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

[April Saul]

Posted: 9/27/09 at 6:14pm

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...

[Jane2]

Posted: 9/27/09 at 6:24pm

April, I think the informative aspect of our posts was explaining the procedures and functions of the stagedoor person, and not to expect that you are entitled to pictures and/or autographs, but are lucky if you get them.

[April Saul]

Posted: 9/27/09 at 6:37pm

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.

[Jane2]

Posted: 9/27/09 at 6:45pm

Also with due respect, April, I don't think we're on the same page, so perhaps we can just agree to disagree.

I hope we can both agree that it isn't worth arguing about any further.

[nealb1]

Posted: 9/27/09 at 7:11pm

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.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 9/27/09 at 7:21pm

An actual Broadway backstage doorman posted in this thread. I hope those comments help people to understand how and why it works the way it does.

[nealb1]

Posted: 9/27/09 at 7:23pm

Which poster is the doorman?

[PastorErnst]

Posted: 9/27/09 at 7:28pm

I would naturally assume the one post that jrb_actor posted a few days ago was from an actual stagedoor doorman.
re: The stage door management at A STEADY RAIN is absolutely HORRENDOUS

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 9/27/09 at 8:00pm

"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.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 9/27/09 at 8:21pm

This is not theater

This is mob mentality because 2 movie stars are on broadway. The play could **** (I heard it does) but people won't care as long as they can see these 2 guys in person - even if upstairs.

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 9/27/09 at 10:37pm

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.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 9/28/09 at 1:26pm

Unless the stage doorman was out taking a cigarette break or getting some air, he would not be seen outside as the actors are leaving. The stage doorman DOES NOT set up barricades, at least not at the Shubert houses. And FYI, the same security personnel rove the theaters in the area based on the end time of each show...and I assure you the security at the Broadhurst at the end of the show are the security from the Schoenfeld. The barricades are set up the way they are at the Broadhurst because Jude Law has expressed a preference to sign for people who had seen the show. If he hadn't, the set-up would be similar to the Schoenfeld.

[trombonist]

Posted: 9/28/09 at 1:33pm

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.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 9/28/09 at 2:01pm

I agree about the screaming. It was really distracting when I saw DONUTS.

And honestly I'm just going to agree to disagree. I really don't think I was whining but I'm sorry I sounded like I was I guess. Even if I didn't get my autographs, I'd be saying the same thing. Let's just end it and agree to disagree. Its not worth it. I hope no one hates me now for speaking my mind...

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/28/09 at 2:17pm

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

Maybe.

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

[trombonist]

Posted: 9/28/09 at 2:23pm

Hopefully the Booth will employ the same tactics (people with quiet signs, etc.). I was at next to normal one night since A Steady Rain has been running, and at least in the back and towards house right it was very distracting during act 2.

And not even related to the stage door mess at A Steady Rain, one time last week I was walking down the street and there was a group of men just sitting on the steps in front of the doors at the Booth while the show was going on just talking and talking. I went over and politely informed them that there was a show going on in the theater and they looked clueless that they were even in front of a theater. I just gave up to prevent them from making a scene and being even more distracting.
Updated On: 9/28/09 at 02:23 PM

[morosco]

Posted: 9/28/09 at 2:38pm

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

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 9/28/09 at 2:39pm

"I'm not "whining" because I didn't get my autographs. I'm whining because of how the stage door situation was handled by the powers that be".

"I really don't think I was whining but I'm sorry I sounded like I was I guess".

Well, which is it? Were you whining or not? The situation is ridiculous - poorly behaved fans created a situation that made a doorman's job difficult, and many of you are blaming him for that.

"When people who claim to be experts in a topic are mistaken, they may be corrected. It isn't "bashing"

Your opinion, Jane2. When I disagreed with you a few years back that the Henry Miller was less "charming" than it was dangerous for those of us who actually had to work there (in dangerous areas, not in offices and front of house), you have taken every chance you could on this board to attack, bash, and humiliate me for speaking the truth (or, in other words, disagreeing with you). For years.

I never claimed to be an "expert" on the Miller, but I knew that many people had been injured there, some during the show, and you attacked me ever since. Anyone capable of utilizing the search button can verify that. You have an odd definition of bashing.

eta: and what PJ said
Updated On: 9/28/09 at 02:39 PM

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 9/28/09 at 3:45pm

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.

[Jane2]

Posted: 9/28/09 at 4:05pm

Updated On: 9/28/09 at 04:05 PM

[WestVillage]

Posted: 9/28/09 at 5:55pm

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.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/28/09 at 6:24pm

From All About Eve:

MARGO: Autograph fiends! They're not people - those little beasts who run in packs like coyotes. They're nobody's fans! They're juvenile delinquents, mental defectives! They're nobody's audience! They never see a play or a movie, even--they're never indoors long enough!

[Soliantu]

Posted: 9/28/09 at 7:12pm

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

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 9/28/09 at 7:34pm

Soliantu,

We were dropping this and moving on...

Please don't show your ignorance.

[CJR]

Posted: 9/28/09 at 11:56pm

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!)

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