What was your biggest "Star Struck" moment on, or pertaining to Broadway?
What was your biggest "Star Struck" moment on, or pertaining to Broadway?
WaffleOnWheels
Stand-by Joined: 6/2/17
#1What was your biggest "Star Struck" moment on, or pertaining to Broadway?
Posted: 6/3/17 at 8:29am
Has there ever been a moment where you just found yourself with your mouth open in awe at the performer?
For me, it was when I got the privilege to talk to Lee Wilkof, the original Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors, when he came to our school to give a talk.
I go to a small private school with a little over 100 kids, so I got to have lunch with him, talk about his Tony nominations, and the current show he was doing, Holiday Inn.
It was an awesome experience.
#2What was your biggest
Posted: 6/3/17 at 8:32am
I recently saw Betty Buckley sing "Memory" in a concert. I never saw her when she actually played the role but wow. She's still got it.
BWAY Baby2
Broadway Star Joined: 11/10/14
#3What was your biggest
Posted: 6/3/17 at 8:54am
Seeing Barbra Streisand arriving at the Funny Girl stage door carrying Sadie her dog- she was 22 and I was 12
BroadwayBeebe
Featured Actor Joined: 2/10/16
#4What was your biggest
Posted: 6/3/17 at 9:01am
From the Audience- Bette Midler in Dolly!
At the Stage Door- Alan Cumming after Cabaret
Other- Two years ago I got to perform for Barbara Cook in a master class. If having her coach me wasn't enough, later on she was trying to demonstrate something for someone else and asked me to come and kneel in front of her wheelchair. She took my hands and sang a small portion of If I Loved You in a soft tone into my eyes. It's a moment I will never forget and I was speechless.
yankeefan7
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/14/12
#5What was your biggest
Posted: 6/3/17 at 10:55am
Being in the front row seeing Bernadette Peters in "Annie Get Your Gun".
At the Stage Door - Alice Ripley after seeing "Next To Normal". She was so engaging talking about her role in the show and chatted for awhile to my daughter about attending NYU.
#6What was your biggest
Posted: 6/3/17 at 11:15am
At the closing performance of SITPWG, seeing Stephen Sondheim in the flesh. It left me literally speechless.
leighmiserables
Broadway Star Joined: 4/26/17
#7What was your biggest
Posted: 6/3/17 at 11:59am
Oh gosh, I have a few...
Something Rotten! was the first time I saw Christian Borle and Brian d'Arcy James live, after years of seeing them in clips of some of my favorite shows online (Peter and the Starcatcher, Titanic, Spamalot, Next to Normal, etc.) and when they both made their respective first entrances I – for lack of a better term – lost my sh!t. Probably the only time in my life I've ever made a breach in theatre etiquette (even though a good fifty other people were doing the same thing).
Wouldn't exactly call this one "starstruck," but I still remember practically being struck dumb watching Alex Sharp in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. Still quite possibly one of the best performances I've ever seen on a Broadway stage.
Oh, and getting to talk to John Gallagher Jr. after the closing night of Long Day's Journey Into Night was a big one for me. I was a huge Spring Awakening fan back in the day and admittedly had a huge celebrity crush on him for quite a few years. My thirteen-year-old self was screaming on the inside when it happened.
I expect the next one for me is going to be seeing Glenn Close in Sunset Boulevard. It's one of my favorite shows and getting to see her live is just going to be wild.
Sondheimite
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/5/14
#8What was your biggest
Posted: 6/3/17 at 12:02pm
Getting a car wash during Sugar Daddy from John Cameron Mitchell was a theatre high that will never be topped for me.
Broadway World's Fireman.
#9What was your biggest
Posted: 6/3/17 at 1:22pm
"Has there ever been a moment where you just found yourself with your mouth open in awe at the performer?"
Does sex with B D Wong count, back when we knew him as Brad?
luvcaroline
Broadway Star Joined: 10/19/05
#10What was your biggest
Posted: 6/3/17 at 1:37pm
I have to admit that seeing Idina in Wicked is near the top for me. My best friend, who is not a big theatre fan, was with me. To this day, she still talks about Idina's performance and how exciting it was to see her at the top of her game, and I have to agree.
Im not a big stage door person, but we had to see Whoopi after we saw her in Xanadu. My partner is a lifelong fan and I told Whoopi his when she came out. She could not have been more gracious and she spent a little extra time talking to him. We'll never forget that.
#11What was your biggest
Posted: 6/3/17 at 4:44pm
Andrea Martin times two.
1. After seeing Kinky Boots Saturday evening I was walking back to my hotel. Up ahead I saw a big crowd at the Music Bix stage door. No one saw Andrea leaving by the theater main door and getting on her bike. As she past I said 'Looking forward to seeing you at tomorrow's matinee!' She said 'See ya then!' However, Tovah was on for her as she was soon taking over for Andrea. (That was the same trip I saw Linda Muggleston instead of Victoria in Cinderella. Bad weekend for seeing featured actresses!) :)
2. A long time later, the person sitting in front of me at 42nd Street Moon's production of Do I Hear a Waltz looked familiar. It was Andrea, here in San Francisco to take over Berthe on the Pippin tour for a couple stops. After the show I said how bummed I was not to see her in Pippin. Yes, I had an ulterior motive thinking she might give me a house seat LOL She joked Tovah's agents were so demanding during the transition, or something like that.
