Worst stagedoor- Page 2

[DancNdaMoonlite]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 6:40pm

I don't have a bad one, so heres a good one.

I saw Drowsy Chaperone with Jess925 on the night where one of the producers or someone got married. So that whole thing was pretty cool. We got everyone, including Sutton's, autographs and some pictures. The guy who played Edna in Hairspray in LA (I'm blanking on his name) was there so we got his autograph. And we got the bride's autograph and then the NY times interviewed me and Jess about what we thought of the wedding and got some pictures of us.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 6:48pm

the worst thing i have ever seen...was that after i saw Wicked...there were a bunch of screaming pre-teens at the stage door...harrassing the actors from the show...who aren't even really famous...i was like "im leaving!" and i love to stage door the shows i go to see. Even when i saw Jessica Simpson, her fans were more respectful.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 6:49pm

i was like "im leaving!"

Such a profound statement! Just like, "I had a dream"

[cubbiegirl]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 6:58pm

"harrassing the actors from the show...who aren't even really famous"

You mean members of the ensemble? I think it is great that people recognize and talk to them. They are wonderful actors in their own right, even if not as famous as the stars.

[MeleeQ]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 7:12pm

Crazy stage doors SCARE me. When the actors come out people just MOB them. I'm always the one standing quietly at the end of the barricades waiting and wondering WHY people seem to think that screaming and waving their programs will make people come down the line faster.

[PJ]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 7:16pm

The stage door at the Gershwin has drastically calmed down over the last year. When Kristin and Idina were in it together...sheesh.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 7:18pm

I don't go to stage doors, but my guess would be most are bad because they are full of crazy, lunatic stalkers who feel just because they bought a ticket to a show, that gives them a right to harass actors (who have finished their jobs) and force them to have their pictures taken with losers.

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 7:25pm

but my guess would be most are bad because they are full of crazy, lunatic stalkers who feel just because they bought a ticket to a show, that gives them a right to harass actors (who have finished their jobs) and force them to have their pictures taken with losers.

--

That is the exact explanation of the WICKED Stage door. I've never seen such lunatics before, only at the WICKED stage door.

[Wicked_fan]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 7:25pm

OR South FL Marc, some people (myself) go to meet the actor, congratulate them on a performance well done, possibly get an autograph and picture to remember the occasion, for some people they don't even need that...they just go to tell them good job. I consider this a part of their job, being on stage puts them in the public eye meaning you will get fans, and you want to be respectable to people who come and support you and basically pay you for performing. maybe not a part of their job, but one of the perks/not perks that comes with it.

ok, onto my experience, I've only had 2 experiences with stage doors...

First one was with Wicked, early january last year, right in the middle of the threats against Idina and Taye and right before Idina left, so it was f*ing insane. Everyone was really nice, I got pictures of (not with) JLT, Michelle Federer, and I even had a nice chat with Joey Mac, but before Idina came out there was a whole speech given about how you're not to touch, hug, take a picture with Idina, you can only get an autograph and take a picture OF her. Hm, I guess understandable... she seriously got through the line so quickly, she like whipped through there...

my second experience was good. I saw Brooklyn, and I got a picture and to talk to everyone there...they were all soooo nice too. There were about 10 of us there overall (probably cause not too many people enjoyed the show) so it was very laid back, no screaming or whatever.

Updated On: 12/12/05 at 07:25 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 7:27pm

but my guess would be most are bad because they are full of crazy, lunatic stalkers who feel just because they bought a ticket to a show, that gives them a right to harass actors (who have finished their jobs) and force them to have their pictures taken with losers.

