[Annie]

What was your favorite experience meeting a performer at the stage door after a show? Any cool conversations? Funny moments? Great pictures?

I'm one of those die-hard junkies who will wait as long as it takes after a Broadway show. (though remaining polite and respectful. I hate those aggressive fans) When I saw Doubt, there were only about 5 or 6 people waiting after the show, which surprised me. There I was, clutching my Playbill and Sharpie in subzero January winds. I was insanely lucky to be able to meet all four actors, which at the time were the entire original cast (only a week or so before they left...woo!). Everyone was really nice and friendly, but I will NEVER forget meeting Cherry Jones. She came out last, and was just so warm and kind, answering our questions, signing everything. It was amazing, hearing this incredible woman speak about her role, the play, the issues in it, wow. She even asked us all what we did, where we were from, etc. I told her I am a first-year theatre student and which college I go to. She gave me a huge smile and said (which I will never forget), "I think I see a little Sister James in your future. Maybe you'll be here someday." I just about died.

It was such an amazing experience, I will never forget it.

What are some of your favorite stagedoor moments?

Annie

[cabaretfreak]

I talk to much about myself and th fact I want to be a designer. And wow about Cherry Jones.

[wicked_diva]

I didn't have long conversations with anyone when I went during Spring Break, but I did meet Sutton Foster! And Laura Benanti (in Wedding Singer) is incredibly nice. All the people from Color Purple were really friendly, too.

[Salome]

Meeting matthew Broderick during H2$. he was out signing and waiing for sarah jessica to get finished. i chatted with him and i lit a cigarette..and he looked and me and said..oh can i PLEASE have one? i left mine in the dressing room! lol

so Matt and I smoked and chatted together till S.J. came up!

[Chevstriss]

oooooooooh my lips are sealed.

The 70s were different.

[MzGalinda]

Marc Kudisch kissed me on the cheek and gave me a HUGE hug. I told him I saw him in Chitty, and he said, "Oh, I'm sorry." It was tres funny. And then I asked for a photo and he insisted on taking it himself, so I spent like, ten minutes teaching him what to do. It was so cute!

[Bex]

Miceal Macarthy!

Chatted about Les Mis and how good the show was and then me and my friend said we wanted to go into acting, he looked at us, grinned and said 'never give up and you'll do it.' very cool.

[JemiBoe1981]

Gavin Creel. He was in town on the 29th of April- that's his birthday. He was doing this amazing concert, a fusion of his pop and a wonderful Broadway section. And since this (Findlay, OH) is his hometown, there were alot of personal elements and greetings and tears and all that wonderful junk. Anyway, he said my name was amazingly cool and was pleased I looked up to him so much. And, most of all, he was thrilled to hear I was singing What Do I Need With Love? for my showchoir's cabaret. He was just the coolest, most fun person I could ever wish to meet with a real respect for young people with big ideas. I identified with him alot, going to the same school and being music and theatre nuts in a smallish community that is basically sports centered (omg Ben Roethlisberger is from here too. Let's have an effin party). But he was just the best.

[LaurelDP]

Jeff Freakin' Goldblum.


It was intense. I was crying.

Like, seriously, life long obsession. My first childhood crush, and he's still the owner of my heart.

I was sick all day, and was a little out of it because of medicine, etc.

It was amazing... I told him that he was my anti-drug, and that I could die a happy woman.


I'm sure he found me adorable. We blew eachother kisses as I was "politely" asked to leave by security.

[cabaretfreak]

[Bill_Calhoun]

Yesterday I saw Cats, and afterwards I met about half of the cast via waiting at the stage door. And I spent about 10 minutes talking with Christopher Howell, who had played Bustopher Jones/Gus/Asparagus/Growltiger, and he is my favourite Monsieur Firmin (from Phantom) ever! And he was lovely! We talked about the arts, about University, and about being unable to dance (my legs and his weight!). It was great!

[LesWickedPhantom]

Favorite stagedoor experience...

