When will actors begin stage dooring again/backstage tours

[GlenCoco]

Posted: 4/3/20 at 3:26pm

Someone in a cast told me they would take me and a friend backstage but when will that happen.

We are still months away from broadway re opening and I can't imagine actors will begin stagedooring or giving backstage tours at that point, it'll probably be months after

[nealb1]

Posted: 4/3/20 at 3:48pm

You answered your question in the body of your posting -

" We are still months away from broadway re opening and I can't imagine actors will begin stagedooring or giving backstage tours at that point, it'll probably be months after."

As far as someone in a cast telling you that they would take you and a friend backstage - good for you.  Let us know when you do it. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/3/20 at 4:17pm

Never understood the interest of backstage tours for a Broadway show. There’s nothing to see aside from set pieces suspended above or piled up in the wings. That’s it aside from actors on their way out, etc. Unlike visiting a soundstage of a sitcom which has the full sets to see and look around (the items in the kitchens, bedrooms, etc), backstage on Broadway has zero to offer. Unless you want to stand with the ghost light and look out into the house. That’s about it.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/3/20 at 5:03pm

Sure, but if you've never done that, it is pretty cool.

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 4/3/20 at 5:38pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "Never understood the interest of backstage tours for a Broadway show. There’s nothing to see aside from set pieces suspended above or piled up in the wings. That’s it aside from actors on their way out, etc. Unlike visiting a soundstage of a sitcom which has the full sets to see and look around (the items in the kitchens, bedrooms, etc), backstage on Broadway has zero to offer. Unless you want to stand with the ghost light and look out into the house. That’s about it."

People derive pleasure from different things. Especially for someone who enjoys theatre but is not involved in the business, it's interesting to see the inner workings of things - even if it isn't very glamorous. 

[chuckydisc]

Posted: 4/3/20 at 6:51pm

GlenCoco said: "Someone in a cast told me they would take me and a friend backstage but when will that happen."

My guess is June ... 2021.

[thedrybandit]

Posted: 4/3/20 at 7:12pm

TheGingerBreadMan said: "BrodyFosse123 said: "Never understood the interest of backstage tours for a Broadway show. There’s nothing to see aside from set pieces suspended above or piled up in the wings. That’s it aside from actors on their way out, etc. Unlike visiting a soundstage of a sitcom which has the full sets to see and look around (the items in the kitchens, bedrooms, etc), backstage on Broadway has zero to offer. Unless you want to stand with the ghost light and look out into the house. That’s about it."

People derive pleasure from different things. Especially for someone who enjoys theatre but is not involved in the business, it's interesting to see the inner workings of things - even if it isn't very glamorous."

And even for people in the industry, it's interesting to see how different shows handle the different logistics of running a show backstage.

Let people enjoy things, Brody.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/3/20 at 7:39pm

None of what you guys describe takes place during a backstage visit. These tour/visits are done post-performance so you’re not watching how the show is being done or any of the mechanisms taking place during an actual performance. No one is going to let you just stand in the wings while a performance is going on as the chaos backstage is taking place. I’m backstage regularly and see how disappointed the guest of actors are when they’re looking around backstage. It’s just a bare stage with everything crammed in the wings.

[DAME]

Posted: 4/3/20 at 7:45pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "None of what you guys describe takes place during a backstage visit. These tour/visits are done post-performance so you’re not watching how the show is being done or any of the mechanisms taking place during an actual performance. No one is going to let you just stand in the wings while a performance is going on as the chaos backstage is taking place. I’m backstage regularly and see how disappointed the guest of actors are when they’re looking around backstage. It’s just a bare stage with everything crammed in the wings."

I have had a few backstage experiences that have been absolutely magical.  I hope we get to the day when things like this can happen again.  It is absolutely thrilling for a majority of theater enthusiasts to be on the other side of the magic. 

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 4/3/20 at 7:48pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "None of what you guys describe takes place during a backstage visit. These tour/visits are done post-performance so you’re not watching how the show is being done or any of the mechanisms taking place during an actual performance. No one is going to let you just stand in the wings while a performance is going on as the chaos backstage is taking place. I’m backstage regularly and see how disappointed the guest of actors are when they’re looking around backstage. It’s just a bare stage with everything crammed in the wings."

