Why do people stage door?

[jondouglas]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 5:52pm

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

[AnnaK<3LMIP]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 5:56pm

I see no problem with wanting to meet the people that you idolize or admire.

HOWEVER.

I used to be rather close to a girl who stagedoored this one show SO many times, that she and one of the actors not only became friends, but started dating for a little bit. All because nearly every other day, she would stagedoor.
....I always thought that was kind of weird.

[george95]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 5:58pm

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.

[nealb1]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 6:02pm

Jon, nice thread here on the board. This topic does come up from time to time.

I don't stage door, and I have a friend who does stage door virtually every show that he sees in NYC. But, he's not demented like the people you referred to. Far from it. He has a huge collection of Playbills and programs with the actor's autographs. He's a huge Broadway fan and loves going to the theatre. Plain and simple. He has no ulterior motive, thinking that he's friends with the actors and stuff like that.

[AnnaK<3LMIP]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 6:02pm

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.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 6:04pm

Neal,

Didn't you stage door me?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 6:05pm

eBay?

[sally1112]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 6:06pm

Because it's there!

[misschung]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 6:10pm

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...!

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 6:15pm

I've done it once or twice. Okay, maybe three times, and to answer your question, it's because it's cool. I'm just kidding.

After I saw August, I stood by the stage door like a crazy person, because nobody else was there but friends and family of the actors. I didn't want their autographs, even though that would've been a plus, but I just wanted to tell them how much I admired their performance. With Broadway actors, it's more about encouragement than it is about ego..does that make sense?

[nealb1]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 6:16pm

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?

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 6:16pm

I consider it a very, very humbling experience, getting to meet my idols, who I have willingly and knowingly admired for as long as I can remember. Oftentimes, I'll present them with my playbill and a Sharpie, and then sign, and they're oftentimes very gracious about it - and I'll wish them well, and then I'll ask if I could trouble them for a picture. I haven't had any problems. None. I consider myself beyond lucky.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 6:17pm

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.

[myManCape]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 6:23pm

They used to close down 43rd Street for about 20 minutes every night when Denzel came out the Stagedoor. That was pure insanity, and he calmly signed for and greeted as many people as he could with out starting a riot or stampede.

[uncageg]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 6:37pm

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!

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 6:40pm

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

I blame Bush.

He's running to an early grave and he's dragging us all along with him

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 6:43pm

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

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 6:46pm

Denzel was great during his run of JULIUS CAESAR.

The audience was told to make an orderly line (that went around the block).

Denzel met each and every person. Shook their hands, signed all Playbills and DVDs everyone had, took a photo with each person.

He signed my Playbill, my Glory DVD (which I later got signed by Matthew Broderick as well) and my Training Day DVD (which I later got signed by Ethan Hawke), and I got a picture with him.

And it made up for the fact that the production was pretty lousy and he was only so-so.

He was very friendly and cordial.

jondouglas, you are sad, and you need to get a life, if you are going to start a thread on a message board telling people you do not know that they are sad and they need to get a life.

[nealb1]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 6:56pm

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.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 7:05pm

I've only stage doored a few shows and met a few random celebrities, and each time I try to tell them how much I admired their performance and such, but I never know exactly what to say and I get all flustered so I've evolved to not saying much at all. Just saying thank you.

[aliciag]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 7:05pm

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!

[AnnaK<3LMIP]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 7:07pm

Honestly..just the thought of meeting Denzel makes me shake and naseous. I think I'd melt.

[misschung]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 7:10pm

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

[AnnaK<3LMIP]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 7:11pm

Oh I bet. I feel certain that he glows like Geri!

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 7:12pm

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.