Awkward Stage Door Moments

[Ella_17]

So my mom knows the guy who played dr. dillamond the original cast of wicked, so when we went to see wicked we were able to go back stage. That, of course meant leaving backstage. Outside of the theatre there were all these people holding up signs and stuff waiting for Kristin and Idina to come out. Since Dr. Dillamond wears a mask the entire show, nobody recognized him. So there we were, my mom, my moms friend, my sister (she was about 11), and me. I was about 9 so of course I was absolutely freaked out by the fact that all these people were just staring at me. I'm not sure if it's exactly akward, but it was definitely a wierd experience

[DefyGravity777]

(i.e. Sebastian Arcelus entering/exiting the Wicked stage door to see Stephanie after he wasn’t in Wicked anymore).

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Sebastian always came to the SD to pick up Steph everytime I was there. Even on her last day he was waiting outside with her for the whole time she was signing. A couple people went up and talked to him but I didn't. That's a LiL to weird for me.

On Sunday at the Wicked SD, Lindsay Northen came up to me and asked if she could sign my Playbill. It was adorable(since she looked like a lost puppy dog while saying it) and she knows that I always get her signature.

[Rentheadut]

I think stagedooring is a little pathetic after the age of 15 (and sometimes before) but after a performance of "Drowsy" my friend and I saw people waiting outside of "Cyrano" and since Jennifer Garner is one of my faves, we decided to wait too. I didn't have a playbill from her show so I had her sign the article on Cyrano from the Drowsy playbill.

When she signed I said something like "I loved you in 13 Going on 30. I'm gay, but if I wasn't I would totally go for you" or something to that extent. Doh!

[suicidalmickeymouse]

This happened last night.

I went to my first Idina concert and I really wanted and autograph. After waiting outside with 100 other people for one and a half hours she came out and started signing. When she made our way over to me I held my ticket out really far so she could see it. Unfortunately, I hit her in the face with it. She said "Oh, it alright," Then I proceeded to say "I love you." To which she replied, "Thank you." It could have been worse I suppose.

I hate myself.

[folkyboy]

So wait--

Idina signs autographs when the cameras aren't on her?!

[Patash]

I'm not sure if this is what you meant by awkward stage door moments, and I'm not one to hang out at stage doors. But as I passed the stage door to A Raisin in the Sun a couple years ago, I couldn't help but notice Phylicia Rashad and Audra McDonald exit being virtually ignored by the crowd, while Sean Combs was being screamed at and attacked by the adoring fans. I thought it sad to see two such great actresses being virtually ignored.

[Mister Matt]

After a performance of The Scarlet Pimpernel, Gilles Chiasson signed my Playbill and I complimented his performance. Then, I breifly asked Gilles how to correctly pronounce his first name (because I didn't take French and the internet wasn't as handy at the time). He was really bitchy about it and I now know from experience what he told me back then was not the French pronunciation, so I don't know why he was so pissy about someone asking a pretty fair question. He really made me feel like I was a piece of crap for asking. Luckily, that turned around when Christine Andreas and I had a cute chat about her performance on the 1980 Tony Awards. She was a sweetheart. Dave Clemmons was lovely as always and Eric Bennyhoff couldn't have been any nicer. Basically, Gilles really turned me off from wanting to see him in anything again.

Another really popular Tony-winner has behaved similarly to me (and I didn't even ask a question). I have no desire to ever see him perform again.

[Flippancy]

I'm far too aged to do stage doors anymore, but back in the day:

Maggie Smith after LETTICE AND LOVAGE. Absolutely down to earth and charming and gracious and every other adjective you can think of.

THE RINK stage door. Come out of the show and there's a veritable swarm of people buzzing around someone at the stage door. Being the curious soul I was -- and somewhat of a starf**er -- I elbowed my way in. Only to see Connie Stevens. I elbowed my way back out and went to get clams at the HoJo.

[EponineAmneris]

LOVE this thread *lol*

I wish I had something to contribute, but all my stagedoor times have been wonderful

[BroadwayBelle2]

Mine have been good too, wow a lot of awkward moments, but hey it happens!

