Who is the most pleasant actor you've encountered at the stage door? - Page 3
Who is the most pleasant actor you've encountered at the stage door?
#52re: Who is the most pleasant actor you've encountered at the stage door?
Posted: 11/30/09 at 9:59pm
I've met so many really kind actors, especially ones who are in the ensemble, who are flattered that you noticed them. Specifically, my best stage door experiences have been Kristy Cates at her last show in Wicked Chicago (she took the time to speak to everyone, sign, and take pictures despite the 30 degree weather, and she couldn't have been nicer or more appreciative), and Kerry Butler at Xanadu (it was my birthday and she seemed so excited to wish me a happy birthday, and she was so gracious and kind to everyone).
I'm intending on a career in musical theatre, and I always remind myself of my amazing and not so great stage door experiences. I'm making a promise to myself to ALWAYS be kind to everyone person at the stage door no matter how tired I may be, because they will have taken the time to come out to meet me and were moved by my performance. I know from the fan side that it can mean SO much, so I plan on taking the time to get to everyone, just as the two above actresses did.
gilmores2
Swing Joined: 5/5/09
#53re: Who is the most pleasant actor you've encountered at the stage door?
Posted: 11/30/09 at 10:21pmStephanie J. Block is one of the most amazing people I have meet. At her Christmas concert tonight at Birdland she took about 40 min after the show to talk and take pictures with people. Megan Hilty and Allison Janney were also incredibly sweet. Lauren Graham was awesome too. Have to say though, that I have never had a bad experience...Richard Griffiths was a total jerk though.
sking
Stand-by Joined: 12/8/08
#54re: Who is the most pleasant actor you've encountered at the stage door?
Posted: 12/1/09 at 3:53amGreg Jbara hands down.
Chrysanthemum62001
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/14/04
#55re: Who is the most pleasant actor you've encountered at the stage door?
Posted: 12/1/09 at 12:02pmMichael Cerveris. But it's a very long list of wonderful people.
"What a mystery this world. One day you love them and the next day you want to kill them a thousand times over." The Masked Bandit in THE FALL
#56re: Who is the most pleasant actor you've encountered at the stage door?
Posted: 12/1/09 at 8:49pmI no longer stagedoor but, without a doubt, the nicest people I ever encountered after a show were Jack Lemmon and Dustin Hoffman.
DefyGravity777
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/28/08
#57re: Who is the most pleasant actor you've encountered at the stage door?
Posted: 12/1/09 at 9:47pmThe whole cast of Wicked is nice at SD as is the whole cast of Next to Normal. I SD every show I see(except Phantom of the Opera) and have only ever had one person that was rude.
Don't believe everything that you hear! Only the peeps involved know the truth!
#58re: Who is the most pleasant actor you've encountered at the stage door?
Posted: 12/1/09 at 9:56pm
The entire cast of the Sunday in the Park With George revival.
They were all EXTREMELY kind and each took the time to talk to each person. (There actually weren't that many people at the stage door to begin with) Daniel Evans and Jenna Russell were so thankful that their fans wanted autographs. They were both extremely dear.
#59re: Who is the most pleasant actor you've encountered at the stage door?
Posted: 12/1/09 at 10:41pm
Laura Linney was absolutly adorable.
Alison Janney was sweet as can be.
The entire casts of spring awakening, hair, and shrek.
ThankstoPhantom
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/05
#60re: Who is the most pleasant actor you've encountered at the stage door?
Posted: 12/1/09 at 11:58pm
Just wanted to mention that some actors do consider it their duty to meet with fans after shows. Alexandra Silber and Ruthie Henshall both consider it their third act of an evening at the theatre.
Maria Friedman, and the rest of her costars at The Woman in White, Broadway, were unbelievably kind and sociable to those interested in discussing the show.
How to properly use its/it's:
Its is the possessive. It's is the contraction for it is...
#61re: Who is the most pleasant actor you've encountered at the stage door?
Posted: 12/2/09 at 12:47am
"Lisa Brescia - easily the number one kindest most caring person out of anyone I've ever met at a stage door. She is a true gem."
Amen to that. I haven't had any stage door experiences, but Lisa was in a league of her own.
I have to add Christine Andreas. There were only four of us there and she talked with us for about 10-15 minutes. I was there the next day too and she greeted me as if we were old friends. I told her how much the show meant to me (final tour performance of Piazza) and she said "always carry it in your heart."
