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lckysvn777

Meeting the cast

I met the cast twice now and was curious as to everyone elses meeting with them. Any interesting stories to tell?

Megan McGinnis was really shy and didn't say too much. She smiled alot though.
Adam Jacobs didn't say much either(maybe he realized that I was the one he spit at during Look Down.LoL)
Michael Minarik was chatting alot.
Robert Hunt apologized for being all sweaty and said "It's not easy being the bad guy". I got a hug from him Smile .
Ali Ewoldt was a sweetheart and was honored that I asked for an autograph.
Lea Salonga was mobbed but was a sweetheart to everyone. She gave my program to the person aside of me by accident. Someone was yelling for a pic with her and she's like(In a cute way) you don't have to yell I'm standing right aside of you. LoL
Drew Sarich was the last to leave. He talked to everyone like they were an old friend.
Fantine

As for the London cast...

Julia Moller didn't really talk to me, she seemed shy and she seemed far more eager to get into the nearest cafe with her (boy?)friend.
Ramin Karimloo was a lot of fun, he joked around and we chatted about Holland and how he got a relative here living in a town of which the name he couldn't pronounce (cute).
Gemma Wardle seemed kind though I hardly remember more.
Joanna Ampil was kind enough to have a photograph taken with me although if Tracy hadn't stopped her, she would have gone on her way as quietly and unnoticeable as she could.
I had to pull John Owen Jones out of the backstage and he was really kind and also agreed to strike a pose Smile
eponine5

In London, Shonagh Daly was really sweet but didn't say much - mostly because that was my first time at the stage door and I said practically nothing myself (I loved her Irish accent though)
Hayden Tee was laid back and friendly, although he didn't say that much
Cornell John was loud and seemed really happy for someone to be asking for his autograph... He signed my program on his knee and then said "Did you see the cool knee thing?"
John Owen-Jones was nice, although I've hardly seen him come out of the stage door on matinees
Claire Moore was probably the most talkative Les Mis cast member I've spoken to and took quite a lot of time to talk about Les Mis, how disgusting she felt in her Madame Thenardier costume - she said it in a good way. She also raved about John Owen-Jones, and how she thought he was the best Valjean there's been. Very Happy
Sabrina Aloueche was extremely chatty and lively and always spent time to talk
Jon Lee didn't do or say much
Joanna Ampil was incredibly sweet but looked a bit worried when I told her that I couldn't stop crying during the performance -maybe I worded it weirdly Confused
Gina Beck was very friendly and sweet and seemed very flattered when I asked for her autograph
David Thaxton was completely willing to talk and laughed when I told him how many times I'd seen the show, he said something like "no-one ever sees it just once"

Although I didn't see Kerry Ellis at the Queens Theatre stage door, I managed to see her after Wicked, and she seemed quite intimidated amongst all the screeching Wicked fans. She said "Oh my God!" she saw the Les Mis program I asked her to sign as well, and took some time to look through the other headshots.
Paula74

I didn't meet anyone at the show itself (long boring reasons).

But, earlier this year, I did have a chance to meet Adam Jacobs and Norm Lewis when they did a benefit at Birdland.

Adam was extremely sweet. I was with two friends and we all ended up chatting for a bit after the show.

Norm was very friendly. I admire him a great deal both from "Side Show" and as Javert, so I was glad I had a chance to meet him. He showed off a shirt that read "Come Look At The Freaks" which inspired a bit of inside humor from Hugh Panaro...I think only about two of us got the joke.

I'd already met Drew at Lestat. He's nice, but he's just never been my cup of tea.
herkind

Norm Lewis is seriously the sweetest person ever. Meeting him at the stagedoor made me wish I'd liked his Javert more. He will stay and chat with you forever. I never saw Megan as Eponine but I stopped her when she was in the ensemble because I love her voice. She looked really surprised to be recognized but was very sweet.

Drew was really chatty too and kept patting people on the shoulder as he moved on down the line. Aaron Lazar was a lot of fun. I was amused by the fact that he very obviously enjoys being fangirled.

