Leave Celebrities Alone at Shows

[ClydeBarrow]

I spotted Lindsay Mendez and Hunter Parrish last night at Nice Work. All I did was take a mental note and that was that. Some older people outside were taking pictures of Hunter while he's just trying to have a conversation with Lindsay and someone else. Then the woman proceeds to pester him into taking pictures with her and her friends. At intermission inside the theatre the same thing starts happening with some younger people.

I understand that you might think it's soooo cool to have a picture taken with a celebrity but you should also realize that they're people too. Leave them alone and let them enjoy an evening out without being bombarded by idiots!

[Broadway Joe]

I wouldn't be able to spot either of them. Even if I ran them over with my car.

[broadwaydevil]

What if your van hit Jan Maxwell?

[Wynbish]

I heard a story about David Tennant seeing Catherine Tate in a play right after their Doctor Who run. Fans kept pestering him so much, that he had to leave to stop all the disruptions.

[castlestreet]

I think you have to read peoples body language- I have had great conversations with some celebrities and others give off all of the signs that say "don't bother me!"

I've had great conversations with Morgan Freeman, Raul Esparza, Riedel, Marc Anthony and a host of others- but you could tell they wouldn't mind- they were talkative to people around them, when you looked at them they would look back and smile or gesture.

I knew 100% to leave Vince McMahon alone at Shrek, and James Gandolfini at Stritch at the Carlye- they had they "leave me the f*** alone" face on- didn't even look their way!

I think it just depends on the person.

[ChiChi]

A friend of mine was in the NINE revival and got me a really decent seat up front. I ended up sitting next to Tom Hanks and his wife (I never remember her name.) I was dying with excitement but said nothing beyond "hello" and after word they said, "Great show, huh?" I just said "Yes it was." My friend told me later that he'd been to see the show several times and she'd learned that he HATES being bothered in public.

[mamaleh]

There's sort of a flip side to the "I vant to be alone" issue. As intermission began at a performance of THE BOY FROM OZ eight years ago, I saw Peter Krause sitting with Carla Gugino, both of whom I knew were about to do a revival of AFTER THE FALL. As I passed by, I smiled slightly. Mr. Krause looked me in the eye and asked, "Would you like an autograph"? That took me by surprise, as I had no intention to so ask. But I felt it would be churlish and insulting to say "That's OK, thanks anyway"--so I offered them a spare playbill I was holding, smiled again and thanked them. That was the only time I've ever experienced that happenstance.

[Jordan Catalano]

I hate when people say "Do you want an autograph". An I'm not joking about that, either. It happens more than you'd think and always comes off as bizarrely desperate and sad, no matter who they are.

But I have no sympathy for celebrities who are out (without their families, or not at dinner etc) and get approached by the people who pay their bills and for their big fancy homes and cars.

[Wynbish]

How embarassing would it have been if you didn't know who Peter or Carla ware

[Jordan Catalano]

I'm going to start asking people if they want my autograph.

[Wynbish]

Wear sunglasses and ask tourists. Will probably work every time.

[ChiChi]

I was crossing at Columbus Circle on my way back to the West Side Y once and saw Greg Jbara was standing about three feet away. I didn't want to say anything, but in the end couldn't help myself. I asked if he would do an autograph and he noticed my holding my "Awake and Sing" Playbill. He said, "on that!" I laughed. He said, "Here" and he took out a business card that said his name and "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels." He signed it and asked if I wanted a picture. I told him that of course I did and I got my camera ready and the batteries were dead. He offered to take the picture with his camera and said he would text it to me. I figured I'd never see it, but the next morning there it was. It was really cool. Still never saw "Dirty Rotten"

[jv92]

Hey, THAT'S a good idea. Charge money too. Say it's for The Human Fund. See what happens.

[GilmoreGirlO2]

I agree that fans should be respectful, but I also think that there is no harm in a fan asking for an autograph/picture. Obviously, if it's disrupting the show or the celebrity seems busy/tied up at the moment, that is out of line, but otherwise, I think celebrities should be grateful that people want to meet them. I agree with Jordan - these are the people who are paying for their lives and who will keep them employed.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

I can only imagine what would happen if someone approached.... Faye Dunaway? from RC in Austin, Texas

[ChiChi]

I wonder how Debra Winger will do at the stage door. Apparently she is not pleasant to work with or meet.

We should leave Brittany alone as well.

[tazber]

I've seen lots of celebs and generally I act as if they weren't even there out of respect for their privacy.

I ended up standing directly behind Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman at the intersection of 57th and Madison once. Some woman asked to take a picture with them and they obliged (which I thought was pretty darn nice). When the light changed and everyone started walking I heard her say "see, I told you we should have taken the car".

The exception I always make though is when I see a composer whose work I love. I can't help myself. I feel compelled to let them how much their work has moved me.

Nothing long or too intrusive, just a simple compliment on their work. The three times I've done that (William Finn, Jerry Herman, and Alan Menken) they have all been quite gracious and appreciative.


But also as someone earlier said, if there is obvious "leave me alone" body language then I would never intrude.

[SonofRobbieJ]

'But I have no sympathy for celebrities who are out (without their families, or not at dinner etc) and get approached by the people who pay their bills and for their big fancy homes and cars.'

Darling...don't you think you're overstating it...just a titch?

[JoeKv99]

I was out to lunch and Helen Hayes was at the next table. I made her sign the menu and then recite a few lines from Victoria Regina. I had my young niece with me who had no idea who she was- so I had Helen recap her career and draw a few of her most favorite costumes so my precious could appreciate who she was meeting. I asked Helen to read through my one act and make a few suggestions. Bitch CLAIMED to be too busy. Damn celebrities are so full of themselves.

[tazber]

I remember that Joe! OMG I was soooo embarrassed, but you persisted.

She wasn't too busy if I recall, but you farted and it was so offensive she just used that as an excuse to get the hell out.

And you wonder why I never join you for dinner out anymore.

[ClydeBarrow]

My favorite reaction was of Lea Michele a couple years back when she was only on Glee. It was Xmas time and she was at the Marc Jacobs store buying a gift for her bf. This Asian woman flipped her sh!t and of course took out the camera to ask for a picture. Lea shot that bitch down and you can't take pictures inside that store anyway.

[JoeKv99]

Oh Tazber you just hate when I tell people you're my niece!

[Jay Lerner-Z]

I recently came across Julia Roberts in the most unlikely of places ( a remote beach in the West of Ireland) and as I passed her, I just froze. WTF?? I couldn't help but think. I wouldn't dream of approaching her, but it was obvious I recognized her and I felt that even that was a bit of an intrusion. Ridic, I know.

[tazber]

I think that's probably more common that you think Jay.

When you don't want to bother someone, but you obviously know who they are and they know you know, it's awkward.

[jv92]

Lea Michele is someone who needs her delusional fans to pay for her cars and houses. Without them, she'd be singing on a Subway platform for nickels. She should damn well sign autographs.

[Wynbish]

I would think it's different for celebrities attending a show and celebrities just seen around town, running errands. If they are attending a show, they know they are putting themselves in an environment like that, and as long as it does not disrupt the show or their observance of it, why not?

But if they are just around town, trying to get somewhere or pick up some things, that seems more intrusive.

Then again, there are some people who really should never be approached, like the aforementioned Vince McMahon