Nastiest, rudest, all-around horrific Broadway performers- Page 2

[ChrisLovesShows]

Posted: 2/8/04 at 9:41pm

Someone PLEASE tell a Lauren Bacall story! Those are always the best. Or, um, worst.

[Corine2]

Posted: 2/8/04 at 10:14pm

I have met many and only had a bad experience with one person.
He is one of my favorite playwrights but lets just say
Sam Shepard is not a warm and fuzzy guy.

[PennyLou]

Posted: 2/8/04 at 10:29pm

Harvey can be a little rude soemtimes and Hunter Foster is ok but not very persanable. I'm pretty sure he takes his sweet old time to come out so he can avoid as many people as posible.

Updated On: 2/8/04 at 10:29 PM

[EddieVarley]

Posted: 2/8/04 at 11:42pm

OH MASTER! I'm ashamed of you, creating a post like this! It's not right, those blood orange comso's must of had some effect! I've never met any "nasty" broadway stars....uh, well.ok,sorry...

[BroadwayNYC]

Posted: 2/9/04 at 12:07am

To be honest with you, I feel quite embarassed to wait at the stage doors and get autographs!! Primarily because of the reaction I would get if the stars wouldn't sign the playbill or whatever.

The only signed thing I have is Bernadette Peters and John Dossett's autograph of the Gypsy cast recording, only because we had to wait in line to have it signed so the autograph was expected. I'm hoping to make it to "Oz" cd signing with Hugh Jackman in a couple weeks.

No one gets embarassed asking for autographs? I just can't do it!!

[redmustang]

Posted: 2/9/04 at 12:23am

I and a cluster of fans stood outside the Palace stage door for almost an hour one drizzly night years ago to greet Lauren Bacall after a performance of Woman of the Year. Finally...she emerged...and bulldozed her way through the crowd to a waiting cab like a linebacker for the New England Patriots. One woman actually fell to the sidewalk. If anyone got a picture that night, it had to be a blur of a racing trenchcoat with one arm covering the famous face, and the other stretched forward to clear the path. Lauren Bacall was fabulous in the show that night, but her performance after the show colored the whole evening. I dearly love her, but she was a bitch THAT night.

PS: Do any of you youngsters on this board even know who Lauren Bacall is?

(This was for you Chris) Updated On: 2/9/04 at 12:23 AM

[etoile]

Posted: 2/9/04 at 12:29am

A bitch THAT night, hon, she's the stuff that message boards were made for. But respect for Rob prevents anymore from being written.

[ChrisLovesShows]

Posted: 2/9/04 at 12:44am

Thanks, Mustang. More Lauren Bacall stories, MORE, I begs ya!!

[ShineOn]

Posted: 2/9/04 at 1:07am

"Some actors are sick or tired after a long week...some have personal issues and well, plain and simple could be "having a bad day"...to judge a performer after a show by how they behave at the stage door is unfair, and often, a little jarring. Some actors, believe it or not are also painfully shy around strangers...and really dont handle the attention well at all."


*****************

DD, I have to say I completely agree with you. A lot of people find it hard to believe that performers can be 'shy'. It's not really that strange of a phenomenon. I am a huge ham when I'm 'performing' or just entertaining someone... but throw me into a crowd of people who I don't know and I shut up quickly. I get painfully shy to the point I seem like a different person. Quiet and reserved, and that's certainly not me. I just get embarrassed and anxious around strangers most of the time.

I'm sure that's very common with those performers who have reputations of avoiding stage doors or sneaking out. Being exhausted may be key, too. I just think everyone shouldn't be so quick to judge. When a person is blatantly rude to you, that's reason to judge, but if a person just doesn't plain GO to the stage door or isn't over extroverted when they are there, you just don't know what's going on and it's really none of our business.

Maybe Hunter just doesn't take well to new people. :) Who knows?

