how to get backstage??

[corfriends]

Posted: 9/1/03 at 1:43am

I am a huge fan of broadway, and have seen numerous broadway musicals. I have met many stars, however i have never been backstage. I would loooooooove to go backstage and meet the stars. How can you do this? is there any other way besides knowing someone in the cast? and if that's the ONLY way, does someone have a friend in a cast to share with me so i can too go backstage?? thanks!

[ShineOn]

Posted: 9/1/03 at 3:12am

The only way I've ever gotten backstage at a theater is knowing someone either in the cast of the show playing there at the time or knowing someone who works for said theater.


Backstage isn't all that interesting. You're not missing much, I promise. :)

[BrdwyThtr]

Posted: 9/1/03 at 7:14am

I have a friend in Urinetown, and this summer I went backstage. It's really interesting to see the set without stage lights. It looks so different.

Posted: 9/1/03 at 8:51am

I've only been backstage once at a show. It was 1995 and the lighting techie of the cast I was touring with knew one of the techies at the Broadway theatre who took us through the backstage area after we finished watching Miss Saigon. He showed us how everything worked like the car, the helicopter, etc...It was definately a cool feeling standing there on the stage looking out into the empty house.

But you don't have to go backstage to meet a lot of Broadway performers. At a lot of shows you simply go to the stage door at the end of the show and usually there are people hanging out waiting to meet the performers as they leave the building to go home. I've only ever done this at Aida.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 9/1/03 at 9:36am

Went backstage on The Producers recently. Although I have been on stages all over the country touring old theaters over the past 20 years, this was the first stage I was on that had scenery on the stage & in the flies as well. The Nazi's used in Springtime For Hitler were squirreled away in a corner & everything was really packed tight as the backstage area is not as big as you think. Got the cooks tour

Updated On: 9/1/03 at 09:36 AM

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 9/1/03 at 10:14am

I remember shows used to auction off a backstage tour with one of the actors to benefit equity fights aids. I did it for Miss Saigon. That was awhile ago so I'm not sure if they still do it.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 9/1/03 at 10:27am

BrdwyThtr, now you know why my future job is so important! That made me happy you said that, everyone always looks over designers (not as much on broadway). When I am a designer on Bway and this board is still up, I will invite you all backstage!

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 9/1/03 at 11:34am

There's no doubt that it helps if you have a connection or reason to go backstage. If you truly know no one, it can be a challange. Depending on the actor, the theater, the stage manager, etc.

Here are a few suggestions:
1. Allow yourself enough time(2-3 wks) to write the actor/actress you wish to see. Politely ask if you might meet them for a 'brief' backstage visit? Send it "registered mail" to the theater and wait for a response. This way can be very "ify" depending on who you're dealing with, but many actors respond to this, especially if you are coming from a good distance or with a 'special "person. Get my drift? I got a wheelchair-bound boy from the south in every backstage theater he visited on his trip to NYC and I wasn't even there!

2. Contact the stage or house manager. Often they are the person to set it up. Be prepared to offer them a donation to a charity of their choice. Some theaters do this for groups and charge by the group size.
3. Take a chance the day of the performance. Send a note backstage hours before the show, address it to the performer you'd like to see. Mention you will "be at the stage door in hopes to see them". Then show up, tell the stage door attendent that so and so might be expecting you and see what happens from that. Sometimes you get invited in...sometimes you don't.
It may sound a bit bold...but I've seen it work!

I've hosted groups to shows many years ago, so I've seen all ways of getting in the door. I've got some interesting "backstage break-in" stories . Go for it!

[TEACHEROFTHEATER]

Posted: 9/1/03 at 12:16pm

I have found it quite thrilling anytime I have been backstage at a Broadway theater.

There used to be backstage tours of some Broadway theaters. Does anyone know if that program still exists?:)

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 9/1/03 at 12:54pm

Believe their are conducted tours of the New Amsterdam theater.

[CJR]

Posted: 9/1/03 at 1:22pm

Some theatres offer actual backstage tours, some do not. Personally, the only way I have ever been backstage/onstage at a Broadway theatre was because I was friends with someone in the cast or someone who worked backstage.... Everything that PB mentioned is worth a shot -- some of my friends have been able to get backstage this way.

