A few ties for the best. I have met Angela at the stagedoor a bunch of times, but the first time was the best because there were few fans there. She pretended to be interested in what I had to say about "Sweeney Todd" for a moment and when I gave her a rose I brought for her she seized it and exclaimed that she knew she smelled something lovely. It was adorable. It's like and night day between a lucky encounter like that and competing with a sea of people. Then, of course, you cannot speak with her like that.
Also, I must say David Hyde Pierce was *exceptionally* kind to all who waited for him outside of "Accent on Youth," taking pictures and signing autographs. Ditto for Phylicia Rashad after "...Hot Tin Roof" and "AOC," even though she was clearly tired. Brian Dennehy was also very friendly to all after "Desire Under the Elms" (I'll never forget the looks of adoration on the 50/60ish women ogling him at the stage door), and Christopher Plummer was quite a charmer after "Inherit the Wind." Estelle Parsons deserves mention as well. For all that monumental talent, she is so egoless it is at first startling and then disarming. Alan Cumming is also very sweet.
I would have to say my only negative experience was Morgan Freeman and Frances McDormand after "The Country Girl" because they refuse to stop and sign. I brought Frances a bouquet of roses and everything; if I had known they did not stop I would have just sent them backstage. Eden Espinosa was a little bitchy after one performances of "Brooklyn the Musical" because my father and I almost forgot to get her autograph after getting the rest of the cast's - she noticed.
Actually, the worst stage door experience I had was caused by my father. After a late July 2007 matinee of "Deuce" on a hot, hot summer day she came out to sign and accomodate fans and she obliged me a picture and my father (and I trained him to do it right, mind you) snapped the picture prematurely - before she posed - THREE TIMES. I'll never forget her shrill, exasperated voice going "Where is the ca-ma-ra?!" She finally patted me on the shoulder and took off. My father is such a dope he thought nothing of what happened. He insulted a living legend.
It was all the for the best, however, because I came back on August 16 and my friend Drew took a picture of Angela and I using his digital camera. I almost didn't get that, either, because some people who came out much later than I (this time I stagedoored without seeing the show) pushed their way to the front - and into Angela's face. It's only because my friend reminded Angela she had said yes to me when I asked her for a picture that she came back over to me and he snapped it. I treasure it like you wouldn't believe. :)
2010
Feb. 28 - Looped, Feb. 28 - Next to Normal, March 4 - Hair, March 11 - A Little Night Music, March 24 - Time Stands Still, April 6 - La Cage Aux Folles, April 10 - Anyone Can Whistle (City Center), April 10 - Looped, May 9 - Enron, May 15 - A Little Night Music, May 15 - A Behanding In Spokane, May 30 - A Behanding In Spokane, May 30 - A Little Night Music, June 20 - A Little Night Music, June 23 - Red, June 23 - Sondheim on Sondheim, July 13 - A Little Night Music, July 18 - The Grand Manner (Lincoln Center)