Making a donation in honor of a cast member?
Making a donation in honor of a cast member?
recentlyfound
Chorus Member Joined: 4/26/17
#1Making a donation in honor of a cast member?
Posted: 5/2/17 at 11:29pm
I'm a pretty big fan of Mike Faist, and I was really excited and pleasantly surprised to hear that he was nominated today. In his bio for DEH, he mentions livethroughthis.org - I was thinking about making a monetary donation in his honor to Live Through This and sending him flowers or cookies or something the day I'm going to see the show next week (May 11)? I haven't tried to interact with the cast at all outside of this, I'm not a crazy fan who's been to the stage door a million times, I just wanted to do something nice for Mike because he is (obviously) often overshadowed by the amazing Ben Platt. I don't know, he's just such a nice and down to earth guy it seems like and I really, really want to do something nice for him. What do y'all think? Sorry if this is a dumb question, I'm new to this site!
When you're falling in a forest and there's nobody around, all you want is for somebody to find you.
AEA AGMA SM
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/13/09
#2Making a donation in honor of a cast member?
Posted: 5/3/17 at 12:56am
If you want to send him something I would suggest cookies from Schmackary's. They are a favorite amongst many in the theatre community and they actually have an order option already set up on their website for direct delivery to a Broadway actor or show.
http://schmackarys.com/order/
recentlyfound
Chorus Member Joined: 4/26/17
#3Making a donation in honor of a cast member?
Posted: 5/3/17 at 12:59am
I was thinking about doing that! But Will Roland tweeted something along the lines of "no more cookies, send whiskey!" and Mike retweeted it, so I'm not sure. But thank you for the response! :)
When you're falling in a forest and there's nobody around, all you want is for somebody to find you.
trpguyy
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/25/05
#4Making a donation in honor of a cast member?
Posted: 5/3/17 at 1:27am
You could drop off some whiskey at the stage door.
recentlyfound
Chorus Member Joined: 4/26/17
#5Making a donation in honor of a cast member?
Posted: 5/3/17 at 1:29am
When you're falling in a forest and there's nobody around, all you want is for somebody to find you.
Updated On: 5/3/17 at 01:29 AM
recentlyfound
Chorus Member Joined: 4/26/17
#6Making a donation in honor of a cast member?
Posted: 5/3/17 at 1:33am
Sorry for really being so clueless about this! I just really want to do something nice for Mike Faist because his character and this show pulled me out of a really bad place when I was struggling with suicidal thoughts a little while ago, and with his Tony nod it seems like maybe an appropriate occasion to do something like this. I've seen a lot of shows and never done anything like this before, so I'm not just an obsessed fan, I just really want to do something for this occasion specifically I guess!
When you're falling in a forest and there's nobody around, all you want is for somebody to find you.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#7Making a donation in honor of a cast member?
Posted: 5/3/17 at 1:33am
I think that was a joke.
A heartfelt note mentioning your donation and fandom will probably be far more valued than any physical gift.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
recentlyfound
Chorus Member Joined: 4/26/17
#8Making a donation in honor of a cast member?
Posted: 5/3/17 at 1:34am
Oh, well, I feel dumb, haha. I've never stage-doored before and I couldn't tell if it was sarcasm or not. Thank you for the advice :)
When you're falling in a forest and there's nobody around, all you want is for somebody to find you.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#9Making a donation in honor of a cast member?
Posted: 5/3/17 at 2:07am
You're welcome, I'm glad you found something to help you through your dark time. That's all you need...one thing.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
Speed
Broadway Star Joined: 7/12/03
#10Making a donation in honor of a cast member?
Posted: 5/3/17 at 2:21am
You're an obsessed fan. You don't know the guy. He could be a complete dick.
Updated On: 5/3/17 at 02:21 AM
recentlyfound
Chorus Member Joined: 4/26/17
#11Making a donation in honor of a cast member?
Posted: 5/3/17 at 2:25am
Speed said: "You're an obsessed fan. You. Don't know the guy. He could be a complete dick."
I don't really see the need to insult me, and I'm not obsessed - there's a difference between wanting to share with an actor the impact that their musical and specifically their role had on me while going through a difficult time, and being a stalker. No idea why you'd feel like you have to come onto a post of me asking about whether or not I should donate to a suicide prevention charity in honor of Mike Faist and be rude. I'm not making him a freaking scrapbook, I was genuinely asking for advice about something that lots of people do as evidenced on the social media accounts of a variety of people in the ensemble.
