Dear Evan Hansen Stage Door

[ethan231h]

Michael Park tweeted Sunday he was gonna stop coming out for a while "people just dont get it" he said.

[LizzieCurry]

ethan231h said: "Michael Park tweeted Sunday he was gonna stop coming out for a while "people just dont get it" he said."

Yes, I pasted a link to that tweet in this thread earlier today.

[CT2NYC]

I've never done the stage door of any show, but I've seen how crazy it's gotten at DEH. At this point, it just seems so impersonal. I'd much rather use Twitter to connect with Broadway actors. Many of them are pretty active on there, and, more often then not, they'll respond with a "like," at least, and, sometimes, with an actual reply. To me, that's much more meaningful.

[greenifyme2]

I cant seem to find again it but the Sunday before the Tonys someone was streaming a live video of Ben at stage door after the show and it looked totally fine. People were nice and patient, making minor small talk (you were great, good luck at the Tonys, hey guess what it's my birthday - happy birthday, stuff like that) and didn't hear any screaming. So don't read these comments and assume it is all insanity.  It's too bad a few people may ruin this for everyone else though.

[Nicole7579]

I'm honestly sad about this and appalled that the stage door is this bad now. I know the Tuesday after the Tonys it looked fine but geez people! 

Ive staged door this show after each time I've gone (three) and the crowd was so calm and energetic but nice to all the actors. The first time I went we were able to get pictures and talk to each and every person. To hear that the actors feel harrassed at this point is sad. I remember when Lin said the stage door was no longer safe for him or the fans and he stopped doing them. That's insane 

[poisonivy2]

I know in the past some actors have sent out pre-signed playbills to fans. IDK why DEH doesn't do that. It might thin the crowd a lot, especially as some are now just autograph sellers.

[Nycat63]

poisonivy2 said: "I know in the past some actors have sent out pre-signed playbills to fans. IDK why DEH doesn't do that. It might thin the crowd a lot, especially as some are now just autograph sellers.

 

"I've been here since Friday and have noticed far more autograph sellers than ever before.  Maybe that will die down again after the post-Tony period.  

 

[herewegoabc]

I was at stage door Saturday night and was confused when I saw Michael's Tweet the next day. It was very crowded, but at least on my end, everyone was relatively calm and respectful. There wasn't pushing or shouting or anything like I've seen others in this thread say they've witnessed. I was at the end of the barrier closest to the theatre doors (further from the actual stage door). The only ones who came out to sign were Rachel and Michael. JLT, Kristolyn, Michael Lee Brown and Colton Ryan (neither of whom were on that night) came out and left without signing. After Rachel and Michael finished signing, security said that was it for the night - he'd announced before anyone came out that Ben was gone for the night (even though I do not believe that was actually the case).

Anyway, I didn't see anything that would have triggered Michael's Tweet, so I was confused. However, according to others on Twitter, the problem might have actually been an appearance by Lin Manuel Miranda. People claim that he was either at stage door or walking by the stage door and that people lost their minds. Since I was on the other end away from the door, I guess it's possible that I missed that. It seems like I would have noticed a commotion, though, and I definitely didn't.

Like I said, though, from my view, everyone was respectful, polite, and just genuinely happy to be there. I didn't even see many autograph sellers- unlike the Hamilton stagedoor with the OBC, which became nearly impossible to access due to the autograph sellers. DEH was extremely crowded, though, but it seemed to be mostly fans who had seen the show either that night or at least recently.

[froote]

Lin saw Bandstand across the street that night so it's very likely people saw him and caused a commotion. When I saw DEH a few weeks ago I was waiting in the box office and the people in the SRO line started screaming because they saw someone across the street. No idea who.

[Margo319]

I think it's best if they just don't do the stage door at all.  For the safety of the cast and the fans.  And, like Mike Faist said, they are not mental health counselors, and people don't seem to understand that they are not their characters.  Those actors carry enough, to spend hours listening to kids about their experiences is very unfair and honestly cruel.  

[greenifyme2]

Margo319 said: "I think it's best if they just don't do the stage door at all.  For the safety of the cast and the fans.  And, like Mike Faist said, they are not mental health counselors, and people don't seem to understand that they are not their characters.  Those actors carry enough, to spend hours listening to kids about their experiences is very unfair and honestly cruel.  "

 

I sadly agree. When I was there on Sunday, the Connor understudy was trying to get into the stage door. I happened to be standing right there, said hi and made a small joke about how they need to work on their secret doorknock so he doesn't get stuck outside. He couldn't have been nicer. But then this girl came over and started babbling to him about how her experience in middle school was "hell", like he would care. I really felt bad for the guy and was relieved for him when they finally let him in. 

[poisonivy2]

Another way to look at this is that the theater management people need to have a plan B when things go off the rail. Let's face it, DEH is a musical that brings out a lot of heightened emotions in the audience, and it's meant to do so. It wouldn't be selling out night after night if it didn't hit such a chord with the audience. It also probably drains the cast to have to do this 8 times a week with no breaks in intensity. It's become a sensation among a lot of adolescents who identify with Evan Hansen but maybe don't know the rules of theatre etiquette and also (being adolescents) have poor self control. They really need to maybe have signed playbills, or sell signed buttons and whatever else. Right now they just seem to be winging it and that's not good. 

