Nicest & Worst

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jimmirae
#25re: Nicest & Worse
Posted: 12/12/05 at 7:12pm

Greg Jbara is the STAGE DOOR GOD.


"It is bad enough that people are dying of AIDS, but no one should die of ignorance." - Elizabeth Taylor

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broadway86
#26re: Nicest & Worse
Posted: 12/12/05 at 7:17pm

VonTussleGirl-

I'm incredibly disappointed to hear that Carol Kane wasn't nice. I've always liked her.

RENThead414
#27re: Nicest & Worse
Posted: 12/12/05 at 7:21pm

Telly Leung, Kristy Cates, Ana Gasteyer, Kate Reinders, Rondi Reed, Kristoffer Cusick....pretty much everybody I've met from the Chicago Wicked cast has been SO NICE, espicially Telly and Kristy. Telly walked and talked with us for awhile, and Kristy kept saying "I wish this barrier wasn't here!" while she was signing stuff/taking pictures with us. so nice. all of them. yay nice people!

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iliketheater
#28re: Nicest & Worse
Posted: 12/12/05 at 7:28pm

Phylicia Rashad was the nicest star i've ever met. Not only did she stay to sign autographs & take pictures with EVERYONE there, but she actually waited for someone to call their friend, and had a whole conversation with them on this fans phone, and then took more pictures & signed more autographs.

Besides that, I've never really had a bad experience. Some of the best were: The entire cast of 'The Color Purple', the entire cast of 'Doubt', (especially Cherry Jones and Brían F. O'Byrne), Norm Lewis, Adam Pascal, and Kristen Chenoweth
Updated On: 1/2/06 at 07:28 PM

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JACXR71
#29re: Nicest & Worse
Posted: 12/12/05 at 7:44pm

Oh, gosh - well, I second the casts of Ave Q, Spelling Bee, DRS, Wicked tour/Chicago prod, Rent movie, Altar Boyz, Trailer Park (RIP) - pretty much every show I've stagedoored has been a good experience, as was any time I randomly met an individual performer.


If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

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thejcm
#30re: Nicest & Worse
Posted: 12/12/05 at 7:51pm

Both times I've seen RENT on tour (the past two tours) the casts have been extremely nice. except both times the SOLoist and Mimi (both different each time) walked right past me before anyone had a chance to say hello...but other than that everyone was great!

Alice Ripley was a complete doll when I got to meet her after Tommy in Pittsburgh. She's so funny!


"Who says you can't bend over backwards and eat bugs if you want to? I guess the bugs would probably say you can't do that that, but assuming that they are willing and consenting bugs, then there's no problem. Let's wig out eating bugs." -RuPaul

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Kgshrauder
#31re: Nicest & Worse
Posted: 12/12/05 at 7:53pm

The nicest was almost the entire cast of Sweeney. Except Patti didn't come out, I was a little upset by that and Mark Jacoby and the guy who played Fogg just walked by, the rest of the cast was so nice.


It was 6 hours, I don't even like to have sex and eat bacon for 6 hours.
Freddy Benson- Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

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Mr Roxy
#32re: Nicest & Worse
Posted: 12/12/05 at 7:55pm

As a habit, I do not wait. Having said that...

Nicest - Chita, Jeff Goldblum, Vincent Price (unfortunately he is dead)

Worst - Mickey Rooney, Yul Brynner (also dead)


Poster Emeritus

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jv92
#33re: Nicest & Worse
Posted: 12/12/05 at 7:56pm

John Lithgow is very nice. He was very gracious.
I haven't had a bad stage door in recent memory so I can't answer your second question.

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jimmirae
#34re: Nicest & Worse
Posted: 12/12/05 at 7:59pm

I had heard for years that Rooney had an attitude Mr. Roxy, I wouldn't even ask.


"It is bad enough that people are dying of AIDS, but no one should die of ignorance." - Elizabeth Taylor

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dancingthrulife04
#35re: Nicest & Worse
Posted: 12/12/05 at 8:10pm

I can't say I've really had a bad experience. There have been a few occasions when people were obnoxious, but meeting them other times they were delightful.