When you're falling in a forest and there's nobody around, all you want is for somebody to find you.
#12Making a donation in honor of a cast member?
Posted: 5/3/17 at 2:27am
I second dramamama on the idea of a letter or a card along with maybe a proof of donation (if that's even a thing). I think it's such a sweet idea and I feel like he'd really appreciate that.
"Anybody that goes to the theater, I think we’re all misfits, so we ended up on stage or in the audience.” --- Patti LuPone.
recentlyfound
Chorus Member Joined: 4/26/17
#13Making a donation in honor of a cast member?
Posted: 5/3/17 at 2:28am
ClumsyDude15 said: "I second dramamama on the idea of a letter or a card along with maybe a proof of donation (if that's even a thing). I think it's such a sweet idea and I feel like he'd really appreciate that."
Thank you so much for the response! I think I'm going to donate to the AFSP as a tribute to him and then send him a fan letter and enclose the proof of donation. Thanks for the help and thank you to everyone who was kind :)
When you're falling in a forest and there's nobody around, all you want is for somebody to find you.
Speed
Broadway Star Joined: 7/12/03
#14Making a donation in honor of a cast member?
Posted: 5/3/17 at 2:31am
Calling you an obsessed fan isn't meant as an insult. It's just who you are. I'm an obsessed fan of some actors too. I've sent flowers, written letters, etc. And as a celebrity myself, I have many obsessed fans too. I've found, in my experience, that it is the stalkers who say "I'm not a stalker."
#15Making a donation in honor of a cast member?
Posted: 5/3/17 at 2:31am
^You are so very welcome! It's such a sweet gesture and I completely understand the impact the show can have on someone. You'll have to keep us update on the follow up. 
"Anybody that goes to the theater, I think we’re all misfits, so we ended up on stage or in the audience.” --- Patti LuPone.
Updated On: 5/3/17 at 02:31 AM
recentlyfound
Chorus Member Joined: 4/26/17
#16Making a donation in honor of a cast member?
Posted: 5/3/17 at 2:35am
Speed said: "Calling you an obsessed fan isn't meant as an insult. It's just who you are. I'm an obsessed fan of some actors too. I've sent flowers, written letters, etc. And as a celebrity myself, I have many obsessed fans too. I've found, in my experience, that it is the stalkers who say "I'm not a stalker.""
I don't understand how you could say that calling me a stalker isn't an insult, so I'm just going to end it here.
When you're falling in a forest and there's nobody around, all you want is for somebody to find you.
#17Making a donation in honor of a cast member?
Posted: 5/3/17 at 2:37am
Speed - is there a reason you feel the need to turn a heartfelt gesture into something it isn't? This is clearly not the OP crying out for attention nor adoration from anyone, but as a simple and kind gesture to relay how connected they felt to the material and a performance. And if you're such a celebrity, you should maybe know how to treat people a little better.
"Anybody that goes to the theater, I think we’re all misfits, so we ended up on stage or in the audience.” --- Patti LuPone.
Updated On: 5/3/17 at 02:37 AM
Speed
Broadway Star Joined: 7/12/03
#18Making a donation in honor of a cast member?
Posted: 5/3/17 at 4:31am
I just reread the OP and I'm sorry but there is "obsessed fan" written all over that post. How well do you know Mike? How many shows have you seen him in? What do you know about him as a person? You want to send him flowers? To what end? Or cookies? Would you eat cookies from someone you don't know? Not to mentio the OP's name is related to the show. I this recentlyfound is obsessed with Dear Evan Hansen and the people involved. It's fine. Own. I became best friends with a stalker once and ended up fooling around with someone I stalked.
Updated On: 5/3/17 at 04:31 AM
trpguyy
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/25/05
#19Making a donation in honor of a cast member?
Posted: 5/3/17 at 1:13pm
A charitable donation is nice. Whiskey delivery is also nice, and speaking from experience, would get more mileage than cookies. Just sayin'...
recentlyfound
Chorus Member Joined: 4/26/17
#20Making a donation in honor of a cast member?
