Stage Door Etiquette

Some people only go to the show to collect their signatures. It was like 'See What I Wanna See': a beautifully crafted musical that had its atmosphere ruined by a bunch of middle school girls in orange sweatpants and "I <3 Idina" shirts screaming every five seconds. And it's so sad because it ruins the experience for others.

If I have a wonderful experience at the stage door, I'm always sure to post it. Otherwise, I don't because it has NOTHING, I repeat - NOTHING - to do with the show itself.

A good story: Stage-doored for Maria Friedman last night and waited over an hour in the cold. Eventually Hector, the sweetest doorman alive at the Marquis, brought us inside to wait for her and she came down apologizing. I kept saying not to, that this is an honor, and she kept saying, "No, no, it's not, you and I are of the same breed." She talked to us for about a half an hour, signed her CD that I brought, my WIW poster and took a picture with me. When I told her that I'd seen her London but had missed her in WIW both times I came to see the show, she said, "Oh, you gorgeous boy, give me your number. I'm going to get you some tickets to the show so you can see me in it!" And sure enough, she took my number. An absolute doll.

---

Because if Adam Pascal didn't kiss me, then he didn't sing well. DUH, Bobby. I mean, why do you always ask these questions with such OBVIOUS answers?

---

Maria Friedman is one of the most gracious, charming and unpretentious ladies one could ever hope to meet. To say nothing of most talented.

"middle school girls in orange sweatpants and "I <3 Idina" shirts screaming every five seconds"

As a fan of that show, and of Idina as a performer, I don't know which is more distressing -

1. That you and I witnessed the same performance with the girls in the tracksuits and shirts - in which case - we had bad luck...

or the even more repulsive alternative...

2. That it happened more than one time.

---

Thank you bobbybubby, I wonder at this too. I also wonder if a lot of these people who wait at the stage door realize just how bad their behavior can be at times. They often talk about how rude the performers were or how rude other people were but I'm sure they don't realize how nasty their own behavior can be. The performers do not owe it to people to come out and become best pals with everyone in line. And then the judgement if a performer isn't down on thier knees signing 20 autographs for everyone in line.

---

Theatergoers who are influenced by the stage door manners of actors really need to think about their priorities.

Updated On: 1/5/06 at 04:15 PM

I'd never post a story about an actor being rude because I don't know what kind of day, week, month, whatever they've had. I don't want to judge people based on a few minutes of fairly empty conversation or a smile that may or may not have been "fake" or by the fact that they didn't stop to sign at all or signed quickly or WHATEVER.

If someone is nice to me, however, that's an entirely different story, I will tell the entire world.

Also I guess, living in Pittsburgh all my life and stagedooring and NY theatre in general being an entirely new experience for me, I EXPECT the actors to ignore me. I mean, if I had just worked my arse off onstage for three hours, and sometimes for the second time that day, I would certainly be a bit short with people at the stagedoor. This actually works for me because when a performer is nice to me, I feel extremely honored that they went out of their way for me and write them a letter telling them how amazing they are.

Btw, that is a GREAT story iluvtheatretrash.

Geez, Bobby, what sort of fangirl do you think I am? There was no tongue, sir!

For the record, since this is posted on a board, it was just a friendly kiss on the cheek, y'all.

---

Ugh, Magdalene, that's really repulsive. I certainly hope "so-and-so" didn't come out the stage door and give them the autographs to which they felt oh-so-entitled.

Too funny about them "mock-cheering" Mike Nichols! Idjits.

When I was at the Spamalot stage door, people were asking Hank Azaria to do Simpsons voices, which I thought was pretty rude in the way people were asking him (they were calling out to him to "do Moe/Apu/etc"). Amazingly, he actually humored them, but I was embarrassed on behalf of my fellow theatergoers who apparently think Hank Azaria is a trained seal.

---

I only had a few moments with Maria Friedman at the Marquis stagedoor - but she looked me in the eye, flashed me a brilliant smile, and thanked me profusely for wishing her well. She is a grand lady, onstage and offstage!

PS - I wish I had greeted her at the stagedoor, too, when she was doing PASSION.

Jo

Updated On: 1/6/06 at 07:18 AM

i usually require sexual favors from performers at the stage door before i reward them with a decent review. i mean please, everyone knows how powerful the boards are, so if they want that good word of mouth, they're gonna have to earn it with more than some pretty notes!

---