Something that a lot of theatre fans will excitedly talk about is stagedooring. Stagedooring is when you go to the stage door (one of the actor’s exits) and wait for the actors to come out. It’s usually for autographs and/or pictures with the actors, and is super fun. It’s not something that’s for everyone, but it’s a good way for fans to meet the people who bring shows to life. I’m definitely the sort to do it, and I’ve had many great experiences over the years, stagedooring for various shows. I’ve never had a bad experience with an actor, though I know people who have, and I’ve come away with some really awesome autographs and pictures.
Although stagedooring sounds pretty basic, there’s a lot of talk that surrounds the practice. Like with anything, everyone has a different opinion about stagedooring. There are lots of negative views. Some people think it violates the actor’s privacy (though I’m not sure why they would come out if they feel this way). Some people criticize things they hear about actor’s personalities versus how they act with fans. One of my favorite actors was always rumored to be a bit of a jerk in “real life”. But I feel like it’s none of our business, as long as they’re nice to us at the stagedoor. Some people just get grouchy about actors choosing not to come out. But really, that’s their choice.
I’ve always tried to be positive when it comes to stagedooring. I really think the actors that come out of the stage door want to see and meet their fans. Why else would they do this? I think it’s a really great experience on both sides. Yes, I’ve gotten to meet some pretty big names within the theatre world, but who other than a theatre fan is going to know who Jonathan Groff or Alice Ripley are, and care enough to stand in line for awhile to meet them? It’s a special thing for those of us who love these actors.
Every actor is different at the stage door. Although most actors will just come out and stand for pictures and sign autographs, there are variations on it all. When I saw Spring Awakening, I told Jonathan Groff that I had a friend who wanted to come with us but she had to get her tonsils out and couldn’t be there. He signed a program with personalization, signing it to my friend with her name. When I saw Next to Normal, someone representing Alice Ripley handed out cards saying that she would only sign autographs, not stand for pictures. She’s a big name and can get away with that. But it didn’t stop her from talking to me for a good five minutes about how I related to the play. No picture maybe, but I did get a hug.
For me, the thing really is that these actors don’t have to do this. They’ve just put an enormous amount of energy into a show, and I’m sure a lot of the time, they just want to go home. But they still come to meet and greet their fans anyway. I’ve never seen anyone grouchy at the stage door, and all the pictures I have (and I have many) the actors are smiling, putting their arms around shoulders, really going the extra mile. It really makes me admire the actors.
I think I got hooked on stage dooring when I was in high school. We saw Wicked touring in Philly, and somehow ended up at the stage door. For sixteen or seventeen year old me, it was so cool to get to stand with the actors and get my picture taken with them. These were people I had seen on stage half an hour before. And now I was seeing them in real life. It was incredible. So maybe they weren’t any big names, but I was definitely hooked.
After that, I really just wanted to stagedoor for every show that I saw. Of course, there were times that I didn’t and/or couldn’t, but I was pretty determined most of the time (sometimes dragging along whoever I was seeing the show with). It was something fun for me, as an actor and a lover of theatre. These are people I have been completely in awe of, and then I get to see them as ordinary people. It’s all a part of the experience, and I love that feeling.
It really is an experience. There’s something really amazing about waiting in line with other fans, talking to other fans. Getting to cheer when actors come out one by one, hoping that your favorite actor is going to come out (sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t). Actors usually come out with their own pens or Sharpies, and are happy to sign programs or posters, or whatever else you have. Getting pictures with everyone. It’s like nothing else in the world.
I haven’t had the chance to stagedoor in some time, but that doesn’t mean I’m completely done with it. The next time that opportunity comes along, I will definitely be in that line, waiting for the chance to interact with an actor and add pictures and autographs to my collection. I’m definitely looking forward to immersing myself in that experience once again.
I will be away the next two weeks, so there will be no posts! Look out for something new after that!
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