Posted: 5/3/17 at 5:20pm
Speed said: "I just reread the OP and I'm sorry but there is "obsessed fan" written all over that post. How well do you know Mike? How many shows have you seen him in? What do you know about him as a person? You want to send him flowers? To what end? Or cookies? Would you eat cookies from someone you don't know? Not to mentio the OP's name is related to the show. I this recentlyfound is obsessed with Dear Evan Hansen and the people involved. It's fine. Own. I became best friends with a stalker once and ended up fooling around with someone I stalked."
I'm not going to ****ing own it because I am not a stalker. I haven't even seen the show and only plan on seeing it once. I made my username related to the show because it's a show that I like and this is a musical theatre forum, am I not allowed to do that? Is that really not okay with you? I'm not trying to become Mike Faist's best friend or "fool around" with him. You are a mean, mean person for absolutely no reason when I was just trying to do something nice that both benefits society and lets an actor I admire know that I appreciate his performance and that it touched me. The actors have posted on social media about the cookies and gifts they have received from fans. It's really not that out of the ordinary. Please just leave me alone. You gain nothing from being hateful to somebody that you don't even know.
When you're falling in a forest and there's nobody around, all you want is for somebody to find you.
recentlyfound
Chorus Member Joined: 4/26/17
#21Making a donation in honor of a cast member?
Posted: 5/3/17 at 5:25pm
trpguyy said: "A charitable donation is nice. Whiskey delivery is also nice, and speaking from experience, would get more mileage than cookies. Just sayin'..."
Haha thanks for the advice! I think I'm going to stick to the donation but, yeah, I'd definitely prefer liquor over sweets!
When you're falling in a forest and there's nobody around, all you want is for somebody to find you.
recentlyfound
Chorus Member Joined: 4/26/17
#22Making a donation in honor of a cast member?
Posted: 5/3/17 at 5:25pm
ClumsyDude15 said: "Speed - is there a reason you feel the need to turn a heartfelt gesture into something it isn't? This is clearly not the OP crying out for attention nor adoration from anyone, but as a simple and kind gesture to relay how connected they felt to the material and a performance. And if you're such a celebrity, you should maybe know how to treat people a little better."
Thank you for understanding and being so nice! I really appreciate it.
When you're falling in a forest and there's nobody around, all you want is for somebody to find you.
#23Making a donation in honor of a cast member?
Posted: 5/3/17 at 5:33pm
I live in Texas and get to New York once every year or two to see as many shows as I can in a few days. I saw Dear Evan Hansen in Jan and I too felt a deep connection to the show. I think it is admirable to make your donation in an actors honor and sending cookies is a cool thing too.. I think some people who live in New York and see a lot of shows get a bit cynical at times. However some are exactly as you described- mean.So keep your chin up.. I cant wait for you to tell us how you loved the show.
Speed
Broadway Star Joined: 7/12/03
#24Making a donation in honor of a cast member?
Posted: 5/3/17 at 8:35pm
recentlyfound said: "Speed said: "I just reread the OP and I'm sorry but there is "obsessed fan" written all over that post. How well do you know Mike? How many shows have you seen him in? What do you know about him as a person? You want to send him flowers? To what end? Or cookies? Would you eat cookies from someone you don't know? Not to mentio the OP's name is related to the show. I this recentlyfound is obsessed with Dear Evan Hansen and the people involved. It's fine. Own. I became best friends with a stalker once and ended up fooling around with someone I stalked."
I'm not going to ****ing own it because I am not a stalker. I haven't even seen the show and only plan on seeing it once. I made my username related to the show because it's a show that I like and this is a musical theatre forum, am I not allowed to do that? Is that really not okay with you? I'm not trying to become Mike Faist's best friend or "fool around" with him. You are a mean, mean person for absolutely no reason when I was just trying to do something nice that both benefits society and lets an actor I admire know that I appreciate his performance and that it touched me. The actors have posted on social media about the cookies and gifts they have received from fans. It's really not that out of the ordinary. Please just leave me alone. You gain nothing from being hateful to somebody that you don't even know."
If you've never seen the show, how do you know what's in his bio?
Speed
Broadway Star Joined: 7/12/03
#25Making a donation in honor of a cast member?
Posted: 5/3/17 at 8:38pm
Also- why does the donation have to be in his honor? If you care about the cause, just make it. What do you gain by sending him a receipt. You don't know him and apparently you haven't even seen the show.