Was fun to connect a couple times with her as she'll always be Edith Prickley to me.
#12What was your biggest
Posted: 6/3/17 at 6:25pm
Removed - never post after drinking.
Updated On: 6/3/17 at 06:25 PM
#13What was your biggest
Posted: 6/3/17 at 7:51pm
seeing Audra Mcdonald in concert with Seth Rudetsky from the 2nd row of a tiny theatre and getting to talk to her (or try to talk, as I was sobbing).
mc1227
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/07
#14What was your biggest
Posted: 6/3/17 at 7:59pm
Probably the final day of Nice Work when between the matinee and evening performances, all the stars came out (except Jessie) to sign autographs, take pics and thank the crowd for supporting the show. It was a very sweet gesture that I never expected.
The only review of a show that matters is your own.
#15What was your biggest
Posted: 6/4/17 at 4:51am
My experience with celebrities is that they are usually very gracious and end up asking me about my life, which is the last thing I want to discuss. But a few occasions stand out:
1. Being invited to and attending Christmas dinner at Angela Lansbury's hotel suite in 1976. She and her husband, Peter Shaw, were lovely hosts and she cooked the dinner herself!
2. Seeing Judy Kaye in a nightclub and having her join my husband and I afterwards for a drink. (She didn't know us, but we had been applauding enthusiastically.) She ordered (and paid for) the round of drinks.
3. Sitting at a table for the opening night of A DOLL'S LIFE while Hal Prince and Stephen Sondheim stood on either side of me and discussed the performance over my head. Given the show, I must say I found Sondheim VERY gracious!
4. More recently, a friend of mine who voiced one of the Disney princesses was inducted into Disney Legends (a sort of hall of fame) during DisneyCon. At the banquet celebrating my friend and the other ladies honored, a childhood favorite of mine, Richard Sherman--of the "Sherman Brothers"--came over to my friend's table and went around introducing himself to each of her family and friends. (She had just recorded a video of his latest song.) He could not have been more humble! When he got to me, he extended his hand and said, "Hello. My name is Richard Sherman." I replied, "It certainly is!" and stood up. We then had a lovely discussion about the documentary his son and his nephew had made about the Sherman Brothers' career. Lovely, lovely man. (I can't convey tone here, but there was nothing to suggest one should know who he was. He just offered his name by way of introduction, like anybody else.)
ETA I did jury duty with Lee Wilkof (see above) shortly after he left LITTLE SHOP. Two weeks trapped in a crowded room with him, but I couldn't think of anything that needed to be said, even though I had loved the show!
BWAY Baby2
Broadway Star Joined: 11/10/14
#16What was your biggest
Posted: 6/4/17 at 6:04am
When I was a kid, I was running to a matinee of Fora The Red Menace starring an 18 year old Liza Minnelli- and I was running so fast to the theater with a friend that as I almost got there- I bumped into a lady on the street right near the Alvin Theater- and it was Liza I almost knocked over. I looked up and was embarrassed- I do not remember what I said- but probably- "Sorry"
Elizabeth Taylor was getting some award in San Francisco years ago - I stood outside with a friend waiting to catch a glimpse through the door- and out she came to go to the lady's room- I yelled- Hi, Liz- she scowled at me- and we were on our way.
Saw Glenn Close in original production of Sunset Boulevard- was waiting at stage door- she was passing by and I said to her- I will be in the front row- please look at me- and she said- You're supposed to be looking at ME. I thought that was funny.
Madison Square Garden Streisand concert- was sitting next to Bernadette Peters and her husband- who died in a helicopter crash a few years later- anyway, a chorus come out to accompany Barbra- and I said to Bernadette's husband- i wish I could be in that chorus- and he said- well, why don't you?- so I got up and joined the chorus on the side of the stage- waved to Barbra and she looked at me quizzically- my partner and my mother were flabbergasted.
Saw Owen Wilson in the audience at Death of a Salesman a few years back- and was stunned by his good looks.
#17What was your biggest
Posted: 6/4/17 at 6:25am
Chatting with Bernadette Peters after a preview performance of "Sunday..." -- she wanted to know what we thought about the show and was so charming.
A few years ago, chatting with Chita while waiting in line at an airport ticket counter. It was the summer before they announced "The Visit." I asked her if she thought it would ever come to Broadway. She got so excited and told me all about the plan to open in NYC. We chatted about theater for about 10 minutes -- she was a gem!
Meeting Judy Kuhn after a concert performance. We talked about "Rags" (I had seen it twice in Boston) -- some great inside stories.
