Stage door etiquette question

[Taryn]

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

Hey everyone, just a little question about stage door etiquette. I'm visiting NYC on a school trip in February and seeing four shows (Wicked, Avenue Q, La Cage Aux Folles, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels). Obviously, I'm very excited. ^_^ I'm a big Jason Robert Brown fan and love The Last Five Years and had the thought that maybe I could bring my CD (or at least the booklet) for Norbert Leo Butz and Sherie Rene Scott to sign, as I'll be lucky enough to see them. Is this okay to ask? Don't want to ruffle any feathers. I'm still debating, as if I did, then I wouldn't have a complete set of signatures on my Playbill (which I like having)--I'm SURE asking for TWO signatures from one person can't be polite. Thanks!

[suzycat]

Posted: 1/24/05 at 10:12pm

if people are nice and there is not a giant crowd, actors will usually sign two things for you. some actors have a 1-autograph-per-person policy (for example, Harvey Fierstein). It's definitely ok to ask someone to sign your cd booklet. They'd probably be flattered that you know their work. Good luck & have fun in NYC!

[stagestar130]

Posted: 1/24/05 at 10:12pm

I've been to a few stage doors and a lot of people ask for two signatures and the actors don't have a problem with it. When i went to the Wicked stage door a lot of fans had Idina sign their Playbill and then the booklet for her CD. She didn't seem to mind and gladly signed both.

[Dreamcatcher]

Posted: 1/24/05 at 10:15pm

Just being polite and considerate I guess. I dont think its appropriate however to act like maniacs, jumping up and down and screaming in absolute excitement. I realize for some it is exciting but seriously, have a little self control.

[StraightToHeaven]

Posted: 1/24/05 at 10:19pm

At Avenue Q, Stephanie D'Abruzzo sighned two posters for me, we took a picture, then she offered to sighn my playbill. Shes so nice...

Anyway, just to keep in mind Sherie and Norbert might appreciate the fact that you brought your L5Y cd cuz it shows that you're a real fan of theirs and enjoy their work in both shows. I've met actors and when I mentioned that I'm a fan of their past work they seem appreciative.

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 1/24/05 at 10:19pm

I asked Raul Esparza when I stagedoored Taboo if he could sign my ttB CD booklet and he not only did, but was extremely flattered about it and was happy to tell me about what a great experience the show was

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/24/05 at 10:20pm

You can definitley ask for more than one. I think I asked someone for three once... they don't mind, as long as you're polite.

[Winkie Beer]

Posted: 1/24/05 at 10:21pm

Maybe this is just me, but I always find it kind of tacky when people get items signed after a show that aren't from the show they just saw the performer in.

[loudasthehelliwant]

Posted: 1/24/05 at 10:21pm

Alright, I've never actually been to a stage door yet (I plan to the next time I see Les Miserables, though!), but I second what Dreamcatcher said. When you're at the stage door, act like a sane human being, and treat them the way you would treat other sane human beings. Jumping, screaming, and attacking (however "lovingly") are just not appropriate. But I'm sure you would never do that.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 1/24/05 at 10:21pm

How thoughtful for you to ask such a question - I shower good karma upon thee....

Make sure you have pen &whatever you want signed close to hand so you can make it as easy for them as possible....and I second suzycat....Good luck & have fun in ny!

[Dreamcatcher]

Posted: 1/24/05 at 10:23pm

This wasnt a broadway show, but I went to a touring show called Cavalia (alot like Circe Du Soleil only it celebrates the freedom of horses and the relationship between them and humans, VERY Good) and I brought flowers to one of the performers who did a roman post act and trick riding. She the nicest person ever, her husband (who was one of hte stage crew) got my family and I front row seats and he had me present her the flowers during hte curtain call. Then afterwards I got to meet her and she took a pic with us and showed us around the stables. She was so awsome and it was amazing because I have really admired her work. (She is one out of 10 women in the world who ride Roman Post professionally.) Just thought I'd share.

