Why do people stage door?- Page 2

[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.

[AnnaK<3LMIP]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 7:16pm

I bet they don't glow.

[alliez92092]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 7:17pm

I stagedoor for the same reasons as many people have mention, to thank the actors for their performance and tell them how they've inspired me or things like that. Getting a picture is always great, but it's fine if I don't. Meeting the actors is sort of the icing on the cake after watching a brilliant performance.

[MaronaDavies]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 7:24pm

I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting to meet the actors. It's natural to want to meet someone you admire or enjoy, even if it's only for a second.

I remember my first, and one of my only, stage door experiences. I was a little kid and we saw a Broadway show for my birthday. I was so excited to meet the actors I had just seen onstage. It was a thrill for me and I remembered it for a while.

I do agree with tobiasragg that stage dooring shouldn't be an expectation. Performers shouldn't be expected to sign or meet people, and they should be able to leave without being bothered if they so choose. And people at the stage door should be respectful and polite. Nobody likes a Playbill and a Sharpie wordlessly shoved under their nose.

I also think there's a major difference between someone who comes to get an autograph once, and someone who shows up every week and thinks the actors are their special friends. Repeat stage dooring does seem somewhat weird to me. It goes without saying that stalker-like behavior does nothing but make the performers uncomfortable (and rightly so).

[winston89]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 7:25pm

I stagedoor for the same reasons that have been said. That it is a way to meet actors that I am fans of etc. Now, I don't at all consider stage dooring for the same show more then once to be considered weird or stalkerish at all. When I have done it the impression that I have gotten from the actors is that they are glad that there is a person or two who enjoys their performance and the show enough to come more then once. I don't think that in all my times of going to the stage door. There has ever once been a performer who got freaked at the sight of seeing the same person there multiple times.

[karen24]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 7:28pm

I had never stage doored in my life, despite having seen many shows growing up. I always felt that a) I didn't want to bother the performers who had just worked so hard (I realize now that many of them are flattered to be asked--although not all), and b)I wanted to preserve the feeling of having seen them in character for as long as possible.
But, once I started taking my teenage son to the theater, and he became so interested in theater and in specific actors (Raul Esparza, Michael Cerveris, Patti LuPone, Liev Schreiber) I thought it might be a good experience for him if he could meet them briefly and perhaps talk with them a little bit. And I thought that they might not mind signing for a young person. So we did stage door after most of the shows we saw (but only once, no matter how many times we saw the show!) I have to say that all of the actors I mentioned above and many more were incredibly gracious and friendly to my son. I always hung back and didn't ask for anything to be signed for myself; I wanted to make sure that my son got whatever time the actor had to spend. I think it was a great experience for my son--for him to be able to look back at his Playbills and say, Wow, I met so-and-so and got to talk to him for a minute--that's a pretty nice memory.

[MaronaDavies]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 7:30pm

Maybe it depends on the quality of the interaction. I've known performers who have ducked out side doors specifically to avoid meeting certain repeat stage door visitors, and have remarked that seeing certain people at the stage door over and over again does make them uncomfortable.

[AnnaK<3LMIP]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 7:32pm

I remember the first time I met an actor at the stage door, it was after Beauty and the Beast. Our Clogsworth was sort of hanging around the theatre after everyone had left, and I had no guts to go talk to him, so my mother did, and he talked to us for the LONGEST time, asking us about where we came from, how our trip was, etc..He was just so friendly and smiley. It was the first time I realized how normal actors are, and how genuinely passionate they can be. That was nice (I was in the 7th grade)

[tgn915]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 7:33pm

I'm not going to lie..I stage door at pretty much every show I've been to.

As everyone has said, I do it to tell these talented people how much their work means to me and how much I aspire to be where they are someday. I have a signed playbill collection and I do enjoy taking pictures. The only times I'll take another picture on a different day would be if the circumstances were different.

Like, I took a picture with Aaron Albano when I didn't even plan to stage door one day, because my friend did it and I felt silly just standing there. Then, when I saw the last Spelling Bee show, I took another picture with him because the adrenaline was soaring through the roof and he was just too adorable.

Kevin Cahoon is pretty much my only other instance. I met him at the Wedding Singer in the October before it closed and I told him my birthday was coming up in December. (We were just chatting because he was waiting for someone and said he wanted to talk a little bit. SUCH a sweetie.) When he heard it was my birthday, he gave me a "friends and family" discount code if I wanted to see the show again for my birthday, and if I did to come back to the stage door that day. I did, and when I went to SD, he said "gather up the people you're with and follow me." And he gave me a backstage tour, brought me on the stage, everything. It was magical. So, I took my second picture that day. haha.

I love stage door-ing. Most actors appreciate the support, I think.

[winston89]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 7:37pm

True, I agree it is a case by case basis. It also depends on how the repeat visitor behaves when at the stage door.

For me my interaction is nothing more then a " You were great tonight." Or, " I loved how you did this song." And things like that. When they ask or mention the fact that I had been there before I always joke around and say something like " I only came back because you gave such a good performance." Or "What can I say its a great show."


But, there are people who I have seen at the stage door more then once who act all buddy buddy with the actors. As if going to see them at the stage door X amount of times automatically made you a friend of theirs. I feel that there is a difference being friendly with them because they know who you are at this point and just acting like they know/are friends with you just because you have gone to the show time and time again.

[tgn915]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 7:40pm

Damn, I hope I don't make the actors feel like I'm trying to be buddy-buddy with them. I seriously have like the most friendly attitude, and when I talk to ANYONE, stranger, actor, etc..I talk to them as if they've been my best friend forever. I hope that doesn't bother them.