Nobody is implying that backstage tours take place during performances. We all know that they don’t. Getting to see pieces stored in the wings and what the stage looks like up close is still a thrilling experience for many. Crabby, much?

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/3/20 at 7:55pm

Bro-Dog, just let people enjoy things they love. I have also been backstage in many places, and for theater lovers it is a very wonderful experience. 

[alovingfan]

Posted: 4/3/20 at 8:09pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "None of what you guys describe takes place during a backstage visit. These tour/visits are done post-performance so you’re not watching how the show is being done or any of the mechanisms taking place during an actual performance. No one is going to let you just stand in the wings while a performance is going on as the chaos backstage is taking place. I’m backstage regularly and see how disappointed the guest of actors are when they’re looking around backstage. It’s just a bare stage with everything crammed in the wings."

Aren't you a barrel of fun.

[BroadwayRox3588]

Posted: 4/3/20 at 8:48pm

I think it's immensely too early to think about Broadway even reopening, let alone stagedooring and backstage tours. For all we know, stagedooring/backstage tours could be a thing of the past, come post-coronavirus. But again, we don't even know when that will be, yet. We're still on the upward trajectory of COVID-19 cases. There's so much we don't know.

Also this thread went in a very interesting direction. I went backstage at Anastasia multiple times, and I just enjoyed hanging out with Christy Altomare after the show. It was nothing fancy, it was just a fun hangout time. Different strokes for different folks.

Updated On: 4/3/20 at 08:48 PM

[thedrybandit]

Posted: 4/3/20 at 11:13pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "None of what you guys describe takes place during a backstage visit. These tour/visits are done post-performance so you’re not watching how the show is being done or any of the mechanisms taking place during an actual performance. No one is going to let you just stand in the wings while a performance is going on as the chaos backstage is taking place. I’m backstage regularly and see how disappointed the guest of actors are when they’re looking around backstage. It’s just a bare stage with everything crammed in the wings."

Of course it's not during a performance, that could only be done if you're shadowing a stage manager or other union worker backstage. For people out of the industry, it can be fun to see the sets and props up close. Hell, Beetlejuice even parked their whole house set upstage and let people pose in front of it for photos. Phantom lets backstage visitors take pictures with the chandelier. It's exciting for people who don't usually get to be on a Broadway stage.

For people in the industry, it can be fun to see how things are stored backstage, or see interesting props up close (to use the same two shows as examples, Beetlejuice's ukulele or the Phantom's throne) to take new ideas back to their shows, or be inspired by in the future, or even just borrow a method of storing a large set-piece for their next show's load-in.

[lightguy06222]

Posted: 4/3/20 at 11:25pm

"stage dooring" is a thing of the past!  RIP.

 

so is the "handshake" as a greeting.

 

Backstage tours will be VIP access only.  you will need to know someone in the show personally.  Or get prior approval from producers or something.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/4/20 at 8:52am

I disagree that things are gone forever.....but for a long while. And, when people begin to relax, they will trickle slowly back.

[kennedy_rose]

Posted: 4/4/20 at 9:02am

dramamama611 said: "I disagree that things are gone forever.....but for a long while. And, when people begin to relax, they will trickle slowly back."

I think it should be eliminated period. It begins to wear on performers to entertain people backstage after the show / dealing with signature hounding fans at the stage door. We've done our job ON THE STAGE. Can we please go home now?

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 4/4/20 at 9:15am

" I disagree that things are gone forever.....but for a long while. And, when people begin to relax, they will trickle slowly back. "

Even when things get back to "normal", I think there will be things that people will still want to do regarding safety. Will actor want to handle "Playbill" from somebody they don't know anymore? What about social distancing? I just think going forward this ritual may not trickle back.

