EdwinDrood172
Swing Joined: 1/21/08
#1Smoking at Little Mermaid?!
Posted: 1/22/08 at 12:38am
I had some friends in town this week, so we spent lots of time waiting in line at TKTS. We saw some great shows - August, Hairspray, Color Purple, November, and Little Mermaid (which I actually loved). However, what I saw across the street outside of the Lunt-Fontanne absolutely disgusted me. On two different occasions this past week, I saw one of the cast members of Little Mermaid sitting outside the stage door, in half of his costume, smoking. In plain view, in daylight, in the midst of thousands of theatergoers, smoking in his neon green hair and makeup. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I mean, this is a Disney show! As a long time fan of Disney's theme parks, films, and Broadway shows, I have always appreciated the company's dedication to making every patron's experience "magical" from beginning to end. However, what I saw this past week is the equivalent of Mickey Mouse taking off his head and having a beer next to It's a Small World!
I have been a working actor for over 20 years, doing everything from cruise ships to Broadway, and rarely have I ever seen someone behave so rudely. It is an absolute honor to be a working actor on Broadway. There is no other feeling like it in the world, I can honestly say. And there are thousands of actors in this city who would do anything for that opportunity. Smoking in costume, in plain view of patrons, is insulting. It is insulting to families who are spending hundreds of dollars to see you perform. It is insulting to your fellow collaborators, working hard eight times a week to create magic on that stage. It is insulting to those thousands of actors getting up at 5am everyday to be seen at open calls, hoping that this time they'll get their break. And it is insulting to the craft, itself. Whether you are doing a Disney musical or Chekhov, Shakespeare or Neil Simon, you have to treat this artform with the respect it deserves.
In short, don't wear your costume outside of the theatre.
Updated On: 1/22/08 at 12:38 AM
#2re: Smoking at Little Mermaid?!
Posted: 1/22/08 at 12:39amThis should go well.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#2re: Smoking at Little Mermaid?!
Posted: 1/22/08 at 12:47amWell, I do think he maybe should have done it before he got into costume, but other than that.
PLEASE! Do not post anything negative or dramatic! DidYouReallyHearMe has LOST the ability to ignore such posts and he will comment! Please, help him.
With Clay Aiken in Spamalot, all of Broadway is singing a collective "There! Right! There!" -Me-
"Not Barker, Todd is the only person I've ever known who could imitate Katherine Hepburn...in print." -nmartin-
With Clay Aiken in Spamalot, all of Broadway is singing a collective "There! Right! There!" -Me-
"Not Barker, Todd is the only person I've ever known who could imitate Katherine Hepburn...in print." -nmartin-
#3re: Smoking at Little Mermaid?!
Posted: 1/22/08 at 12:49amI saw the same guy smoking! He was in costume and make up. It was very entertaining! You couldn't miss him because of the weird hair and makeup hehe.
"I never had theatre producers run after me. Some people want to make more Broadway shows out of movies. But Elliot and I aren't going to do Batman: The Musical." - Julie Taymor 1999
winston89
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/18/06
#4re: Smoking at Little Mermaid?!
Posted: 1/22/08 at 1:04am
If they want to smoke let them. They are adults, they know what is going to happen as a result of it. Let them ruin their carriers if they want to.
I am a former smoker, to say its hard to quit is a MASS understatement. Maybe some of them are trying to quit. Who knows.
Broadway is notorious for being a VERY understanding community. Smoking isn't always something is easy as " I am going to stop smoking today." And even if it is their personal choice and it is something that they want to do. Let them. Be understanding to the fact that it is their choice. If they want to they can.
There is nothing in their contracts that say " If you smoke you will be fired."
And don't even get me starting on my " Oh, But they are smoking in front of a DISNEY show." "What about the children?"
"If you try to shag my husband while I am still alive, I will shove the art of motorcycle maintenance up your rancid little Cu**. That's a good dear"
Tom Stoppard's Rock N Roll
#5re: Smoking at Little Mermaid?!
Posted: 1/22/08 at 1:04amI guess we know now it's either the actor playing Flotsom...or Jetsem. Who else wears neon green face makeup in the show?
neddyfrank2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/23/05
#6re: Smoking at Little Mermaid?!
Posted: 1/22/08 at 1:06am
Well, they are actually required to put on a robe so that they don't damage the costume, but I can't blame him for wanting to ruin his costume. I would too, if I had to wear any of the costumes in that show.
So, was it Derrick or Tyler.
Updated On: 1/22/08 at 01:06 AM
#7re: Smoking at Little Mermaid?!
Posted: 1/22/08 at 1:11amwell at least it wasnt Sierra. The idea of Ariel smoking would be too much.
#8re: Smoking at Little Mermaid?!
Posted: 1/22/08 at 1:11amIt's Tyler... someone else also had mentioned him smoking outside the theatre before the show.
Broadway Shows I've Seen: Hairspray, Chicago, Little Shop of Horrors (2003), The Wedding Singer, Spamalot, Riverdance, Rent, Beauty and the Beast, Spring Awakening, Wicked, Legally Blonde, Phantom of the Opera, Sweet Charity (revival), Drowsy Chaperone, The Lion King, Dreamgirls(2010 Tour).
LePetiteFromage
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/19/08
#9re: Smoking at Little Mermaid?!
Posted: 1/22/08 at 1:12am
"well at least it wasnt Sierra. The idea of Ariel smoking would be too much."
And if it was one of the kids who plays Flounder... Imagine the PR nightmare.
#10re: Smoking at Little Mermaid?!
Posted: 1/22/08 at 1:13am
It was probably Tyler...
And honestly the only reaction I have is a huge: So? He's a grown ass man...If he wants to have a cig, it's not that big of a deal.
