Ah, the Broadway stage door. These usually-nondescript portals to backstage life have drawn fascination from theatre fans from generations, with autograph seekers and ardent admirers alike gathering to catch a glimpse of their favorite stars on their way out of work after a performance. For decades, small groupings of fans have tried their luck at catching their favorite's eye. But in recent years, the tradition has exploded into an (at-times) unwieldy process, with barricades, security guards, and significant crowds.
Why? The easiest culprit to identify is social media. The social cachet of a selfie with your favorite performer has a lot of weight in modern fan culture, where a profile picture can become a person's single defining image. This is amplified now that many celebrities have decided to perform on Broadway, making the stage door the rare time fans can get close to A-listers.
Additionally, social media has encouraged fans and actors alike to lower their boundaries, with actors' showcasing their everyday lives and thoughts on TikTok and Instagram. Fans have never had more access to their favorite artists than they do now. But unfortunately, what was intended as a great equalizer is occasionally taken too far.
Since the COVID-19 lockdown, which paused Broadway for 18 months, many performers have taken to social media to directly call out bad behavior at the stage door. While such behavior is an exception, it is becoming more common. Such inappropriate behavior includes unwanted touching, rude lines of questioning, yelling, pushing, and (in the worst of cases) stalking.
It's important to remember that stage-dooring is not a guarantee—performers are not being paid for that time. As more and more performers opt out of the process entirely to avoid the melee, the tradition could die out entirely if the rules are not respected. For those of you looking to preserve the tradition and interact respectfully with performers who continue to stage door, here is a handy guide of Do's and Don'ts when navigating a Broadway stage door.
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Do: Locate the stage door before going inside
Stage doors are usually nondescript. In the crowd of people exiting after every performance, it can be difficult to locate the doors. Depending on the production, stage doors can become crowded very quickly—so fans should not linger inside the theatre after the curtain comes down if you want to get a good spot on the stage door line. In 2019, Playbill made a photo guide so you can identify where the stage door can be found at every Broadway theatre; while some of the theatre names (like the Lena Horne Theatre and James Earl Jones Theatre) are now out of date, it is still a handy reference.
Don't: Leave for the stage door before the end of the show itself
While it can be enticing to try to be the first person in line after the show, you should never leave the theatre before the end of curtain call. Doing so will distract your fellow theatregoers from their focus on applauding the performers. Plus, it is extremely rude to skip out on bows (a moment dedicated to appreciating artists) in order to prioritize stage-dooring. Wait until the theatre has raised the house lights before you race out to the stage door.
Do: Consider what you want to say to a performer beforehand
It can be intimidating to meet a personal hero! It is always advisable to consider what you would briefly like to say to someone before getting on the line. Sometimes, things we may intend as compliments in the moment may come out ruder than expected. Think through what you want to say, and how you want to say it ahead of time—you'll be less likely to blurt out something you'll later regret. If you aren't sure what to say, you can always keep it short and sweet by thanking them for their performance. On that note, make sure to thank everyone who comes out the stage door, even if they aren't who you are specifically waiting for. It takes hundreds of people to put on a Broadway show, and they all deserves your praise. A hearty thank you or cheer can go a long way in turning around a bad day for someone, so be liberal with them!
Don't: Shove your way to the front of the line
Above all else, you need to respect everyone involved in the stage door process. If you arrive to the line later than other fans, queue up behind them; do not shove, slide, or otherwise work your way in front of line. For those standing some rows back, Playbills can be passed to the front for actors to sign, and many performers who are comfortable taking photos with fans have their own process of shifting the arrangement of the lines to ensure everyone gets their picture. But remember: It's not a guarantee that you'll ever get an autograph or a photo at the stage door. One thing we can guarantee, however, is that a security guard will remove you from the line if they see you shoving or otherwise manhandling your fellow fans. Be kind and be patient!
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Do: Dress for the weather!
You may be waiting a significant amount of time for a performer to come out after the show; getting out of costume, hair, and makeup can be an extended process. Plus, performers regularly have loved ones visiting them backstage. Always make sure to be dressed appropriately for a significant amount of time in the elements—be in rain, snow, sun, or wind. If bringing an umbrella, either bring a small personal sized one, or be prepared to share the shelter of a large one with your fellow fans; just make sure not to hit anyone in the head!
