mostly for Megan Mulally.

I staged doored "Chicago" when it was playing in Las Vegas when Marilu Henner was on, and my sister and I were the only ones (and those who did come out were very excited that there were stage doorers). It was an amazing experience that time.

Xanadu! Can't cry on cue!

#16

Stage door crowds on tours

Posted: 8/3/10 at 4:36am

I think it depends on what show it is, weather, and who is in the show. Adam Pascal in the spring will draw a huge crowd, Patti Lupone in the winter gets about eight people. No big names at all may not draw any crowd at all.

#17

Stage door crowds on tours

Posted: 8/3/10 at 1:13pm

At the Bob Carr in Orlando there were at most 15-20 people for all the shows this season. I don't think that people realize that the performers come out to greet fans.

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