Jacob Levine was hilarious. He brought his own sharpie and cruised down the line like a seasoned pro. Everyone got a real kick of him.

Lea was mobbed both times I saw her but was always so gracious and polite to everyone she spoke to.

Celia, Marissa McGowan, Adam, Ali, Alex, Jeff Kready and Chip Leonard were really nice too.
Paula74

herkind wrote:
Aaron Lazar was a lot of fun. I was amused by the fact that he very obviously enjoys being fangirled.


*slaps self for forgetting Aaron*

I encountered him outside the Broadway Musicals of 1938. I wish I'd really had a chance to chat with him beyond hello, but I was with a group of friends, waiting for someone, trying to avoid someone else, and worrying about someone else...but I was sort of at the edge of a conversation he was having with some older people and he was so gracious.
Orestes Fasting

Agreed x1000 with herkind on Norm and Aaron. Norm really is the sweetest person I've ever met at the stage door--he treats everyone like he's known them forever and he's just so happy to talk to people. He can take a while to emerge sometimes, but it's well worth the wait.

Aaron... well, Aaron encourages his fangirls. I have many stories, some of which I refuse and/or am forbidden to repeat in public, but when my friend got Aaron flowers for his final performance as Enjolras and insisted on taking a picture of him with them, he grabbed the bouquet like it was a rifle, held it above his head, and struck his One Day More pose.

And if you can grab James Chip Leonard, he's been with the show for ages and he's always happy to chat with fans.

I've never actually talked to Lea, because I'm chatty and she's always busy at the stage door. But Lea, if you're still reading this forum--I love your Fantine.

Nehal Joshi and Michael Minarik are also awesome, both in the show and at the stage door. I'm probably forgetting people, and honestly I've never met anyone who wasn't nice to the fans, but somehow I always end up talking to Nehal and Minarik and Chip.

(By the way, herkind, do I know you from somewhere? You seem familiar, or at least like you've been around the fandom a while. Wink)
JulieJordan

Fantine wrote:
Julia Moller didn't really talk to me, she seemed shy and she seemed far more eager to get into the nearest cafe with her (boy?)friend.


She was like that the first time I met her too, then I caught her after a matinee and we had a lovely chat and after that she always made a point of talking to me. Such a darling, probably my favourite member of both casts she was in Smile
herkind

Orestes Fasting wrote:


(By the way, herkind, do I know you from somewhere? You seem familiar, or at least like you've been around the fandom a while. Wink)


I'm rosewithoutathorn on another Les Miz forum that seems to be slowly dying. I've mostly been lurking about the Les Miz fandom for about two or three years (or ever since "Hey, I liked that cast recording. I should read the book.")

I loved Norm so much. He was chatting with other girls about the book because one of them said that Norm's portrayal reminded them of Novel!Javert (wtf. Norm is talented but...seriously.) Anyway, he was going around high fiving people who said they had read it. I couldn't tell if he had or not because he kept saying "Good for you, it's tough to get through..." He was chatting about the weather, Side Show, people's moms and was just so pleasant.
Orestes Fasting

Aaah, yes, I know you then. I'm Marianne over there.
kayumu

i just mainly remember meeting lea salonga. she was the most mobbed, but still very friendly and nice. the lady next to me was like, "i saw you in LA!" and lea was like, "nope, i was never in LA," and the lady was like, "but i saw you there!" and lea just smiled and said, "that wasn't me." anyway, lea signed my program and took a picture with me. i was so happy. Smile i want to bring a card or teddy bear or something next time i see her (if there is a next time).
Quique

^ That woman probably confused her with Joan Almedilla, which was the last person to play Fantine in Los Angeles. Though they both look or sound nothing alike.
The Very Angry Woman

Quique wrote:
^ That woman probably confused her with Joan Almedilla, which was the last person to play Fantine in Los Angeles. Though they both look or sound nothing alike.


Oh, all Asians look alike.

