All the time. I collect autographs and many of them have sent back signed playbills, headshots, etc. Some even sent cast signed playbills. I've gotten a hand full of letters as well. To name a few, Derrick Baskin, Carole Shelley, Megan Hilty, and Andrew Asnes have all written me letters. . www.photobucket.com/albums/v643/ilovescots about half my collection's there. .
Also, email is very good as well. I've been emailing TONS with the wonderful Greg Jbara which led to me going backstage, and will again soon! Also have gotten messages and such from Jason Robert Brown, Matt Morrison, Ryan Link, Loretta Divine, Rosario Dawson, and that's about it, lol.
Has anyone written to bway actors and had them write back (respond)?
No...
But to whomever said Idina lines her birdcage with them - please grow up. Must we always resort to vicious immature attacks on a performer. Attacks that have absolutely no merit and are frankly QUITE annoying considering she uses the letters to protect the chocolate bars she sends to Taye when he's away....
I sent an email to the handsome Brent Barrett when I was making his "Who's Who" entry for broadwayworld.com to ask him some questions. He wrote back with answers and we traded several emails. Very, very nice.
"Do you know ChrisLovesShows?" "Yes. Why, yes he does!"
I've sent letters but never asking for autographed things or even asking for a reply. (I haven't gotten any replies yet but I've only started sending out letters recently...) Basically I write letters to performers thanking them for providing me a wonderful night of theatre. I don't ask questions or ask for things or stuff like that because I don't want to make them feel obligated to respond. I know these people are busy and quite frankly a response would be way above and beyond the call of duty.
But I know a lot of people request autographed headshots and/or Playbills. And that's okay, I'm just not one of them.
If you really want them to reply, it's best to send a self-addressed stamped envelope with your letter - a big envelope if you want a headshot or Playbill.
Back in the 80's I used to write Bway people c/o the theatre they were playing at. My results were pretty good. Patti LuPone, sent me an autographed Anything Goes playbill. 12 years later we e-mailed a bit. Alison Fraser sent me a lovely handwritten note and a production shot from Romance/Romance. Michael Crawford sent a nice little hand signed note. Patti Cohenhour (who was Christine at the time) and I actually corresponded for a little while and she was very gracious to this then high school kid. I dropped a note to Douglas Sills about who his voice teacher in NYC was and he called my service and let me know. Sondheim, Kander, Bill Russell, Rupert Holmes have all sent me music and have been nice and supportive.
Go ahead and write. I think you'd be surprised at the response.
I've received letters back from Julie Andrews, Tyne Daly, Stephen Sondheim (not an actor, but a big contributer!), Liz Torres, and Tommy Tune.
"I don't really get the ending,all i can go with is when after several months,Judith saw Pat sang,and later she kissed him on the toilet,after that the story back to where Pat went down from the stage after he'd sung,and he went to the italian lady.I just don't get it,what Judith exatcly meant when he kissed Pat that she had seen,and did Pat end up together with The Italian Lady?Please help me,thank u very much!"
Quote from someone on IMDB in reference to a movie he/she didn't understand. Such grammar!
after I saw titanic, my friend wrote to Vikki Clark about what a great performer she was and asking questions about choosing acting as a career and heard back. they actually corresponded through letters for about a year. We even went to meet her one day after her show. She was so gracious
"I'm an American, Damnit!!! And if it's three things I don't believe in, it's quitting and math."
I've e-mailed Andy Karl, James Royce Edwards, Matthew Morrison, Steph J. Block, Daniel Torres, Dennis Moench and Orfeh and they were all very gracious in e-mailing me back.
Lisa Vroman and Kimilee Bryant both sent me signed pictures. I don't even think I asked for a pic - I just wrote to say how much I enjoyed their performances as "Christine" and to ask what type of training they had.
sutton foster, harvey feirstein, karen olivo, the chitty kids (one big letter), christiana anbri, jill schackner, stephen scarpulla, harrison chad, gemini quintos, andrea martin, i think theres more too. i think a lot of these people are kinda touched that a 13 yr old is in love with them so they feel like they have to write back...hehe some of them are kids themselves anywho