bway stars that don't exit through the stage door- Page 3

[Marguerite Chauvelin]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 1:04pm

Yeah, glad I'm not alone on that. I didn't really have trouble speaking to anyone else. But I had waited so long to see him perform, when he left the stagedoor, I felt like I couldn't do anything. He made it easier though, he was nice (if not a little rushed but of course he prob. had to meet Charlotte). :)

[WickedOne2]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 1:07pm

I recently saw The Pillowman and I now replace Billy Crudup with the nicest actor I have ever met (Kristin Chenoweth is the nicest actress). He was so sweet at the stage door making sure he signed everyone's playbill. He took a picture with me too :) Michael Stuhlbarg was very sweet and shy too. Jeff Goldblum came out pretty late, but he was very nice and quite talkative.

When I saw Glenglary Glen Ross, the only one I saw come out and sign playbills was Tom Wopat. Alan Alda darted directly to his car and did not stop.

A few weeks after DRS opened I met Norbert. He was very sweet, signed my playbill and took a picture with me.

As always, most of the cast of RENT is very sweet and accomodating. Last week Cary, Karmine, Matt and Kelly hung around for some time. Destan and Justin darted off pretty quickly. Frenchie has been known to be difficult.

Overall, I have had great experiences with most casts at the stage door.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 1:07pm

Well, yeah - it's usually the ones about whom I'm most excited... then, I just can't speak - not even so much because I'm "starstruck," but because I'm afraid of people I don't know. And these are *famous* people that I don't know. Double the nerve-wracking nature.

But anyway, that's like what I did when I met Julia Murney! I had waited so long to finally see her perform. My mom was with me. She was like "Go, I didn't wait here for nothing!" She had my camera, and so Julia signed my playbill and then we went to take a picture. Right after I was just like "thanksomuchyouweregreat!" and ran off. I don't know why I was scared.

It's always comforting when they try to make it easier; and it's not at all difficult to tell how nervous I get. I get that sort of "it's okay, I'm not going to bite you!" look sometimes.

Updated On: 8/22/05 at 01:07 PM

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 1:09pm

"How would you like it if you were leaving a long day at work and there were 100+ people outside asking you to smile, pose and sign things for them?"

I would love it! This is one of the many reasons I would still become a performer...the fans.

But if I did need to be somewhere quickly, I would exit a different way, so I would not look nasty by passing my fans. I find that to be polite.

Updated On: 8/22/05 at 01:09 PM

[idinarocksmysocks!510]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 1:49pm

It can be dissapointing when stars don't come out of stage door, but usually they want to go home and relax, you know and not to too much before the next day. Maybe not. For instance after seeing WICKED for the second time (i hadn't met Idina the first time eighther btw) I waited outside the gershwin stage door but other people said she came out another door with taye and told people that she had to go home and rest. And I totally understand that. It's not an uncommon thing. I do know that when I saw HAIRSPRAY a ton of the cast came out. I dunno?

[JasonM12480]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 2:02pm

Keep in mind that these people generally have to catch the subway home to their apartment, just like everyone else. They're tired, sweaty, and it requires extra energy to smile, pose, and be accosted.

I had a great stage door experience when I saw everyone's FAVORITE musical, "Brooklyn" last October when it was still in previews. I feel like I handled myself properly, and didn't actually forcefully approach anyone - I stood their patiently, and let them come to ME, which I think is the kinder thing to do. Now, given, the theatre emptied very quickly after the show, and not many people (except a few wealthy ladies in fur coats) stayed around to see the actors. But I actually had a 5 minute very pleasant conversation with Kevin Anderson, and Eden Espinosa was just as nice. Plus, I had the good fortune of getting to meet the two composers, AND John McDaniel, who stood and talked to myself and my friends for over 15 minutes after the show. They were so pleased people came to see their work and enjoyed it (I know, gasp), that they were just happy to chat like normal people. I think it's when fans have to do the whole "let me press my cheek to yours so that we look like we've been friends since birth" thing that the actors want to run in the other direction. They're normal people, like anyone else - only difference is they're making $1500 a week to do what they love - and most of us can only dream of such happiness and success.

Remember - they have to hop on that subway and go home, too. So practice safe, intelligent stage door manners.

[idinarocksmysocks!510]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 2:06pm

John McDaniel, isn't he one of Rosie's friends? Then if it is, I have stuff against him. nuff said don't ask!

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 2:08pm

Couple things...

Em, you def have been getting better with shyness, as you know I am very proud of you

Di, I'm def a person that defends an actor's right to not sign, etc, but I think you're going too far to call fans at the stage door freaks. Yes, it's nice to get a picture or autograph or just to chat, but sometimes we just want to show our appreciation and let them know that we think they gave a great performance, you really wouldn't want to be told that your work is appreciated? I think there's something wrong w/ that personally...

Two "embarassing" stage door moments for me. One, after Little Women(both of these was months ago when I was much shyer than I am now), I told John Hickok that he gave a great performance tonight...I had just gone to the matinee. And at the DRS signing, the first time I ever talked to Greg Jbara(very funny b/c I know him very well and talk to him all the time now) he asked me how I was and I couldn't think of anything to say so I was just like...good, how are you? Lol, I was pretty embarassed.