Chasing Mickey Dolens (sp?) down the street after seeing him in AIDA, and we couldn't catch up with him even though he was walking, and we were power jogging... then he jumped into a cab... which stopped at a red light right next to our car 5 minutes later. I had to restrain my mother from knocking on the window.

Fondest stagedoor memory...

I met and got autographs/pictures with Barrett Foa at the stagedoor both times I saw Avenue Q (6 months apart), and he's such a nice guy.

Also, when I saw AQ the second time, I met Jennifer Barnhart, who is probably THE most hysterical person I've met in a while. We talked about the most random things even while she signed other peoples playbills and stuff... like how ridiculous she thought it was when she saw parents taking their 7 year olds to see the show, and whatnot.
Jen Barnhart when she saw my AQ shirt...
"Hey!!!! I love your shirt!"
Me: "Thanks!!!! I love your...show..."
JB + Me: *laugh hysterically as if we were the oldest of friends*

then in the middle of our convo, she suddenly throws her arms up in the air and yells... then apologized, because she had spotted a cab that she had to catch. Even though she's not the most popular of actors, she definately is one worth meeting.

[Salome]

[Ulla Dance Again!]

No I'm not mad...because I know one day I'll meet him. Then again that's me being over-optimistic.
The closest I got to anyone famous would be when Alan Alda walked passed me after Glengarry Glenross. He didn't have time to sign anything, but he came out and waved and all that because he had to get going (I think it was the same time as his book tour) so he was busy. It was still pretty cool for me though...because I love Alan Alda (though I doubt anyone here would think that based on my avatar and everything).

[seein*stars]

i have a friend who is obsessed with idina menzel. so after wicked, we met all of the cast except idiva, i mean, idina because she wasn't coming out. it was freezing and i wanted to leave, but my friend made me stay to wait for idina. we started chatting with one of the chorus girls when all of a suddent a limo drives by. who is in it other than idina. all that waiting for nothing. it was hilarious.

[Fantine]

[MsDivaKate]

I don't know about best, but I'd like to mention my worse stage door experience.

I had a friend who came to visit who is OBSESSED with Diana DeGarmo (yes, of American Idol) so we didn't even SEE Hairspray, but we went to the Stagedoor anyways around the time the show would be letting out. Well number one its pouring and fairly cold out but number two there were these CRAZY, annoying fan girls who were obsessed with Hairspray. Now my friend and I were quietly waiting, these girls on the other hand were yelling in my ear about how many times they've seen hairspray and how they are the number one fans of the show and how they hoped cast members would recognize them etc. And then...they started SINGING. Ugh. If I could have killed them I would have.

[Chevstriss]

[Jordan]

I guess without actually having met Brian May, it's hard for me to quantify what an 'uncle type' might be. I'd assume Mumsy means he's very friendly, has lots of time for people etc etc etc.

[Chevstriss]

go to MF.net and my celebrity stalking thread and put 2 + 2 together

this is what he looked like back when I knew him

[Amber]

D'Monroe, Joshua Kobak, Kelly Karbacz, Destan Owens, Frenchie Davis and Karmine Alers were all total sweethearts when I met them after RENT last August. So...they gave me great stagedoor experiences.

Colin Cunliffe (he was Riff in West Side Story at Walnut Street Theatre last summer) was also very nice at the stage door.


I got to work with Faith Prince in 2004. She was the absolute sweetest person I have ever met after a show. I stood in line for an autograph and picture and when the security guy was trying to take the picture, my camera wouldn't work. So Ms. Prince was trying to fix my camera for me. It was so cute. And very nice of her. Eventually my camera worked.

I met Ms. Prince at the same time I met Peter Nero (you know, he leads the Philly POPS orchestra) and he was also very nice. He signed my Playbill "It was great working with you! -Peter Nero". Yeah. December 7, 2004. One of the best nights of my life. I had just turned fifteen and was working with a Grammy winner and a Tony winner.

This March, I met Anthony Rapp at a booksigning. He was absolutely sweet as well. He took a picture with me and signed my book and OBC RENT souvenir program. I told him I was going to ask him to do the tango pose with me, but he looked too comfy in that chair. So he laughed and said he couldn't do it during the book signing, but "If you can stick around 'till I'm done, we can do it then if you want." So I had every intention of staying. But my friend's dad made us leave. But he gave my friend a hug. Which just about made her life. I love Anthony Rapp, I do.