I'm Asian
Quique

So do all Hispanics. Wink

Except Raul Esparza. He's a "special" Hispanic. Rolling Eyes
The Very Angry Woman

Quique wrote:
Except Raul Esparza. He's a "special" Hispanic. Rolling Eyes


It's the vibrato that does it.
Fantine

Bit by bit we learn more and more about you, TVAW. Wink
may

The various members of the London cast who I've met all seemed pleasant. Sean Kingsley however was slightly demeaning of his soon to be predecessor (for whom he understudied) which was a bit of a faux pas imo esp. as I thought the then Valjean to be excellent. I didn't bother Joanna Ampil as she gave the impression she'd rather not be bothered. Sophia Ragavelas seemed very sweet ~ thought she was a perfect Eponine (though less than perfect Fantine). Michael McCarthy had a big booming voice and remains one of my favourite Javerts. Jeff Leyton was very nice as was John Owen Jones... speaking of anyone know who's taking over JOJ next month or thereabouts?
Eponine93

The cast...

Lea Salonga was mobbed when I saw her (it was her first week) yet she handled it sweetly and with a sense of humor, comparing it to a mosh pit and just being really nice. I didn't get her autograph because I was having the shirt on my back signed instead and I couldn't make it through.

Aaron was so funny and sweet. He's very charismatic, and really does love the fangirls.

Norm and Alex were both so kind. They were the last out, and really took their time talking to all the people that had stayed. It was a shame that I didn't like their performances, because they both had great personalities.

Adam seemed kind of cold. He just signed and left. I can understand, but it wouldn't have killed him to smile.

Ali was so sweet and smiley, exactly like her Cosette. She didn't say much, but she seemed nice.
Gwen

I was very lucky to go see it. New York is a pretty much impossible place for me to go to except on extrememly rare occasion, and seeing shows...out of the question due to cost. I had a standing room ticket for this.
Anyway, I didn't get to talk much. Chip Zien was really nice about everything, even though he looked really tired. (and who could blame him.) He let me take a picture with him--and I'm terrified to develop it because it was on a disposable. (Me being stupid because I realized after leaving that my friend had a digital camera on her at the time...argh!!) I was shy about asking him to take more than one picture, something I regret now...but I got his autograph and told him that his performance was "a huge highlight for me." (which it was. probably my favorite male performance that night.)
Lea did get mobbed, there's no other word for it. I noted that there were a lot of people who looked Asian in the crowd that night. Lea herself was really great about everything, and that kind of blew me away. She let me take 2 pictures with her. (one with flash, one without. heh heh...let's see how those turn out...meh...)
Glissando

herkind wrote:

Aaron Lazar was a lot of fun. I was amused by the fact that he very obviously enjoys being fangirled.
.


I didn't get to mmet anyone at the stage door, but after the show, Norm came onstage and asked people to donate for AIDS research, and he was very funny and seemed very nice.

And I am an Aaron fangirl. I admit it. He's just so hot and has the best voice.
EponineBarker

Quote:
Aaron... well, Aaron encourages his fangirls. I have many stories, some of which I refuse and/or am forbidden to repeat in public, but when my friend got Aaron flowers for his final performance as Enjolras and insisted on taking a picture of him with them, he grabbed the bouquet like it was a rifle, held it above his head, and struck his One Day More pose.


I remember you posting that picture. Smile

Aaron was really nice when I met him, but he seemed kind of quiet, (he did flirt with me a little though, from what I remember.) I'm not sure if he was just tired after doing the show or what. My mom said that he seemed to have a sort-of (for lack of a better word) 'arrogant' additude. (Like he knew he was good.)

I didn't get to talk with him long though. (He did sign some of my things a took a picture with me though.)

Adam was extremely nice. Even after I 'accidentally' ran into him (hard Embarassed ) he just kind of ignored it, signed my things, took a picture with me, and wished me a happy birthday.

Lea was really sweet, she even complemented my nail polish. Smile
Orestes Fasting

I have to wonder whether Aaron's reputation with his fangirls is exaggerated. Laughing Everyone and their sister says he flirted with them at the stage door, but I honestly don't remember him doing that until his last weekend. Even then, it was more like egging us on.