Great experiences...hmm...there's a couple nice ones...I told Victoria Clark it would be a travesty if she didn't win the tony, she was very humble and said who knows, she hasn't gotten to see all the performances, etc. and I was like oh I have, and she was shocked and very impressed that I had seen almost all the shows currently playing and asked me about some. At Spelling Bee I told Jose Llana that I've seen him in 4 of his 5 shows, and he was my very first Angel in Rent, and I still think he's the best I've seen, he was like wow, that's such a long time ago, and said it really meant a lot. At Sweet Charity, I happened to be wearing a Wicked shirt and Denis O'Hare was like Wicked! yaay, I love that show, and we talked about it for 5 minutes. And Jewtopia was also great, esp. considering one of the things they said all Jews carry at all times was SPF 45 which I do carry all the time and was sitting in my purse. The actor/writers were very amused and personable and one wrote "Jew Rock" on my playbill, hehe.

[idinarocksmysocks!510]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 2:11pm

Is Di, refering to me (like idina's nick name) because i didn't call fans at the stage door freaks.

[idinarocksmysocks!510]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 2:15pm

nvm i'm sry scratch the last post i made!

[Di2]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 4:29pm

I didn't mean to insult, sorry guys.

But everyone knows there are those groupies out there that are a tad intense who get ANGRY when actors do not sign or even come out the stage door and that is unfair. I have met people that travelled all over the country to see my old show, sometimes, 30 times. That's a tad excessive.

Then they come here and complain about someone's poor performance the night before without even knowing the person or his/her situation. Maybe he/she felt sick, someone had cramps, etc etc. maybe someone has an ill family member, divorce, baby at home, etc etc.


That's all I meant.

My apologies.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 4:46pm

Although actors and actresses should do it out of common courtesy to their fans, I certainly wouldn't be offended if they didn't. They actually have lives outside of the Broadway World! Gasp!

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 4:59pm

AS for the original question: They may not feel like signing/talking all the time. If you were doing 8 shows a week, you might not feel like it either.

Embarrassing stage door moments: There's a few, but the REALLY embarrassing one was after I saw Rent for the first itme. It was my first Bway show, and I was extremely shy at the stage door. I met Cary Shields and Kelly Karbacz. I didn't really gt to talk much to Cary, because he was kind of bombarded with people. (It was his birthday). Kelly was being far less crowded by people, so I attempted to talk to her. I was wayyyyyy too shy, an dI kind of started mumbling. My mother had to rescue me because I just could not talk. Kelly was still very sweet and talked to me and I eventually was able to talk.

Good experiences: I'm still pretty shy at stage doors, but I've never really had a bad experience meeting a cast. Times that stick out: Rent (both times), and Lennon. The Lennon cast was incredibly nice and friendly.

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 5:59pm

I understand if actors are tired and don't want to see people. I wouldn't get mad about it - it's human nature.

Most embarassing stage door story: I was talking to Jenn Gambatese after a performance of All Shook Up. She had been out that Friday, and Cara Cooper had went on. I told Jenn I was glad she was better, and she asked me what I thought of Cara. I don't know why, but I blurted out, "She was fine, but, Jenn, I like you better." Next in line to sign my Playbill: Cara Cooper. It was embarassing.

[lfae]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 7:39pm

I never assume anyone will actually leave via the stage door when I am there. That way I'm always pleasantly surprised when they do and not let down when they don't. Last week, I saw my favourite actress in a play, and wasn't going to hang around but then thought, might as well - I met her after the 2nd and 3rd things I saw her in, but had no luck after the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th *g* (not that I actually waited all of those times though!) anyway, she actually did come out this time, so I was able to tell her how much I'd enjoyed her in a few past shows, as well as the current one. She was very gracious - when asking people to sign, I always begin with something like, "sorry to bother you..."we do things a little differently here. There's no crowds and no barriers.

I love meeting folks at stage doors but I much prefer meeting the ones I know and telling them how wonderful they were, and catching up a mite, more than meeting the ones who I only know by sight and feeling all dorky and shy as I ask them to sign my programme.

[bwayfan4ever]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 7:43pm

I have to be polite toward Ro when I see Fiddler in October!!1

When I saw her in Seuss, I was WAY OUT OF COMTROL1!!!! She was nice enough to sign the Tony playbvill for me but I felt like such crap fter that ZI HAD TO SENDan apoligy (spelling) letter to her!!!


If you get to know her aas a person I bet she was nice, but that day considering she had done her show in the moring then Seuss in the afternoon she was not in a good mood. Plus she was sick!!

[Magdalene]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 8:38pm

I love it when I can meet a actor who I really admire, and just saw in a show, but I do NOT get my knickers in a twist if they don't come out---I just consider it a bonus, having be thoroughly entertained by the show!

[thejcm]

Posted: 8/23/05 at 2:29am

I've been upset a few times when I didn't get to meet an actor, mainly because I would've loved to tell them how great they did. (Mimi is my favorite character in RENT and both times I saw it Jaime Lee Kirchner and Tallia Brinson walked right past me). But I didn't chase them down, I just let it go. I understand that some people don't want to sign (which has already been said, so I'll end right there)

As far as embarassing stories, I totally made a goof out of myself when I finally met Alice Ripley after Tommy in July. I started talking to her and flat-out gushed to her for about 5 minutes. I had to tell her how amazing she was and yadda yadda. It's funny to think about now, but I get star-struck really easy.

[moulin724rouge]

Posted: 8/23/05 at 2:42am

I've met sherie after DRS b4 so you were probably just on a night where she was really tired or something.... but i know how you feel. I was really upset that i never met tim curry after spamalot it sucks when they dont come out tho... although most actors dont come out after matinees to save energy for the night show