Stage dooring isn't new to me, but this experience totally was.

So this is how yesterday ended... but let's talk about the rest of it first.

My mom, sister, brother, and I headed up to NYC via bus.  I haven't taken the bus since October... I got so spoiled by the train in New Brunswick.  

First stop to NYC was Rockefeller Center... and to the NBC Shop.  I wanted to get myself a Chuck shirt.  I also discovered they sell DOCTOR WHO merchandise at the store.  SCORE!  So I also bought an Adpose stress doll!!

(The longer lines feel like tire tracks and the Adipose doll... well feels like adipose, I suppose.)

Shortly after that we met up with my friend, Chrissy, and made our way to the Al Hirschfeld Theatre to see 'How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.'

(Playbill signed by John Larroquette, Charlie Williams, Daniel Radcliffe, and Michael Park.)

The show was amazing and fun!  My school did a production of H2$ my senior year of high school (I was Miss Jones,) so I was very familiar with the story and music.  The way they portrayed the story and characters was brilliant.  I loved the block-set, the tap dance during 'Cinderella, Darling', and the elevator scene.  'Grand Old Ivy' WAS FANTASTIC!!!!!! I so enthralled but that scene and so many of the others.  Even the second act, which I didn't really like when I performed it.  The whole thing was just an amazing theatrical experience.  Daniel Racliffe made a superb Finch, and the rest of the cast were superbly casted as well, especially Christopher J. Hanke as Bud Frump.  You know it's something when you're waiting to get DanRad's signature, but also really want a signature from this other guy.  He was very memorable and hysterical!  I really wish we would have caught him after the show.

(Unfortunately, they don't come out after the matinee so we were told we could come back around 9.. 10 ish for a spot to stagedoor.)

Speaking of after the show, after the show we ventured to the Discovery Museum in Times Square (which was only like a block away from the theater,) and went to the Harry Potter Exhibit.  So many great things inside: costumes, props, monsters.  

Some highlights for me: 

1. Marissa got to do the Sorting Hat thing in the beginning of the tour.  The guide asked, "Do you have a preference of House?"  So she goes, "Gyffindor."  LIKE ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE.  >_<  Marissa, you fail me!
2. The details on every piece of fabric... or just EVERYTHING.  Stunning.  Especially the invisibility cloak.
3. SNAPE's Costume... I just stood there for a while wishing I could touch it.  *le sigh*  Why must I follow rules?
4. The trio's POA outfits during the big action part of the story.  (I could recognize those outfits anyway.)
5. Sitting in Hagrid's car... Holy GALATIC-WATERMELON-SIZED-CHAIR, Batman.
6. Speaking of HUGE chairs... how about the HUGE HAGRID OUTFIT.  I didn't realize the costume was THAT huge.  
7. Seeing a thestral... *shudders*
8. Luna's outfit to Fleur and Bill's wedding!
9. The Twin's robes!
10. The Sword of Gryffindor!

Bought a DA shirt and some pencils in the gift shop.  I really enjoyed the exhibit, I just wish there were more interactive things inside (you could pull a mandrake out of a pot, throw a quaffle, and sit in Hagrid's chair) and I wish picture taking was allowed!  That was such a bummer.  But overall, some very cool things to see.

We were starving by that point so ate dinner then got dessert at Donna Bell's Bake Shop.  Tasty!  I only wish we got there earlier in the day for a bigger selection of goodies.

After that we ventured to the theater to take some pictures and to see the crowd waiting for Daniel.  It wasn't too bad at that point, but we only knew it was going to get bigger.  It was 9 p.m. and there were already about 20 people there.  The security at the theater had 2 sets of barricades set up.  One for people who didn't see the show that day and want to try to get some autographs, and the other for people who saw the show that day (even Saturday, we saw the matinee and were able to stand there because they didn't come out after that performance.)  We got to be right at the front of the barricades and waited a long, long time for the end of the show.  I understand people want to get Daneil's autograph, however I can't believe that people from the evening show skipped the 2nd Act (some the whole thing) just for a chance of an autograph.  I heard someone say, "I'll just see it on DVD someday."  That just really upset me because "Brotherhood of Man" was just AMAZING live.  Certainly on my list of top production scenes in shows I've seen.  They've performed it on TV, but there's nothing like seeing it LIVE!!!  (To people that skipped half of the show: You're crazy.)  The police and security guards were extremely nice and handle the craziness of the fandom very well.  Apparently, they said they average about 500 people waiting out by the stage door each night.  We were VERY LUCKY to be right behind the barricades.

Around 11 p.m. John Larroquette came out of the theater and signed our Playbills.  He was extremely nice and looked at me when I told him how amazing the show was and responded with a very gracious thank you while looking straight at me.

After that, Charlie Williams who was Mr. Jenkins signed our Playbills. :)    Then around 11:15ish out appears Daniel Radcliffe from the stage door.  (Lots of pushing ensues.  These are times I'm thankful that I have a curvy behind to push people away.  Oh... lots of screaming too.  And Dan wasn't wearing earplugs.  Neither was I, but I was wishing I was.)  My sister and I both had little conversations with him.  He looked straight at me and said "Thank you."  I was very proud of myself that I held it together a lot more than when we met Adam Pascal.  (Although we did get a picture WITH him.)

These are my mom's pictures.  My picture is the one at the very top of the post.  I didn't use flash... I was so close to his face.  It was scary.  (Not his face.. just being that close.)

Michael Park (Mr. Bratt) was also signing while Dan was and switched sides with him.  He told my sister that our afternoon crowd as extremely responses, almost like the opening night crowd.  Woot!  It was a very energetic afternoon performance!

And yeah... that was our stage door experience.

Tips:

*Be positive and excited.  Just don't scream.

*Please don't push.  Seriously.  You want to see the person you came there to see, but you don't want to injure them by pushing down the barricades (or pushing unsuspecting people through the barricades.)

*When you're getting your Playbill or something signed by an actor/actress be sure to thank them!  (And again, don't scream at them!)

*Take pictures... but don't keep flashing things in their faces.  I put my camera on 'no flash.'  However I still felt bad for the orange light that appears before the picture takes.

*Please don't lean on other people... and their arms.  (Or they might have a strap mark on their arm for hours after the event.)