"I am the Phantom of the Opera! I'm the gayest supervillian ever! OoooOOOooooOOOoooh...Beware of my scented candles...OoooOOOooooh...Scented!"
#11re: Smoking at Little Mermaid?!
Posted: 1/22/08 at 1:18am
I don't care for him smoking. I just would think there are rules for revealing your character (makeup and costume) before the show. Also to be in your costume smoking I would also think wouldn't be allowed. In a couple productions I've done it's in our contracts to not smoke, eat or drink, etc. in costumes.
Broadway Shows I've Seen: Hairspray, Chicago, Little Shop of Horrors (2003), The Wedding Singer, Spamalot, Riverdance, Rent, Beauty and the Beast, Spring Awakening, Wicked, Legally Blonde, Phantom of the Opera, Sweet Charity (revival), Drowsy Chaperone, The Lion King, Dreamgirls(2010 Tour).
#12re: Smoking at Little Mermaid?!
Posted: 1/22/08 at 1:27amIf you didn't see him in context of the show would you know which character he was? Are the costumes that specific?
Those Blocked: SueStorm. N2N Nate. Good riddence to stupid! Rad-Z, shill begone!
Robos89
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/20/06
#13re: Smoking at Little Mermaid?!
Posted: 1/22/08 at 1:29am
To each his own...
...by doing that he's obviously accepting the consequences. There isn't much we can do it about it. Leave it be...
?
winston89
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/18/06
#14re: Smoking at Little Mermaid?!
Posted: 1/22/08 at 2:21am
It was Tyler.
I saw the show last Wednesday afternoon and he had a cig behind his ear.
I thought of it as no big deal. And the kids and the parent's didn't notice and/or say anything about it eiather.
"If you try to shag my husband while I am still alive, I will shove the art of motorcycle maintenance up your rancid little Cu**. That's a good dear"
Tom Stoppard's Rock N Roll
#15re: Smoking at Little Mermaid?!
Posted: 1/22/08 at 2:28amSmoking is not illegal. Though I personally do not smoke and I don't encourage it, there is nothing illegal about what he was doing. Though, it might be in his contract somewhere that he is not permitted to eat or smoke in costume. Even if it is you're acting like smoking in itself is a crime. It's not. Aside from his being in costume there's nothing really wrong with what he was doing. Though it does make him less sexy...
#16re: Smoking at Little Mermaid?!
Posted: 1/22/08 at 2:39amI'm not a smoker and never have been, but one of my pet peeves are people who think they're the smoking police. If they're not blowing it in your face or setting trash on fire or tapping their ashes on a naked baby, it's not your business.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
EdwinDrood172
Swing Joined: 1/21/08
#17re: Smoking at Little Mermaid?!
Posted: 1/22/08 at 2:44am
The point is that he was in costume outside of the theatre. That behavior is to be expected in community theatre, not Broadway.
#18re: Smoking at Little Mermaid?!
Posted: 1/22/08 at 2:53amI definately think that with something like this its everyone personal decision...I hear there are a handful of great broadway actors that smoke...I saw Jayne Houdshell (sp?) smoking in front of the Wicked Stage Door and I believe most of the obc of RENT smoked...thats niether here nor there...I just think if its not harming you...you shouldn't be worried about it, but thats just my opinion
#19re: Smoking at Little Mermaid?!
Posted: 1/22/08 at 2:54amYou have a very warped view of what Broadway is.
#20re: Smoking at Little Mermaid?!
Posted: 1/22/08 at 2:57am
The point is that he was in costume outside of the theatre. That behavior is to be expected in community theatre, not Broadway.
That's not exactly what you said in your letter to the edit -- um, I mean, first post...
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
Updated On: 1/22/08 at 02:57 AM
#21re: Smoking at Little Mermaid?!
Posted: 1/22/08 at 3:10am
Smoking is not permitted inside the theater, and he probably didn't have anywhere else to go. Getting in costume and makeup probably took a considerable amount of time, so he probably had a cigarette before, and after that.
Updated On: 1/22/08 at 03:10 AM
LadyRosecoe
Broadway Star Joined: 8/4/07
#22re: Smoking at Little Mermaid?!
Posted: 1/22/08 at 3:27am
I don't really care that he was smoking, what he was smoking, or where he was doing it (unless of course it's onstage 
) but as a hopeful future dresser, seeing a cast-member who isn't new to the profession doing that would surely piss me off. It's just a simple rule and courtesy and in my opinion, shouldn't be tolerated. Was nobody backstage paying attention to the guy walking out in neon into broad daylight?
#23re: Smoking at Little Mermaid?!
Posted: 1/22/08 at 3:40am
I actually used to work at disneyland and they had a very intense policy about their 4 keys: they were like courtesy, respect, and something i don't remember. But one of them was "show". We were never ever supposed to be in view of a park visitor in partial costume or be doing any behavior "inappropriate" to our character in public. So I'd guess the same rules would apply to the theatrical division of the corporation. While i certainly understand how hard it may be for a smoker to go quite a few hours without a smoke, to sit outside in plain view of the public, partially in costume, smoking is clearly in violation of that rule. Disney is magical for children, and in my time there, keeping that magic alive was stressed as probably the most important thing we had to do.
Just my two cents.
"...and in a bed."
#24re: Smoking at Little Mermaid?!
Posted: 1/22/08 at 3:51am
You're never to be seen in a costume without your head, ever. It was automatic dismissal. It's frightening because you can die on your own regurgitation when you can't keep out of it. I'll never forget Dumbo -- it was coming of the mouth during the parade. You have a little screen over the mouth. It was horrible. And I made US$4.55 an hour.
http://zonaeuropa.com/20050912_2.htm
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
