Worst stagedoor

[children&art]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 4:18pm

beneath the tan the battle rages...some argue that its not a performer's job to do the stage door thing, some argue the other way.

what's your worst encounter with an actor at a stage door (names can be left anonmyous)?

mine was i went to see a show on broadway (im from dallas) and was waiting and waiting at the stage door after and one performer (a tall striking woman) came out, i asked her to sign my playbill and she laughed in my face, did not sign and left only to sign everyone elses.

[broadway86]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 4:26pm

Hands down, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. It was a Wednesday night, and my girlfriend and I were the only ones at the stage door. We met Ashley Judd and Jason Patric, both of whom were very polite. All of a sudden, Ned Beatty storms out of the door. I hesitantly asked him for an autograph, and he GROWLED at us! I've never seen anything like it. Then, he made a B-line for his ride, got in, and left.

[myManCape]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 4:30pm

Personally I would have to say the worst stage door is at the Lyceum. Its tiny and so hard to find, you have to walk around the entire block. Ok, sorry I couldn’t resist when I saw the thread.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 4:31pm

Ouch.

I can't say I've really had a BAD stagedoor experience. i guess the only one that would come closeto bad was at RENT, the first time I saw it. I had just med Cary Shields, who was very sweet. I saw Merle Dandridge come out, and I went to ask her for an autograph, but she was talking. Upon waiting for her, I realized that she was in quite an angry state, and was too afraid to ask her.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 4:31pm

*eyes can of worms*

*pokes it*

*leaves, quickly*

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 4:34pm

For me, it was the Gershwin. May of 2004. We know what show. have never seen anything like it and never want to again! It was just insane.

[SirLiir]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 5:17pm

Ccare to explain uncagedg? I always love a good Wicked stage door horror story!

[WickedlyPerfect]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 5:21pm

Uh, I hate asking, but my curiosity has gotten the best of me. what happened May 2004 at the Gershwin?

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 5:21pm

The Broadway Theatre stage door is terrible. It looks completely run down and it has papers attached to it. I hope they find a new door.

[Marlene]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 5:23pm

Can't say that I've had a bad stagedoor experience, aside from being bummed out about someone not comming out and then leaving, I haven't been able to say that someone growled at me or made total b-line towards their ride without stopping. But I just have an eye for having really obscure people who I admire sign my playbill...

[Enjolras77]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 5:30pm

I haven't had a really bad experience...other than missing the performers who I really wanted to meet. I guess the only case of getting "the brush" was while waiting at the Studio 54 stage door in January 1999 after seeing Cabaret. We waited in the cold to get Jennifer Jason Leigh's autographs for over an hour...and when she finally came out she ran to the waiting car with several people who sheilded her from those of us waiting. I never expect to get autographs or to talk with the performers, but it is nice for them to acknowledge your presence in a positive manner. The way she came out, hiding her face, and flanked by her entourage...it made us look like we were bloodthirsty paparazzi or something. Luckily, Vance Avery (who was on for Alan Cumming that day) came out and was very gracious and talked to us for a while.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 5:30pm

I read that post about the Gershwin as being about the normal insanity that goes down over there -- you don't even need a particular horrific event to never want to go there again.

[ben1986]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 5:32pm

My worst was not bad but disappointing. I went to see Sweeney Todd on its first matinee during previews. Well anyway my grandfather and I went espically to see Patti. Traveled 6h ours on the PA turnpike, which is a death trap. Then two hours on a train. Stood outside after the show for almost one hour in the rain waiting to see her and then this rude guy at the stage door told us she was napping. My heart was so broken, and I'm debating going to see it again.
Though I understand that show is physically draining, and by the way the show ROCKS and I would recommend it, it was still disappointing. I mean every cast member but her came out and all it took was 5min for her to come out. Just seeing her would have been a thrill.
Patti you broke my heart but you still rock.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 5:33pm

You got to see her perform, though -- isn't that the more important thing?

Updated On: 12/12/05 at 05:33 PM

[Enjolras77]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 5:34pm

A GOOD stage door experience happened after seeing The Crucible several years ago. There was a large number of us waiting at the stage door for Liam Neeson. He sent word several times to us through the doorman that he was running behind because some of his family from overseas was there--but he would be out as soon as possible. Anyway...we continued to wait and after about an hour the doorman returned with the news that Liam would not be coming out because he decided to spend the evening with his family. However, Liam had signed enough playbills while in the dressing room for each and every one of us waiting out there. The doorman told us that Liam was very grateful for our support and that he was sorry he couldn't come out and greet us--but here is are some autographed playbills instead. It really made me feel good that there was a rather big name performer who valued his fans.

[Hanna from Hamburg]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 5:36pm

I saw Sweeney yesterday and I wouldn't be surprised if she never came out. This is an IMPOSSIBLE time of year to stay healthy. Patti was obviously fighting a massive cold, but gave an unbelieveable performance. A lot of the time that she wasn't singing, she was clearing her throat and coughing. She even coughed and cleared her throat during some of her songs. It was cold, there was snow on the ground and I'm sure there are TONS of germs on programs that get passed around. I read in the Sunday Arts section of the NYTimes that none of the standbys have gone on yet . . . I can't imagine that anyone in that cast wants to be the first to have to miss a performance. With that particular show, I'm SURE it's impossible for the entire cast if even 1 person is changed.

[Enjolras77]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 5:37pm

Of course it is the most important thing to see them perform. As I said I never expect to get anyone's autograph or expect anyone to come out. The experience just kind of coincided with the topic of this thread. I think at the time I was a bit miffed..but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I had nothing to be miffed about.

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 5:37pm

Oh my gosh, Enjolras, that is so sweet! Now I like Liam even more.

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 5:38pm

I wouldn't expect an actor to come out after a matinee. This revival of sweeney, especially the way the actors are continual onstage is terribly grouling.

[ben1986]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 5:42pm

I mean I understand that seeing her is important, but on this board the entire week was all about reviews for sweeney's first week of previews how they all came out signed autographs, took pictures. So when you read that, it kind of gets your hopes up.

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 5:42pm

luvtheEmcee, you hit the nail right on the head!!!

Updated On: 12/12/05 at 05:42 PM

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 5:49pm

I stood there for about 10 minutes and then asked myself, "What the h*ll am I doing?!!" I guess at 44 I am too old for all of that! Would love to have seen Ms. Chenoweth up close and gotten an autograph, but that mayhem was not worth it. I went to Therapy (The bar!) and had a few cocktails instead! And then POOF! I WAS Glinda! LOL

Updated On: 12/12/05 at 05:49 PM

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 6:12pm

I hate the Ambassador stage door....the security people keep everyone in a pen on the side of the theater and most of the actors just walk away from it.

The Lyceum is one of my favorites....the door manager let me wait inside for Judy Kaye and Donald Corren, seeing as I was the only one there.

However, the worst is at the Delacorte in Central Park....the actors exit through gate 1. Massive crowds form around it waiting for the actors. The head of security, a short blonde woman, forcibly pushes people to get them to move.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 6:18pm

RE: the experience with Ned Beatty

Things were not very comfortable backstage at CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF. There was great tension between Beatty and the younger actors in the cast. I don't know who was to blame for the situation, but it was really intense.

You probably caught Beatty when the situation was at its worst.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 6:33pm

Plus, many performers don't come out after matinees.