Should Actors Be Smoking At The Stagedoor ?

[AC126748]

Actors don't work for you. And when you meet them at the stage door, they're off the clock. That they even stop to sign an autograph or snap a photo is purely a courtesy on their part. You may personally find smoking distasteful, as I do, but it's ridiculous to expect someone who's essentially doing you a favor to act in a manner that you deem appropriate.

[Petralicious]

PC Culture run amock.

I do not smoke and dont like it, but the actor is outside so let him be.

[Jallenc32]

I bummed a cigarette from Raul Esparaza once before a concert he was performing at in DC. I've also had actors bum from me before shows. It is what it is.

[Kad]

broadwayboy223 said: "I'm curious to know who it was. If it's an actor in a musical they really shouldn't be smoking. "

Then you are going to be shocked by the number of musical theatre performers who smoke.

 

[Alex Kulak2]

Kinda unrelated, but I remember seeing a video for a tour of "Big Nate: The Musical", based off a popular series of children's books. Naturally, the show is for younger kids. They interview the guy playing Big Nate, and I kid you not, they interview him on his smoke break. They kind of edit it to try to hide it, but you can see him clapping a pack of Newport's and lighting a cigarette.

[MinnieFay]

Kad said: "broadwayboy223 said: "I'm curious to know who it was. If it's an actor in a musical they really shouldn't be smoking. "

Then you are going to be shocked by the number of musical theatre performers who smoke."

Exactly!  Most of the Broadway chorus kids I know live on a diet of coffee and cigs.

[A Canadian in NYC]

Whether an actor smokes or not is their prerogative.  In this day and age, everyone knows the dangers of doing so.  As long as they are respecting the restrictions placed on where you can or cannot smoke, then its none of our business.    

I'm super  curious now on which musical theatre performers smoke.  One part of me is impressed with them being able to do both - and the other part of me wants the shake them and say "what the hell are you doing to yourself?"!!

I know the addiction of nicotine all too well  - smoked for 20 years - quit for just over 20 now.   still crave one every once in a while......  Would never shame anyone for not being able to shake off the addiction - or any addiction.

[AC126748]

No idea if these people are current smokers, but at one point or another they all smoked:

Idina Menzel, Adam Pascal, Alice Ripley, Billy Porter, Tammy Blanchard, Michael Ball, Euan Morton, Alix Korey, Jarrod Emick (who was a really heavy smoker at one point--I used to see him around the stage door of BOY FROM OZ smoking in costume during the show), Chuck Cooper, Leah Hocking, Raul Esparza.

Patti LuPone was a heavy smoker for years, quitting when she became pregnant with her son. Laura Benanti was a smoker at one point (quite a heavy one) but has also quit.

[sbflyfan]

[BrodyFosse123]

Lady Gaga

[BrodyFosse123]

Judy Garland

[BrodyFosse123]

Jennifer Lopez

[BrodyFosse123]

Lana Del Rey

[BrodyFosse123]

Adele

[henrikegerman]

"Autograph fiends, they're not people. Those are little beasts that run around in packs like coyotes...They're nobody's fans. They're juvenile delinquents, they're mental defectives, they're nobody's audience. They never see a play or a movie even. They're never indoors long enough."

[Scarywarhol]

Actors should do whatever they damn well please at the stage door.

Generally speaking, the audience should go home.  

[SweetLips]

To ComdenGreen--What an amazing combination of talents they were and YOU have a wonderful way with words [at least on paper]. As a timid/shy chorus boy I learnt the hard way to defend myself, with my tongue, from a seasoned mature bitter,nasty old queen who was viscous to all who threatened his position on the line. Nothing to be proud of and I often regret the sharpness of my tongue.

And yes, to the young it's 'what's your problem?'--they are NEVER in the wrong and as for apologising ?

To SassySam--in a word---Disrespectful. Intelligence allows you to adjust to each situation and to change your greeting accordingly---you are not a robot.

5am--I'm off to the gym to be polite to a dumb-bell........x

[Jane2]

Talk about those you wouldn't expect to see smoking - I live down the street from one of the major ballet schools. It's cute to see all the little bun heads waddling like ducks on sixth avenue. They're also smoking and drinking sodas.

[Magdalicious]

Sounds mental ill to justify attacking person for saying "hi guy."  Maybe you was thrown out for being asshole of instead of just leaving like you say?

[Michael Kras]

This one is complicated for me. Smokers should absolutely be able to do what they want to their own bodies, but my issue is that the harmful effects of second-hand smoke have been widely researched and proven, so really, it's not the most considerate or respectful thing to smoke in close proximity to a non-smoker. 

Sure, the stage door fans don't have to be there and the actors aren't obligated to engage, but this isn't about that necessarily. It's about being considerate of those around you.

[Jane2]

"It's about being considerate of those around you."

I'd normally agree with that, but not in this case.

The actors who smoke are naturally tired after a show, couldn't smoke for several hours, and when the show is over, they're dying to get outside to grab a cigarette. They  haven't asked anyone to wait for them, so if you're there, fine. They can smoke if they want. I think it's unreasonable to expect them to hold off on that cigarette until they finish talking to fans who are out there.

[SweetLips]

Magdalicious said: "Sounds mental ill to justify attacking person for saying "hi guy."  Maybe you was thrown out for being asshole of instead of just leaving like you say?

The Bitch is back--thank God--thought it had maybe gone to a finishing school for aging old hags--obviously rejected, so welcome back.

R.E.S.P.E.C.T

 

 

[sorano916]

Jane2 said: ""It's about being considerate of those around you."

I'd normally agree with that, but not in this case.

The actors who smoke are naturally tired after a show, couldn't smoke for several hours, and when the show is over, they're dying to get outside to grab a cigarette. They haven't asked anyone to wait for them, so if you're there, fine. They can smoke if they want. I think it's unreasonable to expect them to hold off on that cigarette until they finish talking to fans who are out there."

There's an actor I know who doesn't smoke at the actual stage door line but does light up after he's done signing and taking photos. If people approach him after the line & he puts the cigarette behind him or to his side so it doesn't get into people's faces. And if they talk to him longer, he moves around so that the smoke doesn't go towards them. He's pretty considerate about it, especially when it's technically after he's done with stage door. It's their own time so they should be able to do what they want. 

[Robbie2]

IMO it is wrong...Rude and disrespectful in that close environment to the non smokers.

[HogansHero]

Robbie2 said: "IMO it is wrong...Rude and disrespectful in that close environment to the non smokers."

Not nearly as rude and disrespectful as the creeps who are annoying them after they have punched the clock so to speak. It is a self-inflicted close environment, and the lesson is quite simple: stay the F away.

[GavestonPS]

Robbie2 said: "IMO it is wrong...Rude and disrespectful in that close environment to the non smokers.

 

"

Outside? I know Manhattan is over-built, but I had no idea outdoor spaces were "close environments".

FTR, I know opera singers who smoke. Always astonishes me.