The stage door management at A STEADY RAIN is absolutely HORRENDOUS — Page 4

Hey guys, I don't have the history with rOcKs that some of you apparently do, so I have no idea whether he complains a lot. Of course I didn't go to the show to get an autograph, if that's all I wanted, I wouldn't have bothered buying a ticket and seeing the show at all! But I do believe HIS inital post was the informative one, as it advised people as to how things worked at this particular stage door. Most of you guys are just criticizing him for being so upset about it, which informs me of what? How annoyed you all seem to get with rOcKs? Seriously...

Jane, with all due respect, I think most of us understand that. I really have never seen a thread on this board entitled: 'What is the role of the doorman at a Broadway show?' People do seem to want to know what it's like to stage-door a particular play they're going to attend, and how friendly various actors are about signing autographs. And that's what rOcKS was offering; had he not posted about the Steady Rain situation, I probably would have myself, so that people would know what to expect.

Wickedrocks, glad you were able to go again and have a good experience. See.......it wasn't the end of the world....

It's no big deal.

Which poster is the doorman?

"Most of you guys are just criticizing him for being so upset about it, which informs me of what? How annoyed you all seem to get with rOcKs?"

No, we would say the same thing to anyone who thought they were entitled to stage door privileges.

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My two cents: I was fortunate enough to buy a last minute ticket to today's matinee. Very very good play...close to excellent. Subtle and strong performances by both men...Jackson's being the showier of the two. Direction is minimal but very effective. I didn't realize going in that the director had also done The Pillowman. He employs a lot of the same set devices and makes a very bare set illuminating and expressive. But, like the Pillowman, the focus of the production never strays from the narrative. A contender (though, dare I say, not likely the victor) in the best play category.

As for the stage door: Don't normally do it, but did it today. The fact of the matter is that these guys really don't want to sign/take pictures but instead (justifiably) want to get the hell out of there. In their defense, they did sign and take a number of pictures, but were both out within five minutes. The stage door management effectively (and politely) monitored the line and managed to keep (what must have been) one hundred people (or more) organized and civil.

...just my two cents.

Apparently there were people walking around outside Superior Donuts yesterday (I think) with "Quiet Please" signs. I'm not sure what good that does outside another theater; it should be outside the theaters where the noise problems are. My friend told me about it, but I couldn't really visualize where he meant. It sounded like outside the Music Box though.

Someday maybe you will learn that theater is about what happens on stage and NOT what happens at the stage door.

Maybe.

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Updated On: 9/28/09 at 02:17 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bri2nLwYpxI

What part of can we just move on and agree to disagree is so difficult for you to understand?

Seriously. So much for trying to be civil about it. Just shut up and forget about it. I'm not even opening this thread anymore so go ahead and continue to drag this thing out even more because I won't respond or read what you have to say.

Yul Brynner had it right when he did the King & I revival at the then Uris, now Gershwin. His car went right inside the building (I guess thru the same freight elevator that sets are loaded in from) and picked him up inside; he didn't have to deal with any of this nonsense. The fact that the word "stagedooring" even exists proves that it has gotten completely out of hand. When Hepburn was in Coco, I went to the stagedoor (I was about 15 at the time, and didn't "stagedoor" but rather went to the stagedoor), and there was a small group of people, maybe 30 or so, and no barricades or security guards. Her car was parked just opposite the stage door, and when the doorman opened the door for her to come out, he announced she wouldn't be signing. The crowd parted like the red sea to give her a clear path to her car, and applauded her as she made her way from theater to car as she graciously smiled and waved to the crowd. I can't imagine anything as civil or respectful happening today. It was actually very classy.

to WiCKEDRocks, I witnessed this too.. That is complete bullcrap, and it is for whatever reason.. how they do it

Let me reiterate that these are NOT "stage door guys." The men you see are off-duty NYPD performing in a security capacity.

Not true at every Shubert House, Fosse. If it's the crew Im thinking of, actually, they're a private security company. They're typically AT the Shubert, but float to all the Shubert houses. They'll be there tomorrow night for the opening, as well as some of the other stage door men who double as personal security for the Shubert Organization.

(PS - Jerby, I love you and miss you! We're due for drinks!)

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Updated On: 9/28/09 at 11:56 PM