[Kelly2]

A friend of mine was a little bitter about last year's Tony race, and as we were walking down the street, pretended to kick over a Grey Gardens sandwich board...right as Christine Ebersole was walking out the stage door.

Awkward.

[Tony8682]

Did Christine Ebersole have a reaction

[NYC_or_Bust]

I cannot believe I forgot this one! I didn't happen to me, but I WAS there to hear it.

I'm going Sophia here for a moment.
Picture it: Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Winter 2003

I'm with my parents seeing 42nd Street and after the show even though it was freezing, I really wanted to see the girl playing Peggy Sawyer. Not that I was obsessed. I just really thought she did a great job and wanted to tell her so. Anyway, there's only a handful of people out there because of the weather and my parents went ahead and walked back to the hotel.

There must have been a few cast members from the ensemble that changed REALLY quick and headed outside the stagedoor, and I DO remember one girl complaining that she was burning up (so to me it made sense she was outside cooling off) and after studying my playbill like I always do, I knew they were from the show.

So there are two girls standing beside me waiting for pictures and autographs and whatnot. And the conversation goes as follows:

Girl 1: OMG. It's so cold!
Girl 2: I bet we can get inside and go backstage!
Girl 1: LIKE OMG. HOW!?!
Girl 2: All you have to do is be nice to the ensemble and get friendly with them and then ask if you can go backstage. I've done it for years. They get thrilled that anyone invests interest in them.
Girl 1: Ugh! Like Brilliant!
ME: (thinking)..."Why the hell do I have to be here with Lucy and Ethel?
Girl 2: (Opens playbill and points to ensemble member)
That's the one we'll talk to.
Ensemble girl: (to girl 2) Hey! Have you been backstage at this show before?!?
Girl 2: No.
Ensemble girl: Exactly. And you never will.

She ran inside and I could see her talking to the stage doorman and she was OBVIOUSLY describing what they looked like and I'm assuming, advising not to let them in.

Haha. Very awkward for them. Drop dead hilarious for me!

[into_the_woods2]

NYC or bust...you are so lucky to have witnessed that. That is hilarious.

I was waiting at the stage door after Wicked (starring SJB and Annaleigh Ashford) and there was a dad and his daughter next to me. When Annaleigh came out, he said, "Hey! Her name (pointing to his daughter) is Kristen, too!" and Annaleigh said, "Oh!" I put my face in my hands, it was so sad.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Mister Matt, after reading your story about Gilles I am so glad I never asked him how to pronounce his name. How does he pronounce it, anyways?

[legally_popular]

LOL some of these stories are great!

DefyGravity777 - Yeah, one of the times at Wicked Sebastian was standing RIGHT in front of me, but I still didn't want to bother him. And that's cute about Lindsay!

Speaking of Lindsay Northern... At Annaleigh's last at Wicked, she walked by us and my sister began, "Excuse me, could you sign..." but Lindsay didn't hear her and walked right on past us (with Chelsea, I think it was). It was a little awkward for my sister, but I understand b/c she just wasn't loud enough. We also wanted to stop Briana, but she was walking and talking to someone so we didn't want to bother her. I always feel a little weird about calling the actors to me. I just wait to see if they come to us.

[bluetuna]

Mister Matt and Chrysanthemum62001, he says his name at the end of this clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcC0ZR7NW5g

[n2005]

At YF stage door Andrea Martin was signing my playbill when Megan Mullally came out and everyone just screamed and started taking pictures of Megan.Andrea just looked over and smiled and said' Oh Yay!'. I felt kinda bad for her because she is so talented and deserves some respect!

The other was at Gypsy , Patti LuPone was signing for me and I got tongue-tied and said 'You are my idol , you're such an inspiration' and she looked at me and goes 'Oh really why do you like me?' I had no idea what to say and just stood there like a fool before mumbling because you are fabulous. I was kicking myself after because I wanted to tell her how much I enjoyed the show.

