Why do people stage door?

Just throwing this out on the board. Why do people stage door? Is it to build up their Playbill collection with eveyone's autograph? If so, I can clearly understand that.

My bigger question is why do some people stage door, the same show over and over again. That's stalking.....would someone need to get someone's autograph for the 3rd time, and the same with taking their pics with an actor. Why?

I remember one time I walked by the stage entrance after a show was over with, and these 2 guys, were fighting as to who got there first and who had seen more shows, when the actor comes out of the stage door, he has to see me first, etc.... What does that have to do with anything? I was like.....WHAT THE F?

Maybe, it's just me, but I just wouldn't feel comfortable asking, or expecting total strangers to sign my program and pose for a pic with me. A performer owes you a good performance..and that's it. Nothing more. If they do sign and stop for pictures, that's the icing on the cake.

I read so many postings on here where people expect to get an autograph and a pic, and if they don't they get so irate. These people, clearly need to get a life.

I suppose that there are many reasons, just wanted to find out from others. Yes, there are those who clearly have a screw loose who stage door...thinking that they have some connection to the show or the performer. And, that's sad.

So many people on here claim to be "friends" with the actors. If that were true, you wouldn't stage door. You'd be invited backstage to visit with them after a performance.

Updated On: 2/14/08 at 05:52 PM

If stage dooring is somebody's thing, more power to them, but I don't get it.

5 years ago my friend forced me to stage door with him at "Nine". We had to stand there for about 30 minutes, and then when the people walked out my friend had to get his playbill and pen in Jane Krakowski's face. I remember Jane and I had a weird exchange because I was standing right in the front with my friend, who was spazzing, and we were surrounded by people yelling and pushing, and I was just standing right next to her, not even caring. It was weird.

I've always prided myself on treating celebrities like regular people. I've heard that's why a lot of celebrities like New York. Its cool to see a famous person at a restaurant or walking down the street, and to know who they are, sort of smile to yourself, and let them live their lives.

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There are actually some people I'm too in awe of to meet. I know it sounds ridiculous, because as george says, they are just people.
Denzel Washington? I'd be scared out of my mind.
Meryl Streep? I wouldn't even look at her.
Forget about Colin Firth. And when I stagedoored Guys and Dolls in London, I met Ewan McGregor and Jane just fine, but I couldn't handle the thought of meeting Jenna.

My father says I'll grow out of it...I'm not sure.

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eBay?

There are actually some people I'm too in awe of to meet. I know it sounds ridiculous, because as george says, they are just people.

Um, yes. I have a long list of those I'd be afraid to meet. If I met Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio at the same time, I might legitimately pass out. Not that that's likely to ever happen, but still :-P

Don't even mention Denzel or Meryl Streep...!

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TheatreDiva, well it wasn't the traditional "stage dooring," I suppose.

When I saw you in the show, I wanted to talk to you because our mutual friend Terry, had just left for Japan for 2 months on a singing gig. It happened so fast for him. Terry got the call on a Monday, and by Friday, he was off to Japan. With virtually no time on his hands, he had no way to get a hold of you, and since I was going to see the show that you were in, I wanted to rely the message to you - that he'd be back in a few months.

Gosh, that was in 1997........yikes. Where does the time go?

When I do it, it's to tell the actors how much I appreciated their performance. An autograph and/or picture is just icing.

That said, I'm more trembly and rambly with some than with others.

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I stagedoored Deathtrap a long time ago and BENT with Richard Gere. At BENT we gave our Playbills to the person at the stage door and got them back after the show signed by Mr. Gere. I did get to see him walk into the theater but we couldn't see him afterwards. People were very orderly at BENT and there were just a few of us at Deathtrap. The next time I attemted to stage door was at Wicked. We all know how that stagedoor was! I have thought about it since but have never done it. I don't even stay around to see the performers, let alone get a signed Playbill. I wanted a signed Playbill from the cast of "Company" and got it during the BCEFA time at the theater. And Actually, a friend got it for me. I too am sometimes so in Awe that I don't know what I will say to a favorite performer. So it is really nice when I bump into them somewhere else. My favorite encounter was when Chita Rivera actually knocked me down in a theater lobby. Imagine falling to the floor, looking up and she is there saying she is sorry and helping you up!!And meeting Stephanie Mills before a performance of "The Wiz" sitting on a fire escape eating a P&J and chatting with her. I have bumped into a few Broadway actors (even had an affair with one!) so that has been enough for me!

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I stagedoor because I like to congratulate the actors an their performance, and it is nice to have signed Playbill as a memento.

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Wannabe, JonDouglas didn't say that people who stage door need to get a life. You're jumping the gun. Go back and reread his post.

That comment was geared towards the people who stage door, thinking that they have some sort of inside connection to the show or star. And, those who ask for an autograph or pic over and over again of the same person.

I stage door because I think it's great to get the chance to meet the people you admire and congratulate them on doing a great job. It's fun and usually provides a great memory to top off a night at the theater. And I don't get mad if certain actors don't come out; it's their decision to make. It's just lucky for me when they do!

hehe, my cousins met him when they filmed The Preacher's Wife at their restaurant. My cousin was like "he is even more beautiful in person."

humina, humina

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If I had a great waiter or service person, I ALWAYS wait until they get off work and then follow them to their car.

I find gas station attendants are the most skittish.

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