Don't: Assume you are meeting a performer after a show
Stage dooring is a privilege, not a right. Performers are not paid for the time spent at the stage door, and your ticket price only includes the show, not any access to performers after the curtain falls. Stage dooring is entirely an optional experience for performers, and there are hundreds of reasons why someone may opt not to stay and sign. If you see someone slipping out of a different side door to avoid the stage door line, do not draw attention to them or try to chase them down; they are making it clear that they just want to go home, or grab food between shows! While it can be disappointing to wait in line and not meet your favorite performer, do not let that disappointment turn into entitlement. Instead, focus on how good of a time you had at the show and on connecting with your fellow fans.
Do: Make friends on the line!
The stage door is one of the few places in the world where you are almost guaranteed to be physically surrounded by other ardent theatre fans. While a lot of theatre fan culture has transitioned online, this is your chance to connect, in person, with other people who have similar interests to you. Once you've claimed your spot on the line, make friends! If you are new to the stage door process, chances are you'll be within earshot of a veteran who'd be happy to help you through the controlled chaos.
Don't: Initiate physical contact with a performer
You might be tempted hug your favorite performer once they reach you in the line, but you have to remember: While you may follow their career closely, to them, you're still a stranger. Performing eight shows a week is no easy feat, and many performers are careful to limit physical contact to avoid any viruses that may be going around, be it something as simple as a cold or as concerning as norovirus. Always wait for a performer to initiate any physical contact—be it a handshake, a high five, or a hug. If they opt to stay completely behind the barrier with their sharpie, don't be offended! They're just ensuring that they will be healthy enough to keep performing their show every day.
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Do: Bring your own sharpie for autographs
While many performers prefer to use their own sharpies while signing to prevent the transmission of germs, you should always have either a black, a silver, or a gold sharpie in your bag, just in case. While regular stage door attendees usually carry all three, if this is your first foray, you should only need one as backup; consider the colors on the cover of your shows Playbill, and pick whichever color will show up best accordingly!
Don't: Overload a performer with information
Sometimes, performances can have significant impacts on our lives; that is one of the great revelations of art. If you have something of significant length or emotional intensity to share with a performer, we highly recommend you write it down exactly the way you want to say it, and mail it to the theatre so the performer can read it in private. From your perspective, sharing with a performer for 10 minutes on the line may seem like a blip, but all it takes is for two other people on the line to have similar intentions for a performer to lose 30 minutes of their post or between-show time. Also, please remember that when you see them, they will have just finished pouring themselves into a performance. They're tired, and taking on the emotional weight of whatever you have to share can overload them. Best to put it in a letter, where both you and they can take their time with its contents. If you include a self addressed and stamped envelope as well, you may just receive a response you can treasure for all time!
Do: Ask for consent before taking any photographs or videos
Performers are people, not zoo animals. While many performers are happy to take a quick selfie, always make sure to ask permission first. If they say yes, you can then proceed. But if they say no, you need to respect that boundary. Some stars have stopped taking photos at the stage door entirely, and security guards will communicate that to you at the very beginning of the experience. If you have your phone or camera out, please be aware of who is in frame, and who your screen may be blocking visually. Performers are there to interact with their fans in person, not to star on your social media channel—so if they tell you to put it away, put it away.
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Don't: Cross a performer's personal boundaries
You know of performers in a very specific professional capacity. You are not their friend or their confidant. Asking them invasively personal questions is deeply inappropriate, and should be avoided. While many performers are happy to answer questions about their work ("What is your favorite moment in the show?"), questions about their romantic life, sexuality, or other interpersonal relationships should never be asked.
Do: Stay out of the street
On some popular shows, stage door crowds can grow to such a size that the NYPD are forced to intervene. If the crowd is large enough that you are tempted to stand in the street, you need to either move to the sides, stand further on the sidewalk, or you need to ask other people around you to make more room. The police department will shut down a stage door if they see the crowds blocking street traffic, ending the experience for everyone involved. If the crowd is simply too big to be safe, go home and try another day.
Don't: Follow someone once they have exited the line
You will be able to see where the stage door begins and ends very clearly through the use of barricades and security guards. Once a performer has exited those boundaries, leave them alone. This is not your opportunity to rush them for a more private meet-and-greet; they're just trying to go home or grab dinner! Leave them alone on their way out. And if you see anyone trying to bother them, intervene so the performer can go on their way.
The stage door tradition will continue to exist only if these boundaries are respected, so it is up to fans to educate each other on best practices.