Today's Random Question: Stage Door Traffic

[PatrickDC]

Posted: 5/22/17 at 12:37am

Well, I don't stage door but I am curious how it works inside the theater. Is there a flowchart or list of who comes out when, or can anyone -- lead or ensemble -- come out and leave as soon as they're ready. I guess it's protocol for the stars to come out last...or is it? Are they last because they probably have more backstage visitors to entertain before leaving? Or is the stage door choreographed like a curtain call, ensemble first, then featured, then, building momentum and buzz, the leads? On a separate note, when Security says autographs and pics ok but no selfies, if an actor at the end offers or agrees to take selfies, does Security get ticked?

[JBroadway]

Posted: 5/22/17 at 12:54am

At a regular stage-door, everyone comes out whenever they want to. Generally, the stars come out last because they have more visitors, more backstage business, etc. Sometimes, when there is more than one big star in a show, they will stagger their stage-door exits for the sake of their cars. Usually, with the crowds, only one car can be parked right outside the door at a time, so they will have the cars lined up in a particular order. I assume the order is consistent, and the stars make their exit accordingly. If there is only one car, or if there are no stars in the show, or if they have room to park more than one car in front at a time, then I think they just come out whenever they want. 

If an actor decides to take selfies after security tells the crowd they won't, there is nothing security can do. I do think, however, that usually, in those situations, the actors have already told security to notify the crowd in the hopes that it will dissuade people from asking. Often, people will ask for photos anyway, and actors feel bad saying no, so they will take the photos. But it's security's job to sort of "be the bad guy" on behalf of the actor (not that I believe refusing a photo makes an actor the "bad guy" but many fans will see it that way)

Updated On: 5/22/17 at 12:54 AM

[Lot666]

Posted: 5/22/17 at 8:56am

In my experience, this can vary widely depending on the show. When there are big stars involved (e.g., Jake Gyllenhaal, Glenn Close, etc.) or lead performers with whom the audience identifies strongly (e.g., Ben Platt, Lin Manuel-Miranda, etc.), it seems to often be protocol for the ensemble and smaller roles to come out first. This might be because the leads have more post-show duties and/or perhaps meet-and-greets (as has already been suggested here), or it might simply be a courtesy to the ensemble because the crowd tends to dwindle quickly after the principals have come and gone.

Also, performers in roles that require more makeup/wigs and/or complex costumes (e.g., The Phantom) tend to come out later simply because it takes them a lot longer to get out of all that.