--

That is the exact explanation of the Gershwin's Stage door. I've never seen such lunatics before, only at the WICKED stage door.
Updated On: 12/12/05 at 07:27 PM

[RENThead414]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 7:28pm

any stagedoor involving wicked and/or idina and/or it being a weekend is bound to be insane lol

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 7:36pm

This was one of my first posts on this board, almost 2 years ago!
Worst Stagedoor Experience Ever

[elphieisperky]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 7:39pm

My worst encounter would probably also have to be the most humiliating moment of my life. I was at See What I Wanna See, loved the show, and was hoping to stay at the "stage door" (or lobby, in this case). I have slight connections with Idina through my grandma, so I was able to go backstage and have a nice long convo with her when she was in Wicked. But this time dear old grandma and I saw See What I Wanna See, and we both waited in the lobby for her to come out. Once she does, my grandma and I go up to her, and we tell her our "connection", she thinks it's cool, is very nice to us, then signs autographs. So here comes the scary part: My grandma, who is the sweetest person in the world, and loves to hug people, goes right up to MY IDOL literally jumps on her, and gives her a huge hug. Idina looks shocked, and I just stand there dying. The one time my wonderful grandma hugs someone in public, it's Idina Menzel!!! I've never told anyone besides my friends this story before, so feel honored :)

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 7:42pm

oh...i didn't mean the ensemble...i think the actors in the ensemble are amazing...i mean the leads are not really famous...i don't know anyone who knows who Shoshana Bean is outside of this website.

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 7:46pm

"but before Idina came out there was a whole speech given about how you're not to touch, hug, take a picture with Idina"
That is so sad that someone actually has to make a statement like that. Wicked fans piss me off to no extent. They practically think Idina is a god. Okay enough ranting

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 7:48pm

Ack, broadwaystar. And shockingly enough, it involves Wicked. All of these Wicked horror stories are making me reconsider stage dooring when I see the show in Feb.

I have one more "bad"/embarrassing story:

When I saw "In My Life" early in previews, I stagedoored with my friends, and we were having a nice chat with David Turner. Out of nowhere, someone pushes me HARD from behind, sending me flying. I turn around and the elderly man who had pushed me is giving me the evil eye.

Me (mumbling): WEll, that was rude.
David: Ah, don't worry about him.
Me: He still shouldn't have pushed me.
David: He pushed you??
Me: Yup. *odd looks at the guy from all around*

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 8:03pm

Well like I said dancingthrulife04, it was almost two years ago and I'm sure things are different now
But that's the only time I've ever been injured from a stagedoor experience, that natsy bruise was on my leg for a week!

[Feathah]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 8:06pm

I used to stagedoor all the time but in the last three years or so, not so much. Don't get your hopes, be considerate and chances are your experience will be a positive one.

When the original cast of Aida was still around the stagedoor often got pretty ugly. Heather Headley often did not come out and when she did she had two giant bodyguards with her. I heard all kinds of nasty things said about her when she either didn't come out or the fans were unhappy with their brief meeting. Sorry but I don't know how comfortable I'd be having 50+ people waiting for me after work!

Adam Pascal used to come out and meet fans afterwards almost all the time. Then he and his wife had their baby and he would skip the stagedoor and get straight into a car. Again, lots of nasty remarks. If you spent every night away from your family you might not be so eager to stay and meet total strangers when you could be home with your new baby, too!

[jv92]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 8:10pm

It was a rainy afternoon the April after Hairspray opened and I almost got knocked down by some...yes I can't think of a better word...bitch with her umbrella. Yeah, that wasn't fun.

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 8:15pm

The worst was after Wicked in December '03. Not because of the crowd (there were, like, 3 people there) or the actors, but simply because the weather was atrocious. A cop came out and said that no one would be coming out to sign, which was more than understandable. If anyone remembers that year, winds were horrible and it was snowy and freezing. It was actually kind of a relief because we got to leave and go inside, hahah.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 8:19pm

A good story (well, two), from RENT, to counter my bad ones:

The first time I saw RENT, I was (kind of) talking to Kelly Karbacz. My mom mentioned to her that it was my first Broadway show, and she was absolutely delighted. She just started talking "Oh, cool! Did you like it? Good! I'm glad. Come back soon..." etc. We took a picture together and she left.