JBC3
Broadway Star Joined: 4/9/17
#18What was your biggest
Posted: 6/4/17 at 7:39am
Sitting next to Taye Diggs and Idina Menzel at a performance of The Light in the Piazza and having a lovely intermission chat about how amazing Victoria Clark is, the power of Adam Guettel’s music, and overall beauty of the show.
Chatting with Victoria Clark when she was here in Indianapolis performing at The Cabaret and convincing her to sing Losing My Mind since I could not get to LA to see her performance in Follies. She gave me a shout out when introducing the number.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#19What was your biggest
Posted: 6/4/17 at 11:22am
Meeting Mandy Patinkin after seeing the original Sunday in the Park. The only time I've ever been star-struck. (I was 20.)
People are people, living their lives, doing there jobs.
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.
#20What was your biggest
Posted: 6/4/17 at 1:08pm
Waiting at the stage door after a performance of PASSION while chatting with Marin Mazzie. All of a sudden a small woman briskly passed by me and stepped on my foot. She quickly said, "Oh, I'm so sorry" and was off again. I immediately recognized her voice when Marin said, "Do you know who just stepped on your foot? Chita!"....lol.
Eh, why not? The post I deleted earlier was receiving a bj from the back of a limo from an above the title musical comedy star when I was 21. Her performance there was better than the one she gave on stage. Our short affair proved to be one of the scariest relationships I ever had in my youth. She was f**king crazy.
Jaredinsc
Swing Joined: 9/10/14
#21What was your biggest
Posted: 6/4/17 at 1:43pm
I'm usually not ever "star struck", but I recently met Ramin Karimloo at the stage door and it was kind of a cool moment since he is a huge reason as to why I started to do theater.
Updated On: 6/4/17 at 01:43 PM
Harriet Craig
Stand-by Joined: 7/15/15
#23What was your biggest
Posted: 6/4/17 at 3:02pm
For me, it wasn't an actor, but a playwright: Tom Stoppard. I saw Night and Day with a friend who had a friend in the cast, so we went backstage after the performance, and there was Stoppard. I have loved his work ever since I saw the original Broadway production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead when I was a teenager, so my friend got his actor-friend to introduce us. I was so starstruck I couldn't get a word out of my mouth for about a full minute, then finally stammered out something that was supposed to be, "I've read everything you have ever written", but may have come out as, "I've written everything you have ever read".
#24What was your biggest
Posted: 6/4/17 at 4:32pm
I don't like to stage door, and said I never would...
EXCEPT after seeing the revival of "Drood". I had to meet the Queen: Chita Rivera. I asked her to sign my Playbill, and said I enjoyed the show. She said, "thank you", and I said back to her, " I can't believe that I hadn't fainted yet, after meeting her. She threw her head back, did that signature laugh, and rubbed my shoulder.
Also, EXCEPT after seeing Angela Lansbury in the tour of Blithe Spirit. I sat front show during the show, and when she came out of the stage door, she said thank you for everyone coming to the show, said we were a great audience, which is really needed for a play to succeed. She turned to leave, made eye contact with me and smiled (I like to think she remembered me)
Something fun was seeing Valerie Harper in the walkway under the Marquis Theatre in sunglasses, jeans, t-shirt, ball-cap, and no make up, then to have her sit 2 rows behind me at Porgy and Bess, and later the same day seeing her in a gorgeous blue gown all done up to the nines coming out of Other Desert Cities.
"Ok ok ok ok ok ok ok. Have you guys heard about fidget spinners!?" ~Patti LuPone
#25What was your biggest
Posted: 6/4/17 at 5:02pm
Ok, to balance my smutty post above, here's one I can tell my folks:
A year ago my husband and I are on a gay cruise in Tahiti, and the headliner will be Patti LuPone, doing 2 shows that Friday night. Best of all she needs a volunteer chorus to back her up on 3 songs: "Trouble", "Sit Down You're Rockin' the Boat" and "Blow Gabriel Blow!" That Wednesday morning, maybe 30-40 would-be backup singers like myself gather onstage with Patti, who's got on flip-flops, a house dress, and no makeup, and proceeds to pass out stacks of the notated chorus parts for us to share (what looked like a telephone book to us untutored singers). But bless her heart, that lady was warm and welcoming and relaxed as can be. She told us the story of each song and who we as the chorus were supposed to be. She basically made us scene partners with her to make each song work. We rehearsed for maybe an hour and a half and then good luck till Friday.
Friday night there's Patti, all polished up in a smart jacket set, lipstick and a pert little bob, belting song after song out into the air with total commitment and heart. Comes the time for our 10 minutes of participation and we acquit ourselves with aplomb, both at the 7pm show and the 9:30 show. But what really melts our hearts is at the end of our time onstage-- Patti turns her back on the audience and applauds us! The lady is a legend for a reason.
And then it was time to dash back to our staterooms to change into our twinkle-lighted White Party outfits. Well, it was a gay cruise after all.
