When will actors begin stage dooring again/backstage tours- Page 3

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 11:44am

darreyl102 said: "Stagedooring has been around since the beginning of theater. If the plague didn't kill it, and all the other world epidemics that have occurred didn't-this won't either. However, it's going to be a hell of a long time after theaters open when this practice returns. Not until the vaccine has been released and even then it'll be some time to ensure that enough of the population has actually gotten the vaccine and its effectiveness. "

 

As someone who's been a regular theater-goer since the 60's, I have to comment that the stage -doors have always existed but that "stage-dooring" is a fairly recent phenomenon.  There were no barricades outside the stage doors of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF,  HIGH SPIRITS, FADE OUT/FADE IN or HELLO, DOLLY! There might have been a few fans waiting to see the performers but not to the extent we have today. I remember being able to walk right up to Chita Rivera, Gwen Verdon, Tammy Grimes and Carol Channing to chat with them and Barry Nelson invited me to join him for "a nightcap" after a performance of THE ACT. I took him up on the offer and "a nightcap" turned out to be "several".

Nowadays it's much different and almost manic,. As someone who has his share of actors for friends, I've walked out of many stage doors with them and wish everyone could see the expressions of so many people on the other side if the barricades. There are always women who look like they're talking to Midge the Cat and others who unabashedly star-struck with their mouths open and their common sense gone.  It's not a pretty sight for me but my actor friends tell me that they get used to .

It's time to re-assess what stage-dooring has become.

 

[Broadway61004]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 12:04pm

Stage dooring won't go back to what it has been over the past decade or so until at least a few years down the road and I can't imagine backstage tours starting again for a long time.  With that said, though, there will still be some actors who choose to come out as soon as Broadway reopens and some fans who will be there waiting for them.  It's not going to completely disappear, but will look a lot different for a while.

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 5/6/20 at 12:57pm

Dollypop said: "darreyl102 said: "Stagedooring has been around since the beginning of theater. If the plague didn't kill it, and all the other world epidemics that have occurred didn't-this won't either. However, it's going to be a hell of a long time after theaters open when this practice returns. Not until the vaccine has been released and even then it'll be some time to ensure that enough of the population has actually gotten the vaccine and its effectiveness. "



As someone who's been a regular theater-goer since the 60's, I have to comment that the stage -doors have always existed but that "stage-dooring" is a fairly recent phenomenon. There were no barricades outside the stage doors of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, HIGH SPIRITS, FADE OUT/FADE IN or HELLO, DOLLY! There might have been a few fans waiting to see the performers but not to the extent we have today. I remember being able to walk right up to Chita Rivera, Gwen Verdon, Tammy Grimes and Carol Channing to chat with them and Barry Nelson invited me to join him for "a nightcap" after a performance of THE ACT. I took him up on the offer and "a nightcap" turned out to be "several".

Nowadays it's much different and almost manic,. Assomeone who has his share of actors for friends, I've walked out of many stage doors with them and wish everyone could see the expressions of so many people on the other side if the barricades. There are always women who look like they're talking to Midge the Cat and others who unabashedly star-struck with their mouths open and their common sense gone.It's not a pretty sight for me but my actor friends tell me that they get used to .

It's time to re-assess what stage-dooring has become.

"

How I wish that was what the stage door experience was today.  That sounds like such an authentic, relaxed and personable experience on both sides