[alterego]

Posted: 2/9/04 at 8:15am

Lauren Bacall story? Here's one. In the mid 1980's she was appearing in a production of Sweet Bird of Youth here in Melbourne, one night her chauffer collected her from her hotel for the 200 yard drive to the theatre, somewhere during the 20 second drive she sacked him. what could you do during a twenty second drive (in a straight line) that would warrant getting the sack.

Oh here's another. When she was doing Woman of the Year and was going on vacation, she learnt at the last minute that her replacement was to be Raquel Welch. On the last night prior to her departure a moving van arrived at the theatre cleaned everything out of the dressingroom, including the toilet paper.

Posted: 2/9/04 at 8:58am

"signing autographs is a simple act of kindness and not required."

I must respectfully disagree. I am a performer myself - working on stage most of my life. Signing autographs is a part of your job. As an actor/singer, your work stops when you get into the privacy of your own home. When you are in the eye of the public, you are still working, whether it be in the alley signing autographs or being recognized on the cab ride home. I've worked all my life to become a popular performer - I'm certainly not going to bitch about and snub my fans now. If these other performers can't handle signing autographs and being kind and gracious to their fans (after all, as someone else posted, they are keeping their asses employed) get out of the business.

[Jack42]

Posted: 2/9/04 at 10:16am

Bri69

Your attitude is commendable but I must disagree. EXTREME Case in point a story told to me by Paul Newman as to why he doesn't sign autographs. (This story is a few years old, so I do not know if he has since changed his tune)

He told me that several years ago he was at a restaurant and went to the mens room to take care of his business.

Upon using the urinal, he turns around and someone in the bathroom hands him a napkin and asks him to sign it.

That is why he stopped signing autographs. There comes a point to which ones personal life is their personal life.

BRI69 - I know you are referring to "normal" situations. But my basic point is - a performer is never obligated - it's their decision. And the ones that do - more power to them.

It's not a question about bitching or snubbing. It's a question of being HUMAN. NO one is at 100 percent "game" all the time.

Like I said, your attitude (and actions) are commendable - but not required.

[DefyingGravity2]

Posted: 2/9/04 at 10:25am

Heather Headly after a mid-week performance of Aida. There was barely a crowd of maybe fifteen people at best yet she couldn't be bothered to even stop and say hi. She brushed off one guy who asked nicely for an autograph and hopped into a car--which sat in the road for twenty minutes before moving! Sigh

Oddly enough, Taylor Dayne (great as Amneris) came out the stage door with the biggest smile on her face and was incredibly nice to everyone. I even noticed her go out of her way to walk down the block to greet a group of handicapped folks. She seemed thrilled to meet the fans and no matter her "pop" status, I will always respect her for her kindness to her fans.

[EddieVarley]

Posted: 2/9/04 at 10:32am

The Lunts flipped me the bird once at Sardi's.

[Jack42]

Posted: 2/9/04 at 10:39am

Were you on Candid Camera, Eddie Varley?

Perhaps it was a Lunts/Funts thing.

[EddieVarley]

Posted: 2/9/04 at 10:49am

No, but Zazu Pitts really caught me off guard on What's My Line?!

Posted: 2/9/04 at 10:57am

Jack, I understand your point. And true, I suppose no celebrity or performer is absolutely obligated to sign autographs - there certainly is no law requiring it. However, those performers who choose not to sign autographs or take the time to speak with their fans will untimately find themselves fanless.

[Right Said Rick]

Posted: 2/9/04 at 12:43pm

I do not wish to indulge in such nasty talk. I believe that if a Broadway Performer is seemingly unpleasent or nasty then they must have a good reason. Sometimes, when you are little and bad things happen to you it can effect your behavior when you are all grow'd up. It can make you mean and angry when someone pesters you for your autograph or a picture. When they do that sort of thing I think to myself, "If I were to find out where they live, sneak into their home and then confront them when they are naked in the shower or bath then they would be a lot nicer to me."