It's also not fair to the many fans who are respectful and want to express their appreciation for such a wonderful show. 

[EM55]

So wait a show about a teen living a cultivated life on social media to mask social issues caused by mental illness is garnering a fan base of predominately teens clammering aggressively to get the attention of actors (some the age of their parents I am sure, actors who are just doing their job, raising their own kids out of the spotlight and who owe nothing to anyone when they leave that stage!) so said teens can post the interaction and create a cultivated life on social media? Wow. Never saw that comin.

[10086Sundays]

I think handing out anything to fans at the stage door would turn into a disaster.  The employee giving them out would get mobbed and possibly hurt.  People would fight over them, especially if they ran out. They'd fight about whether someone actually saw the show and should get one.  Once word got out they were doing it, demand would be come too great. Plus, autograph sellers would take them to sell on line.

Not to mention the cast already signs enough Playbills to deal with written requests, it'd be unfair to ask them to do more.

[SuperTr00per]

Does anyone know what happened at the stage door last night?

[Margo319]

Someone jumped the barrier.  My God, any person on the street could have had a weapon and hurt people.  It's so frightening now.  The majority of people are GOOD fans and RESPECTFUL fans but there are always bad ones who are willing to scare the living hell out of someone for...what?  A selfie?  An autograph?  Really? I am shocked there is not more security in open places like that.  Who was that woman that just shot by an obsessed fan?  I think she was on The Voice?  They need to shut down the stage door before someone gets seriously hurt.  

[Eohriner17]

Margo319 said: "Someone jumped the barrier.  My God, any person on the street could have had a weapon and hurt people.  It's so frightening now.  The majority of people are GOOD fans and RESPECTFUL fans but there are always bad ones who are willing to scare the living hell out of someone for...what?  A selfie?  An autograph?  Really? I am shocked there is not more security in open places like that.  Who was that woman that just shot by an obsessed fan?  I think she was on The Voice?  They need to shut down the stage door before someone gets seriously hurt.  

 

"

This happened last night? Or the night before? The 20th? If it was last night, I'm suprised that anyone came out...

[ClumsyDude15]

Every time I've walked by the stage door, security is ever present and vigilant as the actors sign - in fact and you can see it in this video how the security guard will follow Ben down the line and make sure he is present the entire time. I'm sure the whole thing was handled by security fairly quickly, and if nothing else, it means that they are on it and need to continue to be. Yes, the situation with Christina Grimmie does make things a little uneasy, but if anything it has made it essential to up your security (which it seems Dear Evan Hansen is very much prepared). 

[Eohriner17]

froote said: "Maybe the cast should stop coming out. In the latter months of Hamilton OBC they basically stopped altogether.

 

"

I'm hoping the cast doesn't do that, it would be a shame. I do hope they maybe stop for like a week to send a message to ppl about respect at the stage door, maybe they should put a message on twitter or something. It's not healthy or fair to the cast for them to be treated as such but there are many people who are completely respectful at the stage door, as well. I don't want the cast to think everyone at the stage door is going to act so disrespectful. 

[Call_me_jorge]

So I went to the show yesterday afternoon and I've got to say the stage door was far more intense than it was for Hello Dolly. Which is not shocking for how popular the show has gotten. Only Rachel came out, plus Michael lee brown and Colton Ryan. Rachel looked genuinely afraid to be out there and I felt extremely sorry for her. I agree with another poster who said the stage door has become impersonal. I'd rather just tweet or mail the actors. 

[froote]

Eohriner17 said "I'm hoping the cast doesn't do that, it would be a shame. I do hope they maybe stop for like a week to send a message to ppl about respect at the stage door, maybe they should put a message on twitter or something. It's not healthy or fair to the cast for them to be treated as such but there are many people who are completely respectful at the stage door, as well. I don't want the cast to think everyone at the stage door is going to act so disrespectful. "

It would be a shame but the situation is clearly already a shame. Michael Park has already tweeted and yet people are still acting as bad if not worse a week later. And to be honest I don't see the point if the fans aren't allowed to talk or take pictures and only one or two people are coming out every time anyway. It's not exactly the ideal situation to meet someone you're a fan of when they probably just want to get it done as quickly as possible to get away from the crowd.

[Wayman_Wong]

''So wait a show about a teen living a cultivated life on social media to mask social issues caused by mental illness is garnering a fan base of predominately teens clammering aggressively to get the attention of actors (some the age of their parents I am sure, actors who are just doing their job, raising their own kids out of the spotlight and who owe nothing to anyone when they leave that stage!) so said teens can post the interaction and create a cultivated life on social media? Wow. Never saw that comin.''

Em55, if there were Tonys for posts, I'd nominate you for that one.

[EM55]

I'd like to thank @Wayman_Wong for believing in me.

[A.Douglas]

Hi all!

Just saw Ben tweeted a pic of himself signing (presumably) last night after the 8pm benefit performance. Does anyone think this means he'll be signing again? Have the crowds cooled down a bit?

Thanks!

[LizzieCurry]

http://www.onstageblog.com/columns/2017/6/25/dear-evan-fansens-the-need-for-stage-door-etiquette

[Margo319]

It's only been a few days since the crowds were out of control, so I doubt it.  He came out because it was a special performance.  I don't think anyone should come out unless there is more security and respect from people wanting an autograph.