Some nice ones that stick out in my mind: Cary Shields, Kelly Karbacz, Karmine Alers, Will Chase, Matt Caplan, Chuck Cooper, Belle Calaway, Mandy Gonzalez, Tyler Maynard (who observed that my ABz CD matched my shirt), Julia Murney, David Turner, Shayna Steele, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Adam Pascal (was extremely nice to me, even though I was a bit terrified to speak), Anthony Rapp.


http://www.beintheheights.com/katnicole1 (Please click and help me win!) I chose, and my world was shaken- So what?
The choice may have been mistaken, The choosing was not...
"Every day has the potential to be the greatest day of your life." - Lin-Manuel Miranda
"And when Idina Menzel is singing, I'm always slightly worried that her teeth are going to jump out of her mouth and chase me." - Schmerg_the_Impaler

Starburst
#36re: Nicest & Worse
Posted: 12/12/05 at 8:12pm

While I'm with the majority in saying I've never really had a bad stage door experience, a couple visits really stand out:

Pamela Isaacs, who played Muzzy in the 2004 Thoroughly Modern Millie National tour. While most of the cast was wonderful and signed both my poster and my program (It was my birthday, after all =)), Ms. Isaacs stayed and chatted with my mother and me about how she got into acting and her experiences and gave me some advice. She was amazing.

Anthony Rapp, (of course) during the LSOH tours. The poor dear looked DREADFULLY tired, but he still stayed to talk with me, my friend, and the couple others who were waiting as well, all of us with some form of Rent memorabilia we wanted signed. He EVEN was willing to take pictures with all of us, and, to my delight, I can now say Anthony Rapp's arm was around me as he sang sweet nothings in my ear.

"Push the button, just push the button, push the button, on the camera, to take the picture, just a button..."

Hey, I'll take what I can! =)

Michael Gruber, who did Singin' in the Rain here in Seattle last January. Probably my BEST stage door experience. I wasn't expecting to see anyone I knew when I went (bought tickets night-of) and, being a former Cats fan, nearly had a heart attack when I saw his name in the program. I was the only one waiting at the door, and got a lot of the cast's autographs thanks to Joey Matta, the show's assistant choreographer, (who also offered me his dance classes, which I'm still bitter I wasn't able to do). After nearly an hour of waiting some backstage hand came out and told me he didn't think anyone was left, but determined, I waited another ten minutes or so, and Michael Gruber, Michael Arnold (Cosmo), and the woman who played Kathy (is it sad how I only remember the guys? I'm a traitor to my own sex!) came out, and they were all, "Wow, someone's actually out here! And we were dragging our butts coming down!" They were all wonderful and talked to me for a good while about acting in general, and my upcoming trip to New York and little hints and what not. There was a big excited livejournal entry when I got home that night, let me tell you. re: Nicest & Worse

Oh, now I'm all happy and excited recalling these things. =)

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bigrab1018
#37re: Nicest & Worse
Posted: 12/12/05 at 8:15pm

DEBORAH CRAIG!


"Billy, put down that phylactery...we're Episcopalian." - Spelling Bee

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Piazzaslight
#38re: Nicest & Worse
Posted: 12/12/05 at 8:21pm

BEST: Jeff Goldblum, Denis O'Hare, Cherry Jones.

WORST: Not any of the actors. I've always had good experiences.


MARGARET: "Clara, stop that. That's illegal." - The Light in the Piazza

"I'm not in Bambi and I'm not blonde!" - Idina Menzel

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AnotherDay46
#39re: Nicest & Worse
Posted: 12/12/05 at 8:21pm

Greg Jbara has to be one of the nicest people. He talked to us for about 15 minutes about his doctor friend and cough medicines, it was quite commical. ^__^

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dancingthrulife04
#40re: Nicest & Worse
Posted: 12/12/05 at 8:22pm

Haha, yes, add Deborah Craig too my list. When I was at the Bee CD signing, Sarah (saltzberg) said something about cats, and Deborah busted out singing "Jellicle Cats." I seemed to be the only one who got the joke, and we had a laugh.


http://www.beintheheights.com/katnicole1 (Please click and help me win!) I chose, and my world was shaken- So what?
The choice may have been mistaken, The choosing was not...
"Every day has the potential to be the greatest day of your life." - Lin-Manuel Miranda
"And when Idina Menzel is singing, I'm always slightly worried that her teeth are going to jump out of her mouth and chase me." - Schmerg_the_Impaler

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QMAN03
#41re: Nicest & Worse
Posted: 12/12/05 at 8:35pm

Great: Mathew Broderick stayed at the stage door for about 30 minutes just signing and taking pictures. He wasn't that personable though. Cherry Jones and the dode from Doubt (totally blanking on his name) are a;so very nice. They stayed and talked to us for a while since we had been waiting for like 45 minutes. And the best part of the night was that the reason they took so long was because she was meeting with Ralph Fiennes about a new show they are doing together. And when they all came out, Raplh actually stayed and talked. They are all so nice.

THE BEST: But the best stage door expierience must go to Mr. Goldbloom. After Pillowman, there were a ton of people outside. He stayed and signed everybody's stuff and took pictures. But he didn't take regular pictures. He always did these abnormal poses are kissed a girl on the cheek for a photo. Super funny. But then when everyone left, me being the huge fan of him and his film work, I stayed and talked to him. We must have talked for 30 minutes just about his film work and the directors hes worked with. Best stage door expierience I've ever had.

