How To Not Be Creepy At Stage Door

[MunchkininOZ629]

Alright kids - here's the deal. Stage Dooring is part of being a musical theatre fan. For the most part it ends up as a pleasant experience. Stage Dooring at a show can go one of two ways. It can make your night, or leave you feeling like a complete idiot. Here's a few things to avoid:

1. Do not refer to an actor by their character's name.(i.e "OMG there's Uncle Fester!".
2. Do not say "You did a good job!". They know.
3. Do not yell at them like a Justin Beiber fan girl.
4. Do not ask an actor if anyone else is coming out.
5. Do not follow an actor after they leave the theatre. (Unless of course they are your Lin.)

And most of all....Do not act like this creepster:

Creepy guy at Shrek stage door
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7whWfYnWMw

Creepy guy at Lion King stage door
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ofF8WRabhA

[ljay889]

That Shrek video was painful.

[Annas_Priest]

I had to stop watching a bit through those videos.. it seems almost fake its so over the top..

[adamgreer]

Stage Dooring is part of being a musical theatre fan.

No it isn't.

[hairspraydude1962]

"Were you in the show?" Cringe!

[lightguy06222]

adam- I STRONGLY AGREE!

I went to see A LIFE IN THE THEATRE last week, and was with 2 girls who are big fans of TR Knight. We waited at the stage door for him to come out, but security didnt put barricades up.

When Knight exited the stage door, he was SWARMED by people. Shoving playbills in his face, taking photos, and generally bombarding him. I felt TERRIBLE. My heart was broken for the guy. He was nice and pleasant to everyone, and seemed so meek and shy. There was a clump 20 deep in either direction, and he looked so uncomfortable. I felt terrible for him.

Of course, when Patrick Stewart came out, the barricades went up.

[JoeKv99]

For the life of me I will NEVER understand why some freaks think that the price of a ticket to the show includes "private time" with the star in the alley after wards.

[newintown]

I'm always creeped out when I see people waiting at the stage door. Isn't seeing their work enough? What's behind this need to get closer? There's always a whiff of stalking about it.

That said, there are some actors who loathe it, and some who thrive on it.

[James885]

It's funny how the stage door experience has, for some people, become part of the entire show experience. It almost seems like the stage door is more important than the actual show, which it isn't. An actor's responsibility to the audience ends when curtain comes down after curtain call.

[notabb]

I imagine it'll only be a matter of time before some "fan" handcuffs themselves to some poor actor.Better not pick Patti.

[MunchkininOZ629]

Agreed adamgreer, i said that wrong. However i think it CAN be a cool part of the experiance. I just pray to God that i don't look like that guy when i'm doing it.

[FindingNamo]

Then how do you explain a show like the odious "Neighbors" by the low-talent Brandon Jacobs-Jenkins who included in his script action and dialogue after the curtain call, that continues into the lobby, and includes characters having further dialogue at the stage door?

Different people have different experiences. Judge not lest ye be judged, Shakespeare once said.

[Joey.]

The two times I've done it have been pleasant experiences with everybody else around me being extremely polite and considerate to the actors coming out.

[Marianne2]

Honestly, I don't see why #2 is so bad. It is a lot better than what could be said. Obviously, if you sound fake and insincere, it will show. But, sometimes it is just really hard for some people to speak up and say more than I enjoyed the show or whatever.

[MunchkininOZ629]

O my gosh he's even creepier with kids:

Young Simba
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G92tut1hyg

Young Fiona
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNZ95Qz4gnQ

^As a side note, i love how he automatically thinks the black guy was Donkey.

[Joey.]

2. Do not say "You did a good job!". They know.

I think saying thank you and something about enjoying their performance in the particular piece you just saw is a more than appropriate thing to say to an actor at the stage door.

However, a friend of mine went to the stage door after seeing Donna Murphy in "Wonderful Town" and somebody else next to him told Donna "ZOMG I LOVED YOU IN KING AND I!!1" Donna looked at him, deadpan, and asked "But this was okay too, right?"

[jamiekennywicked]

Another one is don't ask a peformer will another actor be coming out or have they left. It's like stealing their thunder.

[landryjames2]

I agree with most of the above except for "2. Do not say "You did a good job!". They know."

Something along those lines is fine and harmless in my opinion (and actors do like to hear even if they know). I actually hate it more when people just stand there to get their playbills signed without muttering even a Thank You.

However, all the other points are right on.

[provocation]

AKWARD. And Haven DOES look freaking pissed in that Shrek video. HAHA.

[quizking101]

How not to be creepy: Don't do what my Mom did at GOD OF CARNAGE and ask to kiss Jimmy Smits. He went along with it and smiled (but I face-palmed in embarassment).

I always say "Good job" and "THank You". The former always seemes to humble the performer an make them happy.
(Like at LEND ME A TENOR, I said "Good job" to Tony Shalhoub and his face lit up like a Christmas tree

[Marianne2]

I agree with touching them. They are real people too, so I don't see what touching them really does. It is one thing if you ask if you can get a picture with them, and you happen to just touch in some way for that. But asking for a hug, which I have seen, is really weird, in my opinion.

[quizking101]

^ Agreed. If any bodily contact occurs, let it be initiated by the celebrity. (Caissie Levy hugged me at the stage door at HAIR and thanked me for helping her off the stage)

...and so goes the story of my picture

[mybigsplash]

I don't mind when people ask if other people are coming out, though I understand how it may come off to some people. The actor may or may not assume the stagedoor fans are friends with the other actor they are asking for. And assumedly, people in casts should be friends and respect one another, and respect that different people have different fans.

I've always been the type who doesn't see signing at a stagedoor as an actor's "responsibility" or, "part of their job." It's not the right of the audience member to get an autograph, nor is the stage door an "institution."

This all being said, the absolute worst thing that I find unconscionable and inappropriate, is when people compliment actors on their prior roles in other works, rather than the performance at hand. It's classless and irrelevant. Like the Donna Murphy example above. I think it's the worst offense you can make at a stagedoor. Worse than following an actor home, or asking for a photo or a kiss, or asking " is someone else is coming out" It's just wrong.

Then again, to clarify, I don't see a problem with people complimenting actors by saying, "I saw you in ... rare show 10 years ago... and I decided to see you in this, and you were great" But with ensemble members, it's sometimes complimentary to say " I saw you in ..." which might be something they're not often recognized for. Just as long as people know the etiquette is to compliment the current performance, and not say, "You were great in ... previous show."

[ghostlight2]

"This all being said, the absolute worst thing that I find unconscionable and inappropriate, is when people compliment actors on their prior roles in other works, rather than the performance at hand. It's classless and irrelevant. Like the Donna Murphy example above. I think it's the worst offense you can make at a stagedoor. Worse than following an actor home..."

Really? I know many an actor that has been stalked in that way, and I'm sure they'd rate being followed home a FAR worse offense than hearing a silly faux pas at the stage door. I'm pretty sure that you're in the minority on that one.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Don't worry. He only finds it unconscionable until the next paragraph.