stage door for how to succeed

[theatrefan18]

Posted: 5/12/11 at 9:45pm

Sorry if this has been covered already but I am new to the board and I am taking my 10 yr old daughter to "How to Succeed" on a sunday matinee. What is the scene like at the stage door and does Daniel sign? Thanks for your help.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/12/11 at 10:19pm

He often does, but the stage door is insane. for the most part, people NOT at that days show get in line before your show is done.

I usually allow my own dd to sd....we did not for Daniel Radcliffe.

[pc1145N2]

Posted: 5/12/11 at 10:48pm

Seriously, stay away from this stage door experience. It's a dangerous madhouse and it's unlikely that you'll be one of the few that he signs for. It's also difficult to see him as there are sooo many people there.

It was my worst stage door experience ever.....I'd never try that again. I'd also be concerned for a young person's safety. The people there are out of control.
Updated On: 5/15/11 at 10:48 PM

[[e-mail]]

Posted: 5/12/11 at 11:02pm

Yep that was my experience too pc1145N2. Stay away!

[mintice2]

Posted: 5/15/11 at 6:50am

I registered just to add to this topic.

I was at the Thursday night show (5/12) and attended stage door. Daniel did not come out but John Larroquette did and he couldn't have been nicer. He listened to everyone that had something to say to him and he signed playbills for everyone on both sides of the barricades. The crowd at stage door wasn't bad either, they were all a very well behaved bunch.

This was my first show and my first stage door experience. It was a very positive one and I probably will do it again.

[folkyboy]

Posted: 5/15/11 at 8:05am

I was in town yesterday evening & decided after the show I saw, to snap some pictures of the marquee (I saw something else). Unfortunately since most Broadway shows all let out around the same time, the door swooshed open before I could snap a picture and the crowd was BEYOND insane. I hate crowds anyway but this one was nightmarish.

Glad you had a wonderful experience, mintice2! It's always nice to hear when someone really gets to truly thank an actor for their craft & that they are so receptive about it. I couldn't even get CLOSE to the Al Hirschfeld on Saturday night so I have no clue who signed or did what. Not that I am a Harry Potter fan so I didn't care about that.

I was just more shocked that people were filling out into the streets around the barricade preventing me from snapping a picture of the theatre. I guess I'll do it next time....

[MyLife]

Posted: 5/15/11 at 11:13am

I went to the stage door after having seen the Sunday matinee performance and I don't think it as bad as every is saying it is. They set up two barricades. One is for anyone who wants to see Daniel and one is reserved for those who saw that day's performance.

The tough part part is getting a good spot. Daniel obviously can't sign hundreds of playbills, so you need to be towards the front.

Solution: Get your personal belongings together during curtain call and run out of there as soon as Daniel bows (only because I think it's rude to leave before curtain call).

It takes awhile for Daniel to come out (maybe 40 minutes) but once he comes out, if you're towards the front you can get his autograph easily. And he's very gracious.

I say give it a try, it would mean the world to your 10 year old daughter. When will she have another chance to see him?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/15/11 at 11:25am

Seeing how this is his 2nd show on broadway and his obvious love for it, she'll have more opportunities to meet him. She will already have SEEN him in the show. I would not put a ten year old in that kind of mob, really.

[MelissaF]

Posted: 5/15/11 at 12:09pm

I saw the show in April, and that stage door was a horrific experience....Like others have stated, People not at that days show were already lined up...as I approached the stage door, I was asked to show proof that I had attended that days show...I was utterly crushed (and I was quite close to the front) and walked away with bruises covering my legs (not kidding!!)...I did not stage door the rest of my trip...

[tarajuku]

Posted: 5/15/11 at 12:11pm

I saw the show a few Sundays ago and I echo most of the posts in this thread: craziest stagedoor I've ever seen.

Normally I wouldn't have stayed for stagedoor but my mom really wanted to get Daniel's autograph. By the time we got out of the theatre it was already mobbed. After a few minutes my claustrophobia kicked in and I went across the street to watch while my mom waited in the crowd. Not only did she not get close enough to meet Daniel (ironically I had a much better view of him from across the street and I snapped a few photos for her), but she also got knocked over by a man pushing his way to the front of the crowd.

I'd definitely be scared to bring a child into that crowd; however, like I said, I had a good view of Daniel from across the street and he did spend a decent amount of time outside, even waving to us at one point.

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 5/15/11 at 12:48pm

Seeing this is two weeks with a friend that is a huge HP fan. She wants to stage door and that's fine, but I'm staying the hell away.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 5/15/11 at 12:55pm

This was also the worst stagedoor experience I have ever had. Granted, it was because it was pouring rain, and the sidewalk was a sea of umbrellas so no one could even see who was coming out. Daniel went out another door, Larroquette walked to his car and waved, and the rest of the supporting cast walked by, assuming no one cared about them since they were waiting for Daniel. Meanwhile, I got no signatures from anyone (I actually wanted Hanke/Faber/Blanchard's as much as Daniel's, so I was disappointed) and had to run back to the box office the next day to get a dry playbill. So, really, a nightmare.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/15/11 at 12:59pm

I wouldn't expect ANY of them to sign in the rain. (Nor would I wait in the rain -- but I only SD when my dd is with me. My son and I just stand over to the side and whine about how long its taking.)

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/15/11 at 12:59pm

I wouldn't expect ANY of them to sign in the rain. (Nor would I wait in the rain -- but I only SD when my dd is with me. My son and I just stand over to the side and whine about how long its taking.)

[theatrefan18]

Posted: 5/15/11 at 8:48pm

Thank you for all of your feedback. We went today and didn't get a chance to run out before the curtain call so by the time we got outside we were already too far behind for my daughter to see anything. She really enjoyed the show but I didn't want to subject her to the frenzy at the stage door. Perhaps we will try writing to Daniel to get his autograph. Anyone have success doing that?

Thanks.