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 2/9/04 at 2:43pm

I have it on excellent authority that on Halloween, Audra McDonald gives out cheesy candy like Mary Janes and DOTS to Trick-Or-Treaters instead of really good stuff like mini-Hershey bars.

Brian Stokes Mitchell forgot to send his mom flowers on Mothers Day once.

[ShineOn]

Posted: 2/9/04 at 2:46pm

You mean to tell me that BSM is HUMAN!? =O

Say it ain't so!!!

[robbiej]

Posted: 2/9/04 at 2:51pm

Master,

How you could consider Mary Janes and inferior, B-list candy is beyond me! You have no taste, sir...NO TASTE AT ALL!!!

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 2/9/04 at 2:55pm

I know someone that broke a filling on those tan suckers, Robbie!

I'll bet Audra was giving out YEAR OLD Mary Janes, too!

[WOSQ]

Posted: 2/9/04 at 3:37pm

Many celebs are just ever so nice to the fans, the public who they know eventually pays their salaries.

But there is a subset that as soon as that door closes and the public isn't there, they turn into utter terrorists. God forbid you work with them or worse, for them.

Betty Buckley falls into this category. So does Faye Dunaway.

But the major 'Difficult Lineage' is thus:
Pearl Bailey begat Lauren Bacall who begat Betty Buckley

Topol (during The Baker's Wife at least) was no walk in the park.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 2/9/04 at 5:43pm

Well, Doll,

She hasn't been on Broadway in a while, but when she was here....Let's start at the beginning: In a swank Seattle hotel a female attendant is on her way to continue her day's work when WHAM! A door opens and the maid is pulled into a hotel room. Standing there, stark naked is Faye Dunaway...in town on her tour of "Master Class" (in which she had four dressers for one costume). "You have to help me...WHAT THE F**K DO PEOPLE WEAR IN THIS GODDAMN TOWN!!???" Faye screams at her. Apparently she doesn't let the poor girl leave until an outfit is chosen. The maid is apparently there for a little over an hour.

It's too bad "Mommie Dearest" gave ol' Faye such a reputation as a Diva.

[orion59]

Posted: 2/9/04 at 7:47pm

How can you classify someone as horribly mean based on one interaction with them? I have met a number of celebrities who were classified as mean, rude, unappreciative yet I found them delightful and engaging. Granted, most of the people I have met, I met them under different circumstances than in teh street or oustide the stage door. It has been at parties or other social functions or backstage and always because I was invited to or accompanied by someone they knew. so, naturally, the attitude would be different
Keep in mind that an actor is tired after a show especially those that have to sing and dance. They step out and find throngs of people shoving Playbills in their face demanding autographs. Most times they do what is expected by the fans and sign and take pics but, there are some nights they just don't have the energy to do it.

Aren't there nights when we all leave work in a bad mood and are ready to lash out at anyone who looks at us the wrong way?

I read the Boy George post and was surprised. He has always been very policte and sweet to people whenever I've met him. Maybe his reaction had to do with the fact that he was talking to freinds and was suddenly interupted by someone tapping his shoulder. Walking up to a stranger and touching them while they in the middle of a conversation could bring out that reaction. Wouldn't it have been better to stand to the side away from him, wait until he finished his conversation then approach him politely without tapping him?

Interupting a persons conversation, dinner, blocking their entrance to the theater or rushing toward them on the street are all rude behaviors and, in some instances can be a bit scary. I was once walking down the street with someone who was recognized by a fan. This person came running across the street, dodging traffic like a maniac and yelling "wait, stop". I was scared and wanted to run thinking this was some psycho coming to attack us.

I've found that most celebrities can be very nice when you approach them with respect, common manners and don't ask too much of them. An autograph and quick photo should be enough. An hour long converstaion is too much to expect. Imagine what it would be like for you to walk out of work and have a total stranger come up to you expecting that you forget everything you need to or want to do in order to stand there and pay attention to them.

Updated On: 2/9/04 at 07:47 PM