In any case, if I hadn't come across a dozen "I met Aaron Lazar and he was totally flirting with me" posts online, I probably wouldn't have interpreted his behavior as such. XD

(And yes, showing off his backside all through the show falls squarely into the 'egging on' category.)
EponineBarker

Quote:
(And yes, showing off his backside all through the show falls squarely into the 'egging on' category.)


LOL! Now that's one thing I do not remember him doing!
Glissando

EponineBarker wrote:
Quote:
(And yes, showing off his backside all through the show falls squarely into the 'egging on' category.)


LOL! Now that's one thing I do not remember him doing!


I don't remeber that, but I wouldn't mind... Razz
Orestes Fasting

Glissando wrote:
EponineBarker wrote:
Quote:
(And yes, showing off his backside all through the show falls squarely into the 'egging on' category.)


LOL! Now that's one thing I do not remember him doing!


I don't remeber that, but I wouldn't mind... Razz


You don't remember Aaron bent over the barricade after Gavroche's death? Man, how could anyone forget? Wink
herkind

That may have been my favorite part of the barricade scenes tied closely with Aaron and Drew whispering in each other's ears during Drink With Me. Razz
Eponine93

I don't think Aaron means to flirt with all the fangirls, I think it's just a combination of his attitude and the girl's attitude towards him. If he was flirting with me... Shocked I'm probably about half his age. I thought he was really nice and everything, yet at the same time I thought: "If he was in high school with me I'd probably think he was a jerk."
herkind

Oh, I'm sure there are many girls out there that figured that just because Aaron was nice to them that he was "flirting."

Aaron was really nice when I met him too but he also reminded me of my AP Lit teacher who is bit too into himself. (Though Aaron actually has several good reasons to be into himself... Wink )
EponineBarker

herkind wrote:
That may have been my favorite part of the barricade scenes tied closely with Aaron and Drew whispering in each other's ears during Drink With Me. Razz


Now that I remember! Laughing
Electricity24601

Broadway cast:
Some really nice stagehands who I had been talking to outside the stagedoor before the show were nice enough to smuggle me inside to see the stage and meet some of the cast.
I met Norm right in the entrance. The stagehands showed him the picture I had of him to help me identify the cast and Norm said something like "Oh no, why do you have that picture?" Then I told him it was my birthday and he said that there was extra pressure on him to do good that night then.
Aaron is definately a sweetheart (although I certainly wouldn't say what he did was flirting!) I met him inside as well and he said he would definately visit my website if I visited his. I later emailed him through his site and that led to him doing a lovely interview for my website. Later on that night after the show he talked to me at the stage door and signed my program with a huge "Happy Birthday!" which made me feel special. Very Happy
I've also had little chats with Ali, Adam, Megan, and Nikki who were are really nice.

London cast:
Kerry Ellis, Hayden Tee, Shaun Escoffery, Julia Moller, and Jeff Nicholson were all very nice and polite when I stopped them and asked for pics/autographs.
JOJ is always a little slow coming out but is definately worth the wait. He signed various things, took many pics for me and endured my fangirlish babling very politely. (It probably also helped that I was with a couple of girls from his messageboard that he knows pretty well). [/b]
EponineBarker

Quote:
Some really nice stagehands who I had been talking to outside the stagedoor before the show were nice enough to smuggle me inside to see the stage and meet some of the cast.


Cool. Smile

One of the cast members (Justin Bohon who played Joly) who knew my piano teacher's (who came with us) mom, took us backstage and showed us around a little. It was so cool! I even got my picture taken standing on the bottom of the barricade! (It didn't come out though, grr... Mad ) But Justin was really nice and signed my program too. Smile
Eponine93

Electricity24601 wrote:
Broadway cast:
Some really nice stagehands who I had been talking to outside the stagedoor before the show were nice enough to smuggle me inside to see the stage and meet some of the cast.
I met Norm right in the entrance. The stagehands showed him the picture I had of him to help me identify the cast and Norm said something like "Oh no, why do you have that picture?" Then I told him it was my birthday and he said that there was extra pressure on him to do good that night then.
Aaron is definately a sweetheart (although I certainly wouldn't say what he did was flirting!) I met him inside as well and he said he would definately visit my website if I visited his. I later emailed him through his site and that led to him doing a lovely interview for my website. Later on that night after the show he talked to me at the stage door and signed my program with a huge "Happy Birthday!" which made me feel special. Very Happy
I've also had little chats with Ali, Adam, Megan, and Nikki who were are really nice.

