stage door culture- Page 2

[bk]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 1:55am

This sort of stage door behavior, as I've said elsewhere, is a product of today's generation. It was never like this, even six or seven years ago. And since this board is mostly populated by teens I don't think anyone is going to get an unbiased discussion.

It was a little more refined back in the day, and actually few people did it in the 60s and 70s - some, yes, but nothing like now. I know actors who have found other ways to leave the theater rather than have to deal with thirty minutes worth of insanity after working hard. One never had these kinds of crowds, EVER, not even for the biggest stars. When I saw Play It Again, Sam on Broadway, Woody just walked out the stage door, no one was there, and he went directly to his waiting limo. And that was the norm. Now - well, it's like everything else today. And I mean that in the nicest possible way :)

[etoile]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 2:21am

Lightguy, I liked the days when real theatre fans took the time to properly spell a performer's name.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 2:26am

Me too!

And since this board is mostly populated by teens

... it is?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 2:29am

I think this board is populated by mole people.

I get wanting to meet a performer and get your picture taken, but I've never understand what's so special about someone's signature.

[emo_geek]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 3:47am

Stage doors use to not scare me in the way the deeply do now.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 3:49am

It was never like this, even six or seven years ago. And since this board is mostly populated by teens I don't think anyone is going to get an unbiased discussion.

Neither of these statements has been my experience.

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 3:50am

Updated On: 5/5/09 at 03:50 AM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 3:51am

It's whatever suits the angriest person at the moment.

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 3:57am

Updated On: 5/5/09 at 03:57 AM

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 8:10am

"Someone mentioned Little Mermaid, and I think its a fantastic example. I went with a couple friends to the Little Mermaid stage door last week, who really wanted to meet Sherie Rene-Scott because she has always looked up to her and such, and there were HUNDREDS of small children who were screaming for the little boy who played flounder. It was rediculous how rude these children were to the other people who were there, wanting to meet their idols and such. "

I went with my school to TLM and after we were in front and they saw the stage door and thy all rushed over and they were pushing and shoving and screaming and it was so annoying, it was seriously like Adam and Anthony crazy. and this was just for the little kid.

[tazber]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 8:15am

They need to use stronger disenfectants to really get all the cultures growing there.

[EdmundOG]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 8:33am

I don't understand why anyone who's not a teenager waits at the stage door. I did in high school, but I do feel a bit silly doing it now.

[FosterChild]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 9:42am

"Everyone who purchases a ticket has as much right as anyone else to stage door, regardless of motive."

Can we all agree that it's more than a bit unsettling when people who have NOT seen the show repeatedly stagedoor? We've gone over this topic many times and this continues to be my one personal pet peeve. Rudeness is everywhere, so that's not really a surprise but don't take time away from people who did buy a ticket and most likely will only see a show once.

[into_the_woods2]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 9:56am

i have to second whoever said that the problem is that stagedoor is a verb

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 9:58am

"It's all about middle aged men getting autographs to sell on ebay!"

That's exactly right. When I saw Boeing-Boeing last month there were about 10-12 people waiting and only four of us had actually seen the show. The rest of the people were there with glossy 8x10s for Gina Gershon and Bradley Whitford to sign.

[Mealz1042]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 11:06am

I understand your point but it's comments like this that make this sound elitist: "there were HUNDREDS of small children who were screaming for the little boy who played flounder. It was rediculous how rude these children were to the other people who were there, wanting to meet their idols and such."

Seriously? I'm sure these kids had absolutely no intention of being rude, they wanted to meet flounder just as much as your friend wanted to meet Sherie Renee Scott. Is it their fault that they don't know who she is? I think that's really cute that they liked the show so much and even wanted to go after and meet the people who put it on.

That being said, I agree with what you are saying to some extent. Everyone has the right to stagedoor of course, it's the way its executed that is less than desirable. Let's be frank some of these fangirls are just nuts. I did want to meet Adam and Anthony during their run but those baracades scared me. Not only did I not want to get trampled but I also felt really really bad for those two and didn't want to bother them with one more person shoving a playbills in their faces.

But don't forget, "theatre people" can be just as rude. There have been several times when some excited out-of-towner wants to meet so-and-so and then take a picture. While the out-of-towner may not know the actor's real name, he or she enjoyed the performance and wanted to meet the person behind the scenes... then along comes the "regular" who thinks he or she is FRIENDS with the actor, keeps budding into the conversation, answers questions that the out-of-towner asked the actor, not that "theatre fan" and it's just very impolite and condescending to the person who innocently enjoyed the show.

So I'm kind of rambling here just wanted to comment that it goes both ways, it's not about WHO stagedoors its about HOW you stagedoor.

"Can we all agree that it's more than a bit unsettling when people who have NOT seen the show repeatedly stagedoor? "

YES! Yes, we can. Especially when said people think of it as a way to start a true friendship or worse a relationship. I mean of course there are exceptions. For instance if you saw the show and wanted to talk to an actor but didn't get to and were in the area, its okay to go back to said show and do that. Or if you are meeting up with friends who saw the show, I think that's okay too.

Updated On: 5/25/08 at 11:06 AM

[Marinacat]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 11:49am

This is like complaining that there are too many cars out on the road and traffic is a bitch, as you're driving to your weekend getaway.

[Gobstopper]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 12:55pm

I'm sorry, guys, but it's a show about a f***ing mermaid. What do you expect?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 1:00pm

Can we all agree that it's more than a bit unsettling when people who have NOT seen the show repeatedly stagedoor?

¡Sí, se puede!

[EdmundOG]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 3:55pm

Throwing more support to the "It's not a dang verb" crowd.

"Verbing weirds language." - Calvin

[Gingersnap2]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 4:18pm

This thread reminded me of a comment I heard a fan make at an of-Broadway show. The cast had attracted group of regulars who acted like they were "in" with the cast because of their "support" for the show. One afternoon, the ticket sales were pretty bad. One of the young women in this group of "regulars" declared how happy she was that the theatre was less than half filled because it meant that their favorite cast members would have more time for them at the stage door.

Talk about being supportive...wanting tickets to sell poorly just so they could hang out and pretend to be best friends with the cast for a few extra minutes.

I've seen good and bad at stage doors. I've seen little kids who are so sweet and in awe of meeting a favorite performer. I've seen pushy, rude adults. I've see the professional autograph guys. And I've seen young adults - most of them are females between 18-25 - who act like rowdy, vulgar trash.

It's not so much the use of the word "stagedooring" (I do sometimes), but the fact that some fans take it far too seriously and make a whole lifestyle out of it. I enjoy doing it, I've made some friends that way, and have some fun memories...but I can't imagine making it the focus of going to shows...and I've seen people do that. Updated On: 5/25/08 at 04:18 PM

[Weez]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 4:31pm

back in my day, it meant wealthy men who would send diamond bracelets backstage after the show. If you kept the bracelet, you belonged to him for as long as he wanted. If you returned the bracelet, you were a "good girl".

Really? How interesting. If only I had a stack of diamond bracelets to hand this weekend. *mourns* So many wonderfully talented performers, so little time...

[shh282]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 4:37pm

I've been at stagedoor for Wicked three times and the children there, usually 4-5 at a performance, are all quite darling and are in awe to meet the actors.

[amoni]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 7:50pm

""Yes...how dare these snotnosed brats think they can want to see their favorite actors at the stagedoor! How rude of them to push and yell a little bit? I mean, how old do they think they are...nine?

Exactly SirNotAppearing, so to make the OP happy, NEW RULE, all children 12 and under must stand in complete silence and only applaud in golf claps as the actors emerge.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 12:13am

All adults should, too!