Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/15
To help prevent future misunderstandings, here are a few reminders on “Stage Dooring” for some and an education for others:
1. THE ACTORS DO NOT OWE YOU A STAGE DOOR EXPERIENCE!!! (This is the most important)
2. Be patient, respectful and kind.
3. Bring a permanent marker for autographs. (Google the playbill prior to the show. If it is mostly black, you may want to bring a silver marker)
4. Respect other fans that are waiting. Everyone is just as eager and excited as you are.
5. If your favorite artist does not come out, understand that they probably had a very good reason for not doing so.
This article is perfection.
http://broadwayblack.com/you-thought-your-ticket-covered-meet-and-greet-your-bad/
I am so happy this new info that has never been covered in BWW now has a thread
I am glad someone finally said this.Some of those who "stagedoor" are worse than the prepubescent teenagers who went to Sinatra concerts at the Paramount. These are supposed adults who will step over people to get a stupid autograph. It is a stupid signature but people think it is the Holy Grail.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/15
Yes, but the relatively new thing of shaming someone on social media is just horrible. This actress was just protecting her health and she was accosted on the internet by some horrible person who felt entitled to meet her, get an autograph and photo. Crazy.
Finally? This has been said about a million times.
The part I don't understand is that no one has really been even talking about SD...and certainly not about demanding anything there. (Unless it's on a thread I'm not reading.
Oh, and number 5 is not right: they don't need a good reason....they just don't have to, just because they don't wanna.
Broadway Star Joined: 6/21/15
On a board like this, I think this thread is very much preaching to the choir, at least I hope so. It's akin to starting a thread telling people on this board to not use cellphones, talk, consume loud candy/food/drink, etc. during a show.
I also steer clear of cast who are done with stage door and/or those who are leaving who purposely avoided coming to the stage door crowd. It's important to respect actors' personal space and time, even if they have the generosity to have given you their time at stage door... I feel they should be left alone once stage door is done. I think its weird people think it's okay to bother actors after that.
Although by no means necessary nor part of their job description, the security can help by letting folks know who usually comes out/doesn't come out and who won't/might not be, so fans know whether to wait or not. Some of the better security guards are super nice and helpful to fans and I've always appreciated that extra little bit.
I've had stage door experiences that have elevated a mediocre night of theater into an incredible night or extend the awesomeness of an incredible night. Always super appreciative and would hate for some jerks to ruin it for the rest of us.
Featured Actor Joined: 10/16/10
Some stars are wonderful and generous with their audience - for example, Judith Light is super-friendly, loves meeting her audience at the stage door, and is a great actress as well.
Others wish to avoid the audience at all costs. For example, one star (who I won't name) at a recent off-Broadway opening night obviously didn't want to mingle with anyone in the theater lobby afterward. He immediately went with his husband to the empty room upstairs where the after-party was being held (room was empty since the other celebrities and audience members were still mingling.)
Broadway Star Joined: 7/13/08
dramamama611 said: "The part I don't understand is that no one has really been even talking about SD...and certainly not about demanding anything there. (Unless it's on a thread I'm not reading."
It's in the linked article. Someone ticked off that Erivo didn't stage door the other night posted so on her Instagram. Others have reacted and are now talking about the sense of entitlement.
Yes, I realize the reason for the article (or is it a blog?) but the reason to highlight it on the boards, when no one HERE has been doing this.
dramamama611 said: "Yes, I realize the reason for the article (or is it a blog?) but the reason to highlight it on the boards, when no one HERE has been doing this. "
You don't know that. These boards have been around for over 10 years.
I meant that no one has been bitching about actors lack of SD recently. I know it's come up.
I really want to give Cynthia Erivo a hug after that.
quizking101 said: "I really want to give Cynthia Erivo a hug after that.
"
Well you won't be able to give it to her at the stage door because she won't be there.
/jokes
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/8/16
slumdogdelaware said: "quizking101 said: "I really want to give Cynthia Erivo a hug after that.
"
Well you won't be able to give it to her at the stage door because she won't be there.
/jokes
"
^ Hilarious
I understand her frustration and she has every right to post whatever she wishes, but it's unfortunate that actors feel the need to so publicly address these types of people. That kind of person is clearly desperate for the attention that the stage door can provide and addressing him/her only feeds into that mentality.
dramamama611 said: "I meant that no one has been bitching about actors lack of SD recently. I know it's come up.
"
Right now, two posts above this one on the first page is someone bitching in the American Psycho stage door thread about how dare Benjamin Walker not come out the stage door, if Hugh Jackman and Bradley Cooper can do it when they're in shows.
Bitching about stage door comes up here all the time.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/15
^^^ Thank you. It just happened, it was relevant, the end.
Well I was gobsmacked when I read about the actor who brings to the SD a 'boombox' to entertain his 'fans' as he signs and smiles.
At least everyone else could slip away quietly.
"These are supposed adults who will step over people to get a stupid autograph. It is a stupid signature but people think it is the Holy Grail."
Unfortunately it is even more than signature now. It is also getting picture with performer to immediately put on FB - lol.
Anakela said: "dramamama611 said: "I meant that no one has been bitching about actors lack of SD recently. I know it's come up.
"
Right now, two posts above this one on the first page is someone bitching in the American Psycho stage door thread about how dare Benjamin Walker not come out the stage door, if Hugh Jackman and Bradley Cooper can do it when they're in shows.
Bitching about stage door comes up here all the time.
"
Ahhhh....thanks for pointing that out....I was totally NOT following that thread. Oy. (sorry for giving these boards too much credit.)
Broadway Star Joined: 11/10/15
between the stagedoor freaks and the whiny HAMILTON fans who can't afford to be, self-entitlement is truly running rampant in this country. we are regressing as a society and it is absolutely terrifying.
God bless you, Cynthia Erivo, as you have blessed us with your performance.
Broadway Star Joined: 6/21/15
SweetLips said: "Well I was gobsmacked when I read about the actor who brings to the SD a 'boombox' to entertain his 'fans' as he signs and smiles.
At least everyone else could slip away quietly."
You are talking about Zachary Levi. He is a complete sweetheart and extremely generous with his time. It actually allows any actor who doesn't want to deal with stage door to slip away while fans are distracted by Zach.
Sure, She Loves Me is a star studded cast, so yes, perhaps not everyone cares to meet Zach but you know you definitely have a chance to if you want to. And that's wonderful.
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/30/15
Unpopular opinion perhaps? I don't think it's that simple. Now, I don't think any performer is obligated to stage door and I can't remember getting angry at someone for not coming out. (I've gotten a little miffed at security sometimes when they won't tell you one way or the other if you can go home or not but the people who work the big theaters tend to be good about that.) That said, I think the expectation has been created that stage dooring is part of the experience, at least for a good deal of people. Not all theaters promote it but widely but I do think they've been fostering that expectation. In my experience, regular theatregoers are still pretty well behaved at the stage door. It's a lot of the younger fans and casual audience members who are attracted by "stars" who tend to be a little more... excitable. Maybe more rules need to be put in place and enforced beyond just having barricades?
Yes . One way to solve problem is honestly say who comes out and who does not. Add to that if someone does not sign and approximately when they come out. All they need to do is set up ground rules . After a show, unless we have to go to the restrooms, we are out and gone. We never did wait and see no reason to start now.
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