#62re: Who is the most pleasant actor you've encountered at the stage door?
Posted: 12/2/09 at 2:34am
Marian Seldes is an absolute doll. I have to say the same thing about Estelle Parsons, obviously. These two women give me chills just thinking about their talent. What a treat when I realized they had kindness to match their talent.
David Hyde Pierce is also exceptionally kind, and Frank Langella is the essence of class.
Phylicia Rashad was also clearly tired when I stagedoored "Cat On a Hot Tin Roof," and yet she took time for each and every person waiting for her, and so I thanked her for stopping for us. It was very sweet of her given her energy level.
2010
Feb. 28 - Looped, Feb. 28 - Next to Normal, March 4 - Hair, March 11 - A Little Night Music, March 24 - Time Stands Still, April 6 - La Cage Aux Folles, April 10 - Anyone Can Whistle (City Center), April 10 - Looped, May 9 - Enron, May 15 - A Little Night Music, May 15 - A Behanding In Spokane, May 30 - A Behanding In Spokane, May 30 - A Little Night Music, June 20 - A Little Night Music, June 23 - Red, June 23 - Sondheim on Sondheim, July 13 - A Little Night Music, July 18 - The Grand Manner (Lincoln Center)
#63re: Who is the most pleasant actor you've encountered at the stage door?
Posted: 12/2/09 at 3:07am
The trick is to never expect anything. Then practically every stagedoor encounter becomes pleasant.
Some of my recent "favorites" are Quentin Earl Darrington and Bill Pullman. Both very kind and appreciative. I've also had great stagedoor encounters with the In The Heights cast, Hugh Jackman, Roger Bart, John Tartaglia, Alice Ripley, Denis O'Hare, Christian Hoff,...
doubleentendre
Understudy Joined: 12/24/08
#64re: Who is the most pleasant actor you've encountered at the stage door?
Posted: 12/2/09 at 3:20amSort of surprised no one has said it yet, but the prize in my book goes to the [title of show] cast. They were all so gracious and took time with every single person, no matter the time, no matter the weather. It was a breath of fresh air in comparison to a lot of people.
sorano9162
Chorus Member Joined: 1/11/09
#65re: Who is the most pleasant actor you've encountered at the stage door?
Posted: 12/2/09 at 4:49amI've never "stagedoored" before but I did at the last weekend of American Idiot and John Gallagher, Jr. was the most amazing person ever. It was well after one am and they did a 6 pm show followed by a 10 pm show, but he was still very personable and willing to chat with me.
#66re: Who is the most pleasant actor you've encountered at the stage door?
Posted: 12/2/09 at 1:16pm
I have a few favorites -- Gavin Creel, Will Swenson, Billy Crudup, Kristen Chenoweth (although not really a stage door experience - met her at a SAG Event), Cheyenne Jackson
Just met Hugh Jackman over the weekend...what a sweetheart..he held my hand :)
"I wish the stage were as narrow as the wire of a tightrope dancer, so that no incompetent would dare step upon it." Goethe
broadwayjim42
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/19/03
#67re: Who is the most pleasant actor you've encountered at the stage door?
Posted: 12/2/09 at 2:24pm
[title of show] definitely ranks high for me. Hunter, Susan and Heidi all let me blather on about my daughter's performing vampires and couldn't have been nicer or more encouraging. I ran into Heidi again at last year's Kids Night, pointed out the daughter in question, and she couldn't have been sweeter.
My daughter was obsessed with meeting John Tartaglia and finally did at Kids Night and after Shrek last year. Incredibly, incredibly nice both times.
I have to give Kevin Odekirk a mention as well. He was the only one of the "Kristina" cast members who spent significant time at the stage door (at least before midnight) and I think he was a little bowled over and overwhelmed by all the attention those nights. It was really sweet to watch.
sanda
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/10/04
#68re: Who is the most pleasant actor you've encountered at the stage door?
Posted: 12/2/09 at 2:53pmTim Howard, the sweetest person ever.
#69re: Who is the most pleasant actor you've encountered at the stage door?
Posted: 12/2/09 at 3:22pm
If you meant Tim Howar, I'll second that, he was a sweetheart when I met him years ago after Les Mis (I know, LONG AGO).
Winner for me, hands down is Greg Jbara. That man stays late almost after every single BE performance and gives tours, and is the nicest person I may have EVER met. His mentions of the "forgotten" kids at the Tonys... Tommy, Tanner, and Frank... just amazing. I remember him being awesome during DRS as well, and staying late to talk to a school group I was with.