Norbert Leo Butz was quite nice too. He came out the stage door after DRS this December despite it being quite windy and very cold. And I also met Gregory Jbara that night- another sweetheart who I chatted with for a few minutes.


There are so many people I still WANT to meet, though.

All this remembering has made me feel all happy.


Amber

[Salome]

I have met so many people over the years...some of the nicest were:

Anthony Newley
Joel Grey
matt broderick
John Cullum
Victor Garber
Charles Durning
Anthony Heald
Ruthie Henshall
Dick Latessa
Gregory Hines
Tony Bennett
Missy Errico
jeffrey tambor
George Hearn
Doug Sills
Terry Mann

[OneSongGlory]

This is actually backstage rather than stage door, but it seems more or less on topic regardless!

In January '05, three shows before Idina hurt her leg and left Wicked, I got the immense priviledge of meeting her backstage (my friend -who I was with- 's mother is good friends with her manager I guess). We waited backstage in the little hall where all their dressing rooms were, and got to chat with Carole Shelley, Megan Hilty, Shoshana Bean (love her), George Hearn, and Joey McIntyre as they'd come out of their dressing rooms, all of whom were extreeemely friendly!

Then, after Idina had finished showering, she invited us into her room, and we got to hang out in there for like 15 minute with her and Taye. She told us about how she's green and stuff, and put some of the green makeup on me, and she was wearing a bathrobe the entire time. Haha, I was like shaking, it was unbelievable. But I eventually got a picture with her (though it came out HORRIBLY!), and she gave me a huge hug and brought me out to the stage and then we left. She was sooo kind, which is GREAT because at the time all I'd hear is how big of a bitch she was and everything. Hahaha, and Taye was really cool too, we got to talk a little while Idina and my friend were talking.

But yeah, it was an amazing experience.

[MsDivaKate]

[Fantine]

My worst experience was waiting for Ewan McGregor who (of course) didn't show up. Grrbml...
It was nice to see Jane Krakowski though.

[NYCboi4life42]

One of the nicest people I've ever met in my whole life is Valerie Harper. When the national tour of "Golda's Balcony" was in Houston, me, my parents, by best friend, and her mom went to see it. It was such an amazing show! I completely fell in love with it! Afterwards, we went to the stage door. The five of us were the only people there. We waited an hour before her car finally drove up and the driver got out and went in to get her. She came out and when she saw us, her face lit and up. She ran up to us and apologized and said she would have come out sooner had she known anyone was waiting. She was actually a little surprised that anybody was waiting for her. She asked all of our names, and as our conversation went on, she addressed all of us by our names, without even having to stop and think about it. She gave us all several enormous hugs, and couldn't stop thanking us for coming back to see her. She signed all of our playbills and wrote sweet notes on all of them. We talked to her for about twenty-five minutes. Her driver was obviously getting a little annoyed at having to wait (it was like eleven o'clock), and she kept turning around and telling him to keep his pants on. She was so nice and so funny! She was just a genuinely-nice person and I was so excited that I got to meet her. I couldn't sleep at all that night!!!

[cabaretfreak]

[Fantine]

[Salome]

[Fantine]

Lol no, in fact I didn't know Jane before I saw Guys and Dolls.

[Sean]

[Salome]

[Fantine]

I must say she looked familiar to me once I first saw her (I did a google search on her some time after I had seen the show).

I didn't know she was that famous... But what else do you expect when living in a small country such as the Netherlands, missing most of the Broadway goings-on and such.

Jane is really lovely though

[MsDivaKate]

[TR_Wolf]

[TR_Wolf]

Stuart Ramsey during the tour of Cats last year, the Manchester stop. I think it was last year, maybe the year before.

We chatted about him as Rum Tum Tugger and his costume and how he wanted to do things like other Tuggers and his restrictions (ie he wasnt allowed to flick his mane as much as other Tuggers had because of the costume). He just seemed very open and warm and friendly, not just trying to satisfy a fan, but he genuinely was happy to chat, you know? He even gave me a wave when I had to head off (yep, thats how long he hung around!)