[nmartin]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 7:42pm

This is only for those posters of a certain age. Does anyone remember a woman named Celia or something like that who stage doored to the point of obsession? Decades ago I used to spend a lot of time in NYC and whenever I did she was there with tons of Playbills. I even read an article about her but I can't remember where.

[MaronaDavies]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 7:45pm

I'm sure they appreciate friendliness. I think what winston89 means by buddy-buddy is what I was also alluding to: that there are some people who go to the stage door a LOT, and believe that since the actors know their names or faces and stop to chat, they must be very best friends. They read far more into the interaction than is really there, sometimes bring the actors expensive gifts and try to get them to communicate with them, etc.
Updated On: 2/14/08 at 07:45 PM

[tgn915]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 7:48pm

Ohhh! Okay, good. I just got mixed up, then. I never really know how to act around actors. Not because they're superior or anything, I never know if I should act more formal or more casual. So, I just act myself. Flamboyant and full of dry humor. -Shrugs- Hahah.

I think it also depends on age. Like, I'm 16 and I think it's less creepy of me to ask for a picture with a younger actor than a man of 40. Just my opinion, though.

[Anna_Elizabeth]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 7:53pm

Same with me. If I see a show that I think is wonderful or has actors in it that I admire and would just like to say thank you, then I'll stage door. I don't stage all the time. And sometimes if I'm with friends who are stage dooring, but I have nothing to say to the actor(s), I'll watch all the craziness going on.
But whenever I've met an actor, they have all always been appreciative of the support. Once, I was thanking an actor for his performance and we ended up having a 15 minute conversation, which I didn't expect at all.
But on another note, with actor(s) that I do know, I don't expect to go backstage. That's their workspace and I'm content to just wait at the stage door until they are ready to leave. I think I've met a lot of parents that way.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 7:54pm

No, tng. It would be creepy if the man of 40 wanted a picture with you.

[roseaddams]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 9:29pm

I stagedoor more often than not, but I started on a total whim -- I saw the latest
RENT tour when it was in Los Angeles and because my ride wasn't going to be there until about an hour after the final curtain, my friend and I decided to poke around a bit and found the stagedoor. It wasn't too crowded, so we managed to have a very pleasant chat with Bryce Ryness who played Roger.

The next time I stagedoored was A Chorus Line in San Francisco, because I was so moved and impressed by the actors and the show I really felt the need to tell them. The stagedoor of the Curran in San Francisco is right next to the main door, so there was quite a crowd, but most of the performers were very friendly and willing to sign and pose for pictures. Chrissie Whitehead, Alisan Fraser, Deidre Goodwin, Mara Davi were all amazingly chatty and humble when I met them. I remember talking with Michael Berresse (who managed to spot I was a budding actor after I told him how much I enjoyed the show) for several minutes about A Chorus Line, and the shows I had done, and San Francisco, and my mother who had seen most of the original company talked about how glad she was the show was being mounted again. It was a wonderful night, not only having seen the show, but also being able to interact with the performers afterwards.

I do stagedoor a fair bit, moreso than not, but it's really only when I've really enjoyed the performance and really would like to meet the actors and tell them so.

I also ended up having quite a long chat with Anthony Rapp when he came to my school for a book-signing. I brought my Little Shop programs for when I'd seen the show with him in it and we got to talking about that. Then I mentioned I'd done a chapter of his book as a competition piece in speech competition and we ended up chatting for a few minutes. Which irked the people behind me in line to no end, I have no doubt.

[Craww]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 9:53pm

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

You joke, but I once took a photo of my sister, her friend, and the cop that pulled us over in Nevada. It's one of the funnest pictures I've ever taken, and it probably half made his day.

I love to have pictures commemorating an event. A picture with an actor whose performance I enjoyed (...or enjoyed mocking) is a fun thing to have.

[fnyboi88]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 11:17pm

I stage door to get window cards signed and sell them on ebay.

That's a lie, I don't sell them. If it comes to it I will. I don't know really why I stage door. It's just part of the fun.

[Aswatrowinkenbo]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 12:00am

I've only gotten to stagedoor once since in live in the Seattle area. I went to the stage door when Jersey boys came to town, mainly because I wanted to meet someone that I admire and possibly get a picture and autograph. I found it kinda funny that I was the only person waiting outside, but I managed to meet Christopher Kale Jones who played Frankie and get an autograph and a photo.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 12:21am

I stage door because I need to be validated by complete strangers who I've just paid money to watch pretend to be other people for two or three hours.

[italianpride888]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 12:42am

I staged door once, and that was only to snap a picture of Adam and Anthony when they returned to RENT. The picture wasn't even for me either, it was for my friends madeline and ali who loooove RENT.

Otherwise, I dont really care about meeting the actor after the show.


but I guess I can see stage dooring to a point... I guess it can be seen as when you tip your waiter in a restaurant for excellent service. I guess some people feel that the actor did such an excellent job, they should be complimented. (essentially being tipped.. not literally though)

I still wouldn't do it though, I mean can you imagine stage dooring spamalot with all the "claymates"? It would be like going into the middle of a pack of hungry wolves. Updated On: 2/15/08 at 12:42 AM

[bluetuna]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 12:43am

Haha. Nice, LizzieCurry.

[nztheatreluva]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 12:59am

I stagedoor cause I love telling the actors how much I enjoyed the show and to get their autographs and maybe a picture just as a memory of the show. Also, because I've only been in new York by myself and gone to shows alone, it's kinda fun to go talk to people while they wait and just share my excitement with other people.