John Gallagher was also really awesome after SA I remember.
#70re: Who is the most pleasant actor you've encountered at the stage door?
Posted: 12/2/09 at 3:59pm
I've never had an unpleasant experience, really. I just don't go in with expectations and if you're polite and smiley and engaging but not pushy than you really can't go wrong.
Christpher Eccleston after A Doll's House in London this past summer is my all time favorite. He just hung out, smoked a cigarette with me and was super chatty and hugged me twice lol.
Hmm, who else... I remember Max Von Essen, Donna Lynne Champlin, Euan Morton, and Ben Eakeley are all really super cute and talkative and huggy. IA with the whole cast of Sunday In The Park, they were all so sweet too. More recently, the guys from Hamlet (not including Jude) are all nice, I guess because no one ever stops them, ever. Gwilym Lee in particular is a cutie.
Daniel Craig is a sweet man and gave my mom a huge hug because it was her birthday. And after he hugged her he held on to both her hands and said happy birthday 3 times in a row, lol, thought that was really sweet of him.
As for bitchy people: I can only think of Lupone and Amanda Peet.
-and omg, how could I forget. Drew Sarich, he's so cool, lol lol.
Updated On: 12/6/09 at 03:59 PM
romgitsean
Broadway Star Joined: 4/7/08
#71re: Who is the most pleasant actor you've encountered at the stage door?
Posted: 12/2/09 at 7:15pm
I'm surprised no one has said Adam Pascal! He was SUCH a sweetheart.
I'd have to concur with Shoshana. :]
When I met Idina in '05 in Wicked, she was very sweet. It was the performance before she broke her rib :[
Recent Broadway and Off-Broadway:: Carrie, Merrily, Ionescopade
Next On The List :: Clybourne Park, Once, Streetcar, BOM
Next On The List :: Clybourne Park, Once, Streetcar, BOM
Dollypop
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#72re: Who is the most pleasant actor you've encountered at the stage door?
Posted: 12/2/09 at 8:36pmThis goes back many years. In fact, I'm not even sure of what the play was. ABSURD PERSON SINGULAR? The original NORMAN CONQUESTS? Maybe it was SEASCAPE. Yes, I think that was it. Barry Nelson was incredibly nice. He took me out for a couple of drinks after the performance. I didn't know him then.
"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)
hairspraydude1962
Leading Actor Joined: 7/20/09
#73re: Who is the most pleasant actor you've encountered at the stage door?
Posted: 12/2/09 at 8:43pmOne of my favorite stage door experiences was after a performance of "Hairspray." I had a picture of Paul Vogt when he was in "The Rerun Show" that I wanted him to sign. He saw the picture and couldn't stop staring at it. He talked a little about the show, signed it (extremely neatly), and moved on down the line. On his way out, he said goodbye to everyone. Then he spotted me and asked to see the picture. I had given it to my mom for safekeeping. So Paul and I went over to her, and he showed some people. Then we talked for a good ten minutes. He was such a nice guy.
#74re: Who is the most pleasant actor you've encountered at the stage door?
Posted: 12/2/09 at 8:49pmI very rarely stagedoor, but I just had to commend Quentin Earl Darrington on his work in Ragtime. What an absolute sweetheart! Ran into him the following day and I was so impressed that he remembered my name!
Hey Dottie!
Did your colleagues enjoy the cake even though your cat decided to sit on it? ~GuyfromGermany
#75re: Who is the most pleasant actor you've encountered at the stage door?
Posted: 12/6/09 at 9:40pmYeah i felt the same way about Patti Lupone. I still love her though!
#76re: Who is the most pleasant actor you've encountered at the stage door?
Posted: 12/6/09 at 11:08pm
John Tartaglia was super nice! Met him during Shrek's Seattle run. He was the first actor I never had to approach. He just came up and started chatting, then posed for pictures and autographs.
One of the nicest actors I've ever met is Karl Warden. It was closing night for Catch Me if You Can so there was a pretty good sized group at the stage door. He signed Playbills and posed for pictures for awhile and then picked up all of his stuff to leave, so I decided against bothering him, but he saw me and said "Oh did I miss you?" then put down all the stuff in his arms just take another picture and sign one more autograph. Definitely one of my favorite stagedooring experiences.
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