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 4/4/20 at 9:58am

See I really hope there is some way this does come back. Though I’ve never been a constant stage door person I really did love the idea of getting my OBC window card signed. Especially with some of my favourite actors as a child. I still would love to meet Alice’s ripley, Cheyenne Jackson, Johnathan Groff and while I know safety is top priority. It’s kind of sad to think I may never be able to.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 4/4/20 at 10:07am

" I still would love to meet Alice’s ripley, Cheyenne Jackson, Johnathan Groff and while I know safety is top priority. It’s kind of sad to think I may never be able to. "

Having had the pleasure of meeting Alice Ripley (she was wonderful) and Jonathan Groff at the stage door and outside of it, I hope you do get chance to meet them one day.

[BLs68]

Posted: 4/4/20 at 10:14am

I personally hate the stage door but I love going backstage. I’ve gone backstage at Once On This Island once and three times at Hadestown. Each time has been a wonderful experience to talk to the performers on a personal level about many topics and get to see where everything gets stored.

I was supposed to go backstage at Beetlejuice a few weeks ago. It’s a lose-lose situation for all involved at this point and I’m sad about it. The organization who set up my tickets and tour automatically refunded me and said they would not be able to schedule a tour with Beetlejuice when Broadway opens up again. I was looking forward to this for many reasons, especially to see the sandworm.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/4/20 at 10:24am

kennedy_rose said: "dramamama611 said: "I disagree that things are gone forever.....but for a long while. And, when people begin to relax, they will trickle slowly back."

I think it should be eliminated period. It begins to wear on performers to entertain people backstage after the show / dealing with signature hounding fans at the stage door. We've done our job ON THE STAGE. Can we please go home now?"

PERSONALLY, I don't disagree with you - I don't stage door, I never was one to understand it, especially to the extent it is now.  

But as an actor - you don't "have to", either.  

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 4/4/20 at 10:35am

" But as an actor - you don't "have to", either. "

Is that totally true? I have read posts over the years by quite a few people who say the shows tell actors it is "highly recommended" that they promote the show by going to the stage door and signing stuff.

[kennedy_rose]

Posted: 4/4/20 at 11:08am

yankeefan7 said: "" But as an actor - you don't "have to", either. "

Is that totally true? I have read posts over the years by quite a few people who say the shows tell actors it is "highly recommended" that they promote the show by going to the stage door and signing stuff."

Of course no one can force you, but in the age of social media, there are these outlandish expectations and fans will post photos and it keeps the machine going; to do the stage door is still selling the show and serving the ticket buyers. When you don't, you get the Scarlet Letter and yes, leads of shows have come to dressing rooms and reamed actors for not joining them in camaraderie to greet the fans and sign playbills. And guess what, we became tone deaf toward that particular person's requests and it ruined things. So much for camaraderie.

As the old saying goes, "You do you, I'll do me."

Updated On: 4/4/20 at 11:08 AM

[MollyJeanneMusic]

Posted: 4/4/20 at 11:14am

kennedy_rose said: "yankeefan7 said: "" But as an actor - you don't "have to", either. "

Is that totally true? I have read posts over the years by quite a few people who say the shows tell actors it is "highly recommended" that they promote the show by going to the stage door and signing stuff."

Of course no one can force you, but in the age of social media, there are these outlandish expectations and fans will post photos and it keeps the machine going; to do the stage door is still selling the show and serving the ticket buyers. When you don't, you get the Scarlet Letter and yes, leads of shows have come to dressing rooms and reamed actors for not joining them in camaraderie to greet the fans and sign playbills. And guess what, we became tone deaf towardthat particularrequests and overall behavior. So much for camaraderie.

As the old saying goes, "You do you, I'll do me.""

Have Amber Gray and André de Shields ever stage doored at Hadestown?  When I saw the show, the only one of the five leads who came out was Reeve.  I didn't lose respect for the people who didn't stage door.  I appreciated the time I got to interact with the actors I did meet, and I went on my way.  I'm a performer who personally enjoys the stage door - I love getting to talk with people after the show, and on the few nights during my latest show where I couldn't stage door, I definitely missed it.  I hope the tradition doesn't go away because of this - or if anything, less audience members will go to it and then there won't be as much pushing to the front or holding Playbills over people's heads to get them to the actors.