2nd time at RENT:
I brought the aforementioned picture with me, and rather stupidly (or so I thought) showed it to Kelly. I wasn't going to ask her to sign it or anything, I was just showing it to her.
She saw it, and went "Oooh, for me?!" Totally not expecting that, I went "Sure..." which made her think I didn't want her to take it. When reassured that I was fine with her taking the picture, Kelly went "Thanks, I love it!" and left.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 8:22pm

Brooke Shields took pictures with me in a blizzard!!! she is the best...and even tho i understand Adam Pascal probably wanted to be with his wife and newborn child...when you are an actor i think it's also understandable and it would be horrible not to have anyone waiting for you after the show. If i were an actor i would always be nice to the people that go and pay money to see me onstage...probably i'd be bothered if people who didn't see the show would wait for me after the show though.

[VivaBohemia]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 8:31pm

This didnt happen to me but its an interesting story.

Back when Drew Lachey was in Rent, we were standing outside waiting for the evening show, but we were there for Lottery so we were also there as people were stagedooring from the Matinee show. Out walks Frenchie Davis, bundled up, and talking to someone. This young girl (I would say 10 or 11,MAYBE) Walks up to her with her play bill out and says "You were my favorite on American Idol, can I have your autograph?" She was so polite, and her mom was standing a little ways away. Frenchie looked at her and just said "No, I cant." and walked away.

The poor kid walked over to her mom and was in tears, but calm. I felt SO bad.

Her mom got her completely calm, but you could tell she had been crying. Out comes Drew Lachey. Now, let me the one to say, I was expecting mass hysteria with Drew Lachey being in Rent, but unlike Mel B and Jai Rodrigues, who had a barrier where they could stand and sign stuff without being IN the crowd, Drew had nothing. He just walked out, which I kind of liked. Two girls approached him, and he was nice, took pictures and things, and the mom and daughter who were standing next to us by then were watching.

Her mom said "See. He's signing things, go ask." So she did.

Drew was so nice to her, signed her playbill and her shirt, and took a picture, AND talked to her for like 5 minutes AND gave her a hug.

Needless to say, her bad expierience turned out to be really awesome.

I'm also one of those people that don't expect actors to talk to you, that's their choice. I've been lucky enough to have some really fun times. However, when it comes to kids, especially when there really isn't alot of people around, which there wasn't, I really couldn't understand the rude way She went about it. And if she really didn't want to sign anything, she could have at least said thank you for the comment and been polite about her having to go somewhere. That's happened to me plenty of times, it's not that difficult.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 8:34pm

Frenchie can actually be quite nice sometimes. I don't imagine why she was so rude to a little kid.


Curious question: Was that January 25th? I just remember a vaguely similar situation.

Updated On: 12/12/05 at 08:34 PM

[MeleeQ]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 8:39pm

Dancingthrulife- Isn't Kelly an absolute sweetheart? She is quite honestly one of the nicest people I've ever met.

My Kelly story:
I knew a bit about Kelly from someone over Livejournal (who I'm now quite good friends with), when I first saw her in But I'm A Cheerleader at NYMF (I never got to see her in Rent, due to the fact that I only just moved to the city in September, and getting to the city used to be a real ordeal). I saw the show opening night via cancellation line and loved it. The next day there was a promotional performance (just a few numbers) for the show at the Virgin record store in Union Square, which I went too. During the show I had a long, fun discussion with the woman who'd helped me out at the cancellation line the previous night... who turned out to be Kelly's mother! After the show, her mother introduced us and I said a quick hello to Kelly and told her how much I loved the show and how I wanted to come back again, and she was all "Oh awsome! Yes! Come see it!". So... a week and a half later I finally come back to see the show (on closing night), after trying and failing cancellation almost every performance. After the show I waited to say "Good job" and all that to everyone. I'd only met Kelly for a few minutes a week and half before, and I figured she probably wouldn't remember who I was. Boy, was I wrong. She comes out of the stage door, and before I can say anything she sees me, gets all excited and "You came! Yay!", then proceedes to grab me, hug me, and give me a kiss on the cheek. I've seen her a few times since then, and every time she has been so incredibly nice to me I can't believe it.