The River stage door

I'm surprised there isn't a thread started on this, but I have a question about the stage door at The River.

My mom is a huge Hugh Jackman fan (naturally) & we saw his Back to Broadway show a few years back. I bought a windowcard with the intention of getting it signed & giving it to her as a gift but I never got around to it. In fact, I forgot I even purchased the window card until I found it tucked behind a cabinet the other day.

I also just saw that the River is open for another few weeks (I thought it closed already) so I was thinking about trying again to get it signed.

My question though: Is it uncouth to bring a poster of an old show to the stage door to get signed?? In other words, will Hugh Jackman only sign items for The River or are past shows fair game?

I haven't stage-doored in at least 10 years (and even then I only did a few times) so I'm not really up on the etiquette.

I also know that Hugh is one of the biggies. Assuming he'll sign anything, does anyone have any tips on how to access him at the stage door?? Arrival time & what not? (Also, where IS the stage door for the Circle in the Square??)

Not sure if this is still happening, but I know when they were fundraising for Broadway Cares Hugh couldn't sign window cards cause they were auctioning off signed ones inside, but this was just for The River ones so not sure if it would make a difference if you brought one from his previous show.

I was there Wednesday, and they didn't auction off a shirt or posters. Hugh came out within 20-30 minutes but only did one round around the barricades. He signed posters and was nice, but several people were left without signatures. It seemed like he had somewhere to go, as he ran up to the 51st street side shortly after signing, not to mention he was wearing shorts in the freezing cold!

This was totally fine, of course. Hugh is very kind to stage door, and I had just witnessed his brilliant performance from front row riverbank seats!

Updated On: 1/19/15 at 07:42 PM

When I was there he signed my playbill and my dvd cover of Prisoners.

I think it's in Portuguese, but this theatre fan put together a video clip of Hugh Jackman at the stagedoor of THE RIVER --

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJwDqcGgvP4

I think that video shows people catching Hugh on the way in because afterwards he doesn't take pictures.

Are you sure he wasn't Italian? Either way he's HOT!

Absolutely! He's a class act!!

That's really weird maybe it was just that day because I've heard MANY times that he greets and signs and takes pictures before the show.

Oh, well then there would be no REAL reason for him to stop since it would just be random people (a lot at that lottery) hording and begging for selfies (well most of them, not saying you). If there are people waiting just for him though he usually seems to appreciate it and takes the time out. A real gentleman.

Sometimes, when the weather was good, in his previous shows he would walk to the theatre from a certain point in Manhattan.

He once joined Michael Riedel in Theatre Talk and shared this funny incident. He was walking to the Broadhurst for Back on Broadway and a man approached him. The man, obviously a scalper, asked him " Do you want tickets to the Hugh Jackman show ?"...He laughingly told him " But I am Hugh Jackman!"

Updated On: 1/21/15 at 04:39 PM

jo, that is so funny! I wonder what that scalper was thinking after that, haha. Generally, I would never approach/wait for a performer before a show, but I am debating whether I should try to do this for the River... I have a windowcard for Back on Broadway as well, and would just love to meet Hugh Jackman. I expect the stage door to be crazy after the show...

Thanks bfreak! I'm just afraid that the security won't even let me have my windowcard signed if there are lots of people, since sometimes they would only allow stuff from the current show. But of course, I have no idea when he will show up before the show (and I also find it strange that they set up barricades before the show), and I would most likely go before a matinee, so it could be hit or miss even if I tried.