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 1/24/05 at 10:38pm

When I went to Little Women, I asked Sutton and John Hickok to sign two things for me. They did so willingly, and took pictures. John Hickok was very impressed that I had my AIDA cd booklet with me for him to sign. Just be polite and considerate, and the actors usually are in return.

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 1/24/05 at 10:44pm

It's good someone asked this question, because when I see Sweet Charity, I wanna have my Assassins cd and my playbill signed by Denis O'Hare .

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 1/24/05 at 11:09pm

when i went to see the last matinee of millie i had with me the playbill and the poster(my english teacher was supposed to skip school with me that day to go but couldn;t so i gave the playbill to her) and they all happily signed both. Kevin Earley who was amazing as trevor graydon was actually thanking me for asking him. speaking of that poster its the first show one i have thats signed by actors from another show too (i ran into john tartaglia and jennifer barnhart from avenue q on the street and they both signed it)

[Taryn]

Posted: 1/24/05 at 11:14pm

Thanks for all the replies, everyone! It's very encouraging. ^_^ Fortunately, there's little chance of me going crazy at stage doors, as I moreso get rather shy. But I always try to be as polite as possible. It'll be a matinee of DRS, so that lessens the chances of a huge crowd. Just hoping everyone comes out after the show! Thanks again, everyone! :)

[suzycat]

Posted: 1/24/05 at 11:31pm

loudasthehelliwant - you do know that Les Mis has closed on Broadway... right?

[AnothaPartofMe]

Posted: 1/24/05 at 11:34pm

Most will sign both... I was holding two Playbills at GOOD VIBRATIONS, only getting one intentionally signed- but a good number of the actors signed both.

Posted: 1/24/05 at 11:43pm

theyll sign both... you might be asking a lot if you wanted a photo, two autographs, a long conversation, a hug, a kiss and a date.

[lite2shine]

Posted: 1/24/05 at 11:58pm

>you might be asking a lot if you wanted a photo, two autographs, a long conversation, a hug, a kiss and a date.

Then I asked and recieved a lot recently! (LOL)

I stopped going to the stagedoor after the show until recently, but when I do, all the cast members I've met were so gracious and flattered when I asked for an autograph.

I usually only ask for an autograph on one playbill/program, but one time I asked on three playbills (two for my friends and one for me), one CD insert (not from the show I just saw), two ticket tabs (matinee and evening shows I saw), and a photo of the actor and me. Okay, the actor is a friend of mine so it was an exception, I guess. Not only he gladly autographed each of them, he wrote a special message on each item. Man, I love this guy!
Light To Shine fan site for Big River

Posted: 1/25/05 at 12:04am

doesnt sound like you wanted a date though :)

ive told this story before. I was outside hairspray talkin to Matt Morrison. A girl interrupted us, which was fine cuz I see him a lot, I talked to another friend while they chatted. She was like in her 30s and she was saying that he was amazing, told him about every show shed seen while in NY, asked him out to dinner, tried to give him her phone number so they could 'hook up'... I didnt know who to feel bad for him or her. He was very polite about it all but it was odd. Updated On: 1/25/05 at 12:04 AM

[lite2shine]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 12:40am

Wow, that's indeed odd. Well as I said we are friends so we actually had a date (just dinner) after the show. But asking for a date and phone number to an actor who you just met is a bit scary to say the least.

[Dreamcatcher]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 2:18am

Seriously, if that were me I would have been a little freaked out.

Posted: 1/25/05 at 2:22am

Oh yeah, and dont follow them... this is another good rule.

yikes.

[TGIF]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 2:36am

But following is the fun part. It takes the challenge out of it if you don't. :)

Honestly, most people I met are very gracious as long as you don't scream in their face - and some still are when you do that. I actually staged doored Dracula (yes I know - no comments please :) ). And I had two playbills in my hand - I wanted to keep a clean copy, I like collecting things. And almost all of them tried to sign both. I guess they were just so excited people were there! (Ok that was mean couldn't resist - there were actually a fair amount of people there) I felt so bad saying "No, I want this one plain!"

[jo]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 7:16am

Being polite and saying thanks for their performance ( if you really mean it) will always get a generous response from the actors.