[kate2]

After seeing The Little Mermaid, I was very excited to meet Sherie because I've been a fan of hers since Aida and have wanted to meet her since then as well. So she comes out, signs my stuff and as I'm lifting my phone to take a picture, I drop it... but it doesn't drop straight down. It kind of flew towards her over the barricade. So, I was like "...uuuhhh, would you mind grabbing my phone for me?" since I couldn't reach it. She picks it up, looks at it, and goes "OH! I could use one of these!" and starts to walk away. Not really awkward, but pretty funny.

[broadwayfan3]

Omg Kate-that's so funny! when i met her, she told us that she wouldn't take pictures.

Whne i was at Xanadu for, I was waiting for Jackie Hoffman, who I love, and I say to her "You one of my favorite performers every, you're so funny" (or something along the lines of that) and she says "well that's a big possision to uphold" and just stands there waiting for me to say something else, so I say "oh, yeah, i guess so..." and she walked away-I felt so dumb, and it might have been the most akward moments I've every had at the theater, besides almost calling Sherie Rene Scott out on a lie. But luckally I've learned to hold most my coments in.

[esparza 333]

That is funny broadwayfan3. Keep them coming you guys these are hilarious. Ella Your mom knows William Youmans. I did a show with him at Yale Rep called Brundibar. What a nice guy. I also saw him in wicked and the Pirate Queen.

[DefyGravity777]

legally_popular,
Lindsay was with Chelsea that day(they commented on our Fannaleigh shirts). That was actually the first day that I met Lindsay(after emailing her a couple of weeks before). Never feel weird about calling Lindsay over. She loves it as long as you know that she didn't play Nessa :). She's a total SWEETHEART and will talk with you also. Not just a Hi or anything like that.

I always feel weird calling ensemble members over too but it's the only way you can meet them and they appreciate being recognized too.

[CMU_bway_lover]

Last Friday I had one of those 'cringe' moments watching the woman next to me try to chat up Daniel Evans and Jenna Russell after SITPWG. She did the awkward reach across the barrier for an uninitiated hug. And then she talked to Jenna for about 5 minutes about England while the whole time Jenna was trying to move down the line and continued to sign playbills as the woman talked.

Another one, which is not so much awkward as funny, is that my sister and I went to SD Gypsy and not wanting to sound like everyone else talking about the Tonys I told Patti I loved her in Will & Grace. As Patti was moving on to the person next to me, my sister says, "Shut up Patti LuPone!" to which Patti stops, looks up and bursts out laughing.

[sgv123]

when i saw the little mermaid there was a mother with a group of teenagers. the mother and the teens were getting there faces and chests signed by the actors. i felt bad for brian d' addario. it must of weird for him signing people's faces. that was awkward!

[Eris0303]

You know...I just remembered an awkward moment. I was at Curtains earlier this month and my friend wanted to go to the stage door after the show.

Once there this guy with a very heavy British accent starts talking to us. My friend and I had been having a conversation about "A Tale of Two Cities" and how it was coming to the Hirshfeld. Well he starts yelling "Tale of Two Cities is coming! That's great!" Ignoring him my friend and I continued our conversation and he overhears me say that I had seen "ATOTC" in Florida. So he starts asking me about it and how it was. And I'm answering him politely but really wishing he'd just go away.

The cast starts to come out and one of the ensemble members, I want to say J. Austin Eyer, came by signing. This guy sticks his hand out and says "I don't have a playbill but will you sign my hand?" Austin looks at us with a baffled expression on his face and I held up my hands as if to say "He's not with me". Austin continues down the line and the whole time the British guy is talking about how hot Austin is. Poor thing looked so stressed and ready to bolt.

A funny moment was when Harvey Fierstein said he wouldn't take a picture with me because I looked like a "wiley one" after A Catered Affair. I pretended to be hurt and he laughed.

[StephenSondheimWHOO]

I LOVE this thread.
This wasn't my moment, but after Spring Awakening a huge group of kids on a trip from another state had a huge poster they were asking people to sign. One of the understudies was going by, and he stopped in front of them assuming they wanted an autograph and the girl with the poster says to the rest of the group loudly "Wait, do we really want HIS autograph." The actor laughed but you could kind of tell he was hurt