[Marcellus]

Two weeks ago I went to NYC, and finally saw at the NYPL at Lincoln Center a pair of silent tapes that I had wanted to see for years, documenting 1953-55 choreography from the original productions of Pajama Game, House of Flowers, Peter Pan, The Golden Apple, By The Beautiful Sea, Kismet and revivals of On Your Toes and The Merry Widow, plus a couple others that escape me.

That evening I attended the reading of Cole Porter's Fifty Million Frenchmen at The French Institute, and learned that the cast included Sondra Lee, the 1954 Tiger Lily in Peter Pan, and also one of the chorus members of the 1954 The Golden Apple. I was able to meet Ms. Lee and inform her of the existence of the video (with her) at the NYPL, which she did not know about. Later I was able to email the producer with the call number information for Ms. Lee and the Golden Apple veteran.

[Salome]

did she sing "Queen of Terre Haute"?

[Robinflamingo]

My best experiences have been with the cast of The Fantasticks at Sullivan Street. They were all awesome and would hang out with my students for literally hours if I would have let them.

Also, Michael Cerveris was just sitting on the steps outside of the theatre eating McDonalds when we got there (VERY) early for Titanic, and he was very charming.

Surprisingly, because of stories I had heard, I was very surprised at how kind Tony Randall was when I saw him in Sunshine boys with Jack Klugman. Of course, I had just bought an Ah Stick for AIDS

[Marcellus]

[Marcellus]

The other shows excerpted on the 1953-55 video I saw in NYC were Wonderful Town, Silk Stockings and Fanny. To find it in the NYPL card catalog, visit www.nypl.org, select research, then dance collection, and then "Musical Comedy Excerpts" in the search box. You have to be doing research for a school or organization in order to view this video, and only on-site. It's still a terrific reesouce for those interested in1950's musicals.

[JulieJordan]

I have quite a few wonderful experiences- the most recent was Rebecca Caine who told me I looked like a Christine or Cosette, which is pretty much the nicest compliment I've had in my life.

Joanna Riding was absolutely lovely and spent what felt like ages talking to me and answering questions and then gave me a big hug. I met Jeff Nicholson who's now making a name for himself in the London production of Les Mis when he was still at drama school; I told him he was the best Billy Bigelow I'd ever seen and he's always so warm and patient at the stage door. Julia Möller is also an absolute darling and as sweet in real life as she is on stage.

[sadie1208]

When wicked was in seattle on tour I waited at the stagedoor and got to meet Megan Hilty which was cool and got my picture taken with her.

[Quique]

Chita Rivera.

She was sooooo nice and chatted with my sister and I and took pics.

[Jekkienumber24601]

Norbert Leo Butz was cool, but he barely talked, Tom Hewitt was great. He was signing autographs while havng a conversation over his shoulder about Rocky Horror and Dracula. And he gave our friend some tips for their production of Rocky Horror.

[bwayblonde21]

[AnnieOakley]

I met Tim Rice ..He came to see chess at the minack when we performed it I was the first out on stage after and he came right up to me and said ...'you did the whole show wow its long isnt it' .......I politely replied 'yes' (instead of saying well you wrote it) and ran off to overawed to say anything else ... although I was told by other members of the cast he thoroughly enjoyed the show...

And I also missed Timothy Spall who came to see it shame

[Salome]

who were you in Chess? I played florence last season.

[phantomphan85]

I met some of the 2001 London cast of Les Mis and got their autographs. My signed programme is now my most prized possession!

[actor]

[AnnieOakley]

I was part of the pop choir and sang sop ...

we did the show at the Minack Theatre which is on the side of a cliff at Portcurnow Cornwall UK www.minack.com take a look one of the most amazing theatres in the world

It was such an amazing week sunbathing all day and performing at night .......Bliss ......

(I did audition for Florence and Svetlana but was told yet again I look to young nevermind ...... Im 26 and look about 16)