When I stage doored for "Follies" in DC, I almost called Jan Maxwell "Dee Hoty". I caught myself before I did though, or that would have been really awkward.
LOL, When i met her all i could think of was to say "Your Soo Beautiful". She looked alittle taken aback and laughed. "They use alot of makeup" she joked.
When I went to a stage door for the first time, Wonderful Town, when Donna Murphy came out some woman shouted "Her body is even more pleasurable than I thought it was!" and she asked Murphy for a picture with her. Murphy politely declined...
Couple of things...
When I met Briand Stokes Mitchell my father was with me. He offered to take a picture. When we posed he had his little dog with him (Brian not my dad) and my father says "Look, the new nuclear family.. hot black man, hot white man and their child a little dog"
When I met Debra Monk after Curtains my husband says "My husband does you in drag...." (I am a female illusionist performer and my drag name is Shelby Stephyns -- after her character in Steel Pier)
a friend and i stood outside the stage door for HAIRSPRAY, and got most of the cast to say hello...when HARVEY FIERSTEIN came out and was signing autographs he came by us and i said "i loved you in INDEPENDENCE DAY"...he laughed at that and thanked me...i thought i was being pretty funny brining up that very small part he had in that giant film...tehe
After seeing "Promises, Promises" last year, during pre-Tony buzz, I asked Katie Finneran who would win in a game of beer pong: her or Angela Lansbury. No clue where it came from. I was taken over with the desire to say something, ANYTHING, memorable. But she seemed to think it was funny, so I suppose it was worth it.
JSwanson: What was her response? I bet Ang could kick some ass.
Earlier this year, I saw Driving Miss Daisy. The production kind of fell flat for me, except for Boyd Gaines, but I still wanted to get James and Vanessa's autographs. When Vanessa Redgrave came out of the stage door, I couldn't think of anything to say about the performance, so I stuttered "I loved watching you in Julia!" Ms. Redgrave looked at me like I had offended her, then moved down the line.
When I met Joel Grey after a Saturday matinee of Anything Goes, I said "Thank god you went on! I was afraid you would be missing shows to direct The Normal Heart." He looked genuinely hurt.
And finally, when I saw Sutton Foster after Shrek, I asked what it was like to be licked by Susan Blackwell.
When I saw the play, November starring Nathan Lane, I was taken backstage after the performance by the house manager to meet my friend Michael Nichols who was playing the Indian. Nathan Lane appeared first and said, "what can I do for you?" and I foolishly blurted out something like, "Oh, I'm not here for you, I'm taking Michael Nichols to dinner." Without missing a beat, Mr. Lane said, "and what am I, chopped liver?"
I saw Barbara Cook at a performance of Il Barbiere di Siviglia at the Met. Being a singer, she is always someone I learn from when it comes to performing and selling a song. Conversation as follows:
Me: "Excuse me, I don't mean to bother you, but as a singer, you are a true inspiration to me in everything that you've done."
Ms. Cook: "Oh well thank you, that's very sweet of you to say."
Me: "Of course, I truly mean it!...(stumble over some words, then finally) "You just keep on doing what you....do!"
Ms. Cook: ....*awkward laugh* "uhh ok...."
Head===>desk
@MichaelRhodus: She laughed and had a similar response, saying, "I dunno... She is pretty tough", or along those lines. She smiled and took it as a compliment as far as the upcoming Tonys and my prediction (which came true.)
"You were great on the poles." - said to Kyle Dean Massey after performing a song from next to normal in a masterclass with him.
At the Follies Kennedy Center stage door with Danny Burstein:
-Me: We loved you in Women on the Verge and South Pacific, can I get a picture?
-Him: (says my name)
-Me: Hi...
I think that was a wakeup call to refrain from commenting on his facebook stuff.
I can remember stagedooring Rent after seeing Adam and Anthony in their comeback run and it was PACKED. In a panic trying to get Anthony to sign my poster I screamed in a very obnoxious high pitched voice "THANK YOU YOU ARE MY BEST FRIEND" then awkwardly smiled.
He stopped dead in his tracks and laughed at me.
When I went to stage door at How to Succeed this is my reaction to Daniel Radcliffe:
"Daniel, Thank you for all you've done. Thank you for my childhood and thanks for being great. I've been following you around all my life..." Best thing ever... He understood what I meant! And he smiled and said with humbleness "Thank you!" and he smiled and said that it's terrific to see fans like you supporting!" Then I got to hotel and me and my mom kept flipping out! XD
When I met Hugh Panaro, words could not come out of my mouth so I was basically hyperventilating! He is so funny, he came out in a bath robe and slippers so he is basically one of my favorite actors ever now :)
Also stage dooring Catch Me, Kerry Butler comes out and I go "OMGYOURSOFREAKINGGOERGOUS!" and she said "You are so sweet! Thank you!" But when Norbert Leo Butz came out...I went crazy! I seriously went rijhg=A0R9HJR90HJG=R90HB in my head and then finally I got to say, "You were spectacular, brilliant job."