Good luck -- and let us know how you make out.

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 9/1/03 at 1:24pm

yea i've taken the tour of the New Amsterdam theatre. During the tour all you do is look at the diffeent places in the theatre, you get to touch the lion king masks, and go on the stage. But no one is allowed into the wings. But its a neat expierence to be on the stage. ~pc~

[BrdwyThtr]

Posted: 9/1/03 at 2:02pm

When I visted backstage at Urinetown, my friend who's in the show, gave me a tour of the set and the dressing rooms. It's really cool to see how everything works.

[ChristineDaae]

Posted: 9/1/03 at 2:14pm

I've been backstage of the Majestic once but I got invited by Phantom understudy James Romick. If you want to get back there try asking an actor. If not that then you probably have to know someone in the show.

[TEACHEROFTHEATER]

Posted: 9/1/03 at 2:39pm

try working for your SCHOOL newspaper......when I was in school I did theater reviews and interviews......that got me backstage alot:))

Posted: 9/1/03 at 2:45pm

I remeber how I got to see Les Miz. I got to see how they drive the set out on stage (This was for the tour) That was very cool.

[Phantess]

Posted: 9/1/03 at 2:54pm

Yea I knew someone in the cast.

But writing a letter to someone in the show usually works as well.

[ChrisLovesShows]

Posted: 9/1/03 at 3:24pm

Didn't the Times Square BID or someone used to offer a package tour of several Broadway theatres during the day? Of course, you wouldn't be meetings actors, but it might be fun. I'll have to look that up.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 9/1/03 at 3:40pm

Note: No pictures inside theaters are allowed even when no show is in progress. This is ,in large part, due to union restrictions

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 9/1/03 at 3:58pm

I know one of the stage manager dudes at Man of La Mancha, and he took me and a friend backstage for a tour. We got to stand on the stage, check out the giant staircase, etc, and he gave me a prop from the show as a present (the missive to Dulcinea). They had thousands of those, so one wasn't a big deal :)

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 9/1/03 at 5:37pm

I work for the school newspaper and I am trying to get them to send me up to Cleveland to do reviews of the national tours that go through. My school is poor so I doubt it will fly.

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 9/1/03 at 5:39pm

Of course there's no photos allowed during the show and there are some restrictions of certain props, such as the Phantom chair or the Saigon helecopter. Some actual sets. Can't go near them or photo them, unless you've got a reason.

But you can take photos of many things... if you ask. I've got shots of the costumes, the wigs,the sets and some props of a few shows, and I just asked permission.

Backstage of Broadway is not all that glamourous! Lots of rat mazes to manouver. Many theaters are very old. Most dressing rooms are tiny. It's amazing how "everything" is tightly packed.
At the Majestic, (POTO) the grand stairway folds like an accordian and the Masquarade dummies hang high in the wings. So, unless you're into seeing how to pack a stage, it's not all that impressive to look at.
But you can and do learn a lot from the people who are the brains behind the stage,,,that is, what they're willing to tell you.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 9/1/03 at 6:11pm

I got to hang out backstage for about 2 hours during the blackout because I knew some stage door guys at a theatre and I had no where else to go. I thought it was pretty neat backstage, especially because I got to take a peek in a few dressing rooms. So you can always go into the city and pray that that happens! Haha.

[CaTheatreGirl]

Posted: 9/1/03 at 6:14pm

I'm not apt to go backstage unless I know someone associated with the show. Since I knew one of the stars of The Producers, he took me on a backstage tour. Very interesting and extremely small theater in front of and behind the curtain. Everything is jammed in every nook and cranny and after the show, you can see the first act props hanging in the flies. I'm also acquainted with a dresser and have stopped backstage at a few of his shows to say hi and take a look around. Sometimes visiting backstage is better than the show as was the case with Dance of the Vampires. Awful show but spectacular sets and props.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 9/1/03 at 7:20pm

What theatre did you hangout at, BroadwayGirl107?