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dancingthrulife04
#42re: Nicest & Worse
Posted: 12/12/05 at 8:37pm

I'm guessing you mean Jeff Goldblum. I've never actually met him, except for waving in passing (which got me a confused but very polite hello), but he seems sweet.


http://www.beintheheights.com/katnicole1 (Please click and help me win!) I chose, and my world was shaken- So what?
The choice may have been mistaken, The choosing was not...
"Every day has the potential to be the greatest day of your life." - Lin-Manuel Miranda
"And when Idina Menzel is singing, I'm always slightly worried that her teeth are going to jump out of her mouth and chase me." - Schmerg_the_Impaler

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dreaminaret
#43re: Nicest & Worse
Posted: 12/12/05 at 8:41pm

best - i second the rent movie cast, richard dreyfuss (exonerated), aaron lohr
worst - havent been to enough shows to have evil stories


i grew up 13 miles north of bohemia and 31 miles northeast of hicksville.

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Musical_nerd
#44re: Nicest & Worse
Posted: 12/12/05 at 9:04pm

Jenna Leigh Green and Derrick Williams were INCREDIBLY nice. They spent considerably amounts of time with the people at the door, (there were only a few people) and took pictures- signed. Jenna even told us about some stuff backstage- and thanked us for waiting for her. It was a really positive experience after having a so-so one with Norbert.


mijofly19
#45re: Nicest & Worse
Posted: 12/12/05 at 9:13pm

Nicest-Michael McGrath, David Hyde Pierce, Lee Morgan, Karen Olivo, Cleavant Derricks, the entire cast of Lennon, Megan Hilty, Brad Oscar, Destan Owens, D'Monroe, Justin Johnston, Crystal Monee Hall, Jan Maxwell, Kevin Cahoon, Julie Tolivar, Rich Hilsabeck.
I've never had any really bad experiences.

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Mr Roxy
#46re: Nicest & Worse
Posted: 12/12/05 at 9:33pm

Rumor has it Rooney ran out after the curtain still in costume. now he does infomercials for an insurance company. Go figure


Poster Emeritus

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HBG
#47re: Nicest & Worse
Posted: 12/12/05 at 9:48pm

Extremely Nice: the entire cast of Avenue Q (especially Christian and Jen), Julie Reiber, Justin Patterson, Leah Hocking, Tracy Miller, Andrew Rannells, Stephen DeRosa, Donna Vivino, Bruce Vilanch, Jen Waldman, Marty Thomas, Ben Vereen, and David Ayers.

The Nicest: Jenn Gambatese, Gavin Creel, and especially Megan Hilty

Not So Nice: Michelle Federer


"Free from what, Tracy? Free from what?"

elphatine
#48re: Nicest & Worse
Posted: 12/12/05 at 9:52pm

Nicest: The entire cast of Lennon were all dolls to me (Julia Murney liked my necklace re: Nicest & Worse ), Sutton Foster - actually all the people from Little Women, Anthony Rapp, Sherie Rene Scott, and probably lots more that I can't think of at this moment. re: Nicest & Worse

Um... can't say I've ever had anyone be blatantly rude to me at a stage door, but D'Monroe was pretty icky to us. He was to busy flirting with some random girls to sign our programs. Which bothered me.

Yeah, haven't heard great things about Michelle Federer.
Updated On: 12/12/05 at 09:52 PM

TangoSchadenfreude
#49re: Nicest & Worse
Posted: 12/12/05 at 9:58pm

I haven't had many experiences...and I don't know if he counts, but Jeff Davis is really nice. He was in a Broadway production of "The King and I" when he was 11, but he's best known for his appearances on "Whose Line is it Anyway?" I went to see him and some of the other guys in the "Whose Line?" posse at the "Improv Allstars" show in Montreal one summer. After the show I saw him hanging outside on the sidewalk with a couple of pretty, blonde, college groupies. Of course, being the nerdy little kid I was at the time, I had to stop and chat with him anyway. We talked a bit about the show and about improv. He said it's not as hard as it looks, though somehow I doubt that. I had drawn pictures of Colin Mochrie and Greg Proops in hopes that I'd find them and get them to sign them, but I asked Jeff to sign the Greg Proops picture and he and the groupies were really impressed by it and so we talked a bit about artwork. Overall, he was a really tolerant, nice, considerate, friendly guy. Especially because he gave up valuable hot-blonde-groupie-bonding-time to chat with a kid.

And, for the record--I didn't see Greg Proops. But I did see Colin Mochrie and got him to sign the picture I drew of him. But he just signed it--we didn't talk. I don't think I could've anyway--I was in a bit of shock.

*Sigh*...memories.