When I saw Arcadia this past spring, I was talking to Raul Esparza (who I adore) about Rocky Horror (I knew it was his first Broadway show, I've done the show twice, etc), and then my mom chimes in with "Oh, she just loves you! We have a cat at home named Raul after you!" He was very gracious and talked about how his own mother named cats after his roles, but really, while my mother's comment may have been true, I wouldn't call it appropriate
I also can agree that a lot of times at stage doors you want to say more then just the simple ‘Great Job’ ‘Your Amazing’ ECT. But for some reason that is all you can get out. Even after I rehearse what I am going to say it still happens LOL.
darreyl102 I sooo agree! Every single time I stage door I have this mini speech prepared in my head and for some reason all that comes out is "Thank you so much, you were amazing."
Every.Single.Time!
i know! i rehearse and plan what i am going to say but that's all i seem to be able to get out- i have no idea why but it totally happens nearly ever time LOL
On my last night it New York last year I saw Mary Poppins after only seeing the closing performance in London. As Laura Michelle Kelly is a local actress from my neck of the woods I decided to stage door, she realised I was English so asked me where I was from, then this happened...
LMK: Where abouts in England are you from?
Me: Hampshire.... Southampton area...
LMK: Oh I'm from round there too! (Starts to walk away)
Me: Well, the New Forest.... infact a town called Totton...
LMK: Oh, lovely (really trying to walk away knowing where I was going with this!)
It was at that point I turned and said rather loudly straight into her face
"In fact, my Aunty lives in the house next to where you grew up in... she remembers you and has a few photos with you as a girl in the background...."
There was then a very awkward 'stalker' silence, before she just said "Right..." and then quickly walked into her car!!
All of that is true BTW in regards to my aunty living next door to where LMK grew up... I wasnt just making it up to make it seem like we had something to talk about!
To Mary Martin (this was a long time ago & I was pretty young):
Do you listen to the original cast recordings of your shows.
Mary (somewhat confused): No, I do not like listening to my own voice. Although I do listen to the recording John Raitt and I did of "Annie Get Your Gun," in fact so often it must be worn out by now. (still a little confused by the question).
I saw the RENT tour with Anthony and Adam on my 18th birthday. Anthony came out but Adam did not. I yelled at Anthony Rapp that it was my birthday. Not that he did an amazing job. Not that I loved him in the role. But that it was my birthday. He awkwardly said "oh.. Happy Birthday", signed my window card and got on the bus.
Palm to face.
not a stage door encounter but...file this under "CONVERSATIONS YOU HAVE HAD WITH VERY FAMOUS STARS!"...
LIZA MINNELLI, was staying at the hotel where i was a Concierge, and it was a quiet night and Ms. Minnelli came down looking for her car and driver to take her to the Fox Stuios, as she was filming ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT...anyways i was alone at the Concierge desk, and after Ms. Minnelli came out of the gift shop and as she was about to exit the lobby i said to her..."MS MINNELLI if i might tell you, i saw you perform in the Broadway show CHICAGO, when QWEN VERDON was injured"...she stopped in her tracks looked back and said "Oh my dear!"...and then i told her how wonderful she was in that role and what a thrill it was to see her and CHITA RIVERA on stage together, and she said..."thank you dear that was very nice of you to tell me that"...and with that she smiled at me, and walked out side to her waiting car...I WAS F*CKING THRILLED to have talked with LIZA...one of my all time favorite stars...
Updated On: 6/17/11 at 01:36 PM
Around the time she was doing Drowsy Chaperone, I ran into Sutton Foster at this little cafe that I cannot remember the name of... They have amazing tiramisu though! I almost peed myself when I saw her- look at her and yell across the room " I love you. I have a picture of you as my background of my computer!" She smiled and it wasn't a big deal, but everyone else in the place looked at me (probably not knowing who she was) and thought I was some creepy stalker guy obsessed with some random woman.
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When I was at the stage door to meet the OBC of Avenue Q John Tartaglia came out and took a picture with me and my friend. I then blurted out " you have a really nice ass"......... I was thinking it, but did not expect the words to come out of my mouth!!
Not something, I myself said, but at the stage door after Next to Normal, my aunt was standing behind me as I was talking to Kyle Dean Massey and goes "HE'S CUTE. How old is he? I mean, not for me, for you!". He then looked at us in horror and goes "uh...29..." and moves on.
She has no gaydar
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