London cast:
Kerry Ellis, Hayden Tee, Shaun Escoffery, Julia Moller, and Jeff Nicholson were all very nice and polite when I stopped them and asked for pics/autographs.
JOJ is always a little slow coming out but is definately worth the wait. He signed various things, took many pics for me and endured my fangirlish babling very politely. (It probably also helped that I was with a couple of girls from his messageboard that he knows pretty well). [/b]


Hannah, next time you go see Les Mis can you take me and Carly with you? We can tell your stage hand friends that it's my birthday, even if it's not...
Electricity24601

There's always room for more stuff in my purse... I'm sure we could smuggle you in Wink Laughing
Orestes Fasting

EponineBarker wrote:
One of the cast members (Justin Bohon who played Joly) who knew my piano teacher's (who came with us) mom, took us backstage and showed us around a little. It was so cool! I even got my picture taken standing on the bottom of the barricade! (It didn't come out though, grr... Mad ) But Justin was really nice and signed my program too. Smile


Ooooh. Last night I got to go on my first backstage tour ever.

I now have a picture of me and three of my friends draped over the barricade pretending to be dead revolutionaries. Laughing And the scary part is that it wasn't our idea. We would've been happy just to touch the damn thing.
Electricity24601

Orestes Fasting wrote:
EponineBarker wrote:
One of the cast members (Justin Bohon who played Joly) who knew my piano teacher's (who came with us) mom, took us backstage and showed us around a little. It was so cool! I even got my picture taken standing on the bottom of the barricade! (It didn't come out though, grr... Mad ) But Justin was really nice and signed my program too. Smile


Ooooh. Last night I got to go on my first backstage tour ever.

I now have a picture of me and three of my friends draped over the barricade pretending to be dead revolutionaries. Laughing And the scary part is that it wasn't our idea. We would've been happy just to touch the damn thing.


Oh, sounds like fun! Tell us more!
Orestes Fasting

Heh. Well, my friends and I got to chatting with Zach Rand's mom at the stage door, and she thought it was perfectly ridiculous that we'd seen the show 30+ times and never been backstage. So she enlisted Zach to show us around. Very Happy

And I'm not sure if it was her idea or Zach's, but every time he brings someone backstage they get photos of them posed on the barricade. So not only did we get to stand on it, we got to play dead. It was fantastic.

There were a lot of fantastic things about last night, actually--Ben Crawford was on as Javert, Haviland Stillwell was on as Fantine, Marissa McGowan was on as Cosette, and Don Brewer was on as Enjolras. Don seriously needs to be principal someday. If Max leaves before the end of the run, Don ought to be the one to replace him.

Also, Michael Minarik and Nehal Joshi are hysterical in the ABC Caf�. I think Grantaire knocking over Lesgle's drink is standard blocking now, but "You fishmonger!" "Fishmonger? What the hell's that supposed to be?" is definitely new.
eponine5

^ That reminds me of last Saturday when after At the End of the Day, someone shouted (presumably to Fantine) "You're a slag!"
Orestes Fasting

Someone in the cast, or someone in the audience?
eponine5

Someone in the cast.
EponineBarker

Orestes Fasting wrote:
Glissando wrote:
EponineBarker wrote:
Quote:
(And yes, showing off his backside all through the show falls squarely into the 'egging on' category.)


LOL! Now that's one thing I do not remember him doing!


I don't remeber that, but I wouldn't mind... Razz


You don't remember Aaron bent over the barricade after Gavroche's death? Man, how could anyone forget? Wink


Come to think of it, I do remember that now!
lckysvn