This is likely the death of the stage door

[Speed]

Even when they deem it safe to re-open Broadway, I can't imagine the actors will be interested in up close and in person encounters again.  All for the best. It got out of control anyway.

[ljay889]

Good!!

[dramamama611]

Well, not for the near future, anyway. Like many things, resetting once in a while is a good thing.

Perhaps this will help remind people about personal boundaries.

[MCW1227]

As it should be.  Actors should not be subjected to that after giving a performance and being exhausted.  Plus even when they do, if the public doesn’t get the reaction they expect, it is reported here or on Twitter that they are grumpy or something similar.  

[Jordan Catalano]

Oh, Jesus. No it won’t be. When this is all said and done and things get back to “normal”, actors will again sign playbills at the stage door. Whether those people who don’t even wait at the SD and still like to complain about non stop for some reason like it or not, like the rest of the world, it’ll continue on.

[Mr. Wormwood]

It'll likely stop it for awhile even after shows resume but I really doubt it's the permanent end of the stage door...

[JVJ93]

Good. Stage door culture has been toxic for awhile now. If you really need to be fulfilled with a signature, send your playbill to the theatre/stage management. Leave actors alone

[Jordan Catalano]

^99% of actors who don’t want to do it, don’t. I feel as though many here live in an alternate reality where actors have no choice as to doing this after a show.

[uncageg]

I suspect it will be left up to individual productions as to what they want to do for maybe a period of caution and then it may go back to normal. I also suspect that this will change things at the stage doors for a while. JMO

[mailhandler777]

Why do people think that actors don't enjoy coming out and meeting people after?

I'm chatting with a few performers from different shows through their quarantines and all of them miss interactions with people.

[Jordan Catalano]

People just like to act superior and all high and mighty over stupid sh*t like this.

[Enjolras5]

The actors who don't enjoy interacting with fans stay inside.  The ones who stage door are doing it for a reason - not because they feel obligated to but because they genuinely care about their fans, want to make them happy, and want to get to know them better.  I've had actors ask me what I'm studying in college, I've had them ask me what other shows I've seen, and they are ALWAYS gracious.  They are out there for a reason.  And if they're too tired after a show, they don't come out.  I give them all the love in the world.

[poisonivy2]

Yep this needed its own thread and couldn't possbily have fit into any of the 10 or 15 other threads about the effect of coronavirus on B'way.

[VintageSnarker]

Mr. Wormwood said: "It'll likely stop it for awhile even after shows resume but I really doubt it's the permanent end of the stage door..."

This. I think it's important to remember that we aren't all asymptomatic carriers of coronavirus. Somehow we went from healthy people self-quarantining to slow the spread of the virus to assuming that all young people are carrying it and that's why we have to stay away from people who might be more susceptible. 

Also, [insert old argument about not all actors hating the stage door here].

[Sutton Ross]

This thread is a tad dramatic (even for a theater board!), but I do think it got out of control with the entitlement, the bitching online if someone didn't come out, stalking, damaging personal property, etc. I think around Fall things will slowly get back to normal, and people will stage door again. Perhaps the attitude of "it's PART of my ticket" will change though. 

[AEA AGMA SM]

JVJ93 said: "Good. Stage door culture has been toxic for awhile now. If you really need to be fulfilled with a signature, send your playbill to the theatre/stage management. Leave actors alone"

I'll say that as a stage manager I hate getting those envelopes in the mail and an extremely large percentage of them end up in the trash. I have so many things to do before, during, and after a show. Hounding the cast to sign a random Playbill is below low on my priority list.

[castlestreet]

Yes - there will be no more stage door and moving forward the first 15 rows of the orchestra will be empty as well...

[haterobics]

Speed said: "Even when they deem it safe to re-open Broadway, I can't imaginethe actors will be interested in up close and in person encounters again. All for the best. It got out of control anyway."

A lot of other things you might imagine will also be untrue.

[DCDrama2]

Pore Door is daid
A Candle lights its haid
It's layin' in a cawfin made of wood

Wood...

And folks are feelin' sad
Cause they useter treat it bad
But now they know their friend is gone for good

Good.

[MollyJeanneMusic]

DCDrama2 said: "Pore Door is daid
A Candle lights itshaid
It's layin' in a cawfin made of wood

Wood...

And folks are feelin' sad
Cause they useter treat it bad
But now they know their friend is gone for good

Good."

Ironically, when I saw Oklahoma, two of the only people to come out the stage door were Damon and Patrick.  (The other was Mitch Tebo, and I saw Sasha Hutchings sneak out and nobody bugged her.)

[hearthemsing22]

I highly doubt that. When they announced the Broadway closure, so many people were so upset and whining about how they were going to come from X place to see X performer at the stage door, and now they can't. I can't imagine these entitled people not wanting to see the performers when they're able to. 

[Evans2]

AEA AGMA SM said: "'ll say that as a stage manager I hate getting those envelopesin the mail and an extremely large percentage of themend up in the trash. I have so many things to do before, during, and after a show. Hounding the cast to sign a random Playbill is below low on my priority list."

While I can understand your perspective, maybe you could choose to look at the situation another way - 

If someone is willing to send a donation to a good cause like bc/efa, you're doing a great service by sending back a cast signed playbill. I'm not saying go out of your way but it seems like a win all around. One less person hounding actors at the door and a donation going to a good organization. 

[Robbie2]

hearthemsing22 said: "I highly doubt that. When they announced the Broadway closure, so many people were so upset and whining about how they were going to come from X place to see X performer at the stage door, and now they can't. I can't imagine these entitled people not wanting to see the performers when they're able to."

 

GOOD it should end! These entitled brats won't be back...how will they afford BWAY as we head deeper in to a recession-they will all be unemployed probably by the time it reopens.

[Jordan Catalano]

Jesus, y’all still on about this thing that has zero effect on you and that a lot of performers actually enjoy doing? Quarantine must have you BORED.

[poisonivy2]

Robbie2 said: "hearthemsing22 said: "I highly doubt that. When they announced the Broadway closure, so many people were so upset and whining about how they were going to come from X place to see X performer at the stage door, and now they can't. I can't imagine these entitled people not wanting to see the performers when they're able to."



GOOD it should end! These entitled brats won't be back...how will they afford BWAY as we head deeper in to a recession-they will all be unemployed probably by the time it reopens."

Last time I checked paying for a Broadway ticket and expressing the disappointment that a trip has been canceled isn’t “entitled.” I also can’t believe you’re hoping that Broadway patrons are unemployed. That means the real death of Broadway. If ppl have no money they cant go to the theater.