PSA TO PEOPLE WHO VISIT STAGEDOORS
Ok, everyone, quick story time.
I’m currently in New York for college tours, but I managed to go to the “Mean Girls” stagedoor yesterday to try to meet anyone who would come out. Everything was fine at first, a little chaotic, but nothing terrible. After a while, Stephanie Lynn Bissonnette, an ensemble member of the show, came out to sign Playbills and meet everyone. The girl standing next to me saw her when she came down and asked, “Can I ask you a question?”, and Stephanie, of course, said yes. I could tell she was excited to talk and not just sign things. However, the girl said “When is Barrett coming out?” and “Do you know when Barrett is coming out?” and “I just want to meet Barrett!”, and I froze. Stephanie just said she didn’t know and kept walking, saying hi to everyone.
Now, guys. I cannot begin to explain how incredibly rude it is to ask a cast member for someone else WHILE THEY ARE TAKING TIME TO SIGN AN AUTOGRAPH, POSE FOR PICTURES, AND SAY HI JUST FOR YOU. Just think, if you were in a hit Broadway musical, you wouldn’t want people asking for someone else when you’re kind enough to come out to begin with.
Please do not be this person. Respect and appreciate each actor for the work they’ve done and everything they put out on that stage. It’s ok to be a fan. It’s ok to want to see Barrett (or any other cast member) and be excited about it!! It’s ok to hope that and want your favorite cast member to say hi to you. But please, please, please be respectful. Don’t ask other actors, crew members, or people who work on the show for other people. Many of the girls around me did also want to meet Barrett, and when she didn’t come out they were disappointed, but they were completely understanding. Actors are not obligated in any way to come out to the stagedoor. Some were annoyed, saying things like, “We pay their bills. The least they can do is take a picture”. When you see a show, you are paying to see the show, and if an actor comes out, that’s great!! But no one is obligated to come out, and you should be grateful for the ones who do. The performers need to protect themselves, their voices, and their bodies. You are never paying for a meet-and-greet with the people. I KNOW how much it can hurt when your favorite person doesn’t come out; trust me I KNOW how much it hurts, but getting mad isn’t going to make anything better. Meeting people at the stagedoor is a privilege.
So moral of the story is please don’t ask actors in a show for other actors, and please don’t blame the actors for not stagedooring every night. Remember that you got to see a Broadway show!! Thousands of people only dream of an opportunity like that.