“Hear Me Out: Why Broadway Stage Dooring Needs Better Restrictions”
For active theatergoers, mostly of the younger generation, know that a common post-musical activity is doing stage door. “Stage dooring” consists of audience members and fans of a particular musical going to the stage door outside of the theater to meet actors for photo opportunities and playbill signatures, and this trend has been increasing greatly over the past few years. While this is a fun, free, and public experience for many, theaters are starting to pull back and restrict these experiences. Stage door, while enhancing a theater geek’s Broadway musical experience, has caused many unsafe experiences for Broadway actors and audience members alike, which is why Broadway theaters should start placing heavier restrictions or outright eliminating post-show stage door experiences.
Alex Brightman, Brendon Urie, Barrett Wilbert Weed are just three Broadway stars among the long list of people who have dealt with unsafe stage dooring experiences in recent years. From being followed home and thrown into excessively large and anxiety-inducing crowds, to being threatened, actors have been placed in danger due to stage door. Many actors and actresses are starting to pull back on making appearances due to feeling unsafe and anxious when in these large, loud, and chaotic crowds. However, it’s not the fault of the actors, it’s the fans.
Stage dooring is a privilege for the theater community to have the experience of a lifetime, and while fans deserved to be entertained, privileges can be taken away as well. If the theater community can’t learn to behave properly, cast members are made to feel unsafe and pressured. These hardworking actors and actresses deserve respect and to be treated properly, which also includes the increase of those leaving shows early to get a spot in line for stage door, referencing the drama surrounded by Colleen Ballinger’s run in “Waitress”. If we can’t learn to appreciate and respect the privilege we have as theatergoers, we should not have the privilege at all.
It’s not even just the actors as well who are negatively impacted. Stage door crowds have gotten increasingly bigger and rowdier as the years have gone by, making it hard for those to find good standing spots and for people to meet their favorite actors. People who often stalk cast members and make daily and weekly visits to the theater, people being pushed and crammed inside dozens of people in small spaces can be uncomfortable for those just trying to have a good post-show experience. Without much order or supervision at stage door, this makes it unsafe for both cast members and audience members.
As more and more incidents relating to stage door drama are on the rise, there is still hope that the broadway community can work to make these experiences safe for both the actors and audience members. While theaters and actors personally may be able to make the choice to eliminate stage door experiences, they may also be able to place a limit on how often these experiences occur, or how many people are allowed at stage door. Placing limits and better boundaries can reduce the chances of another incident occurring, so both audience members and cast members can benefit.
To help enhance the magical experience of seeing a broadway show for everyone, stage dooring is one of the many areas that should be worked on in the community in order to improve the safety and experiences of both cast and crew members of shows and theatergoers. The drama and danger of this broadway trend has risen more in the past couple of years, and it’s time something is done about it. Being offered a free and public experience for those to meet their favorite broadway actor is a privilege, so we as the community should work towards a better experience for all to keep the stage dooring tradition going for years to come.~JR
Looks like Raspberry Cream Cookie can have an aggressive side as well……
Context: Raspberry Cream and Raspberry Milk were playing in the forest. Raspberry Milk was attacked and mauled by a cakehound. Raspberry Cream got the cakehound off of him, grabbed a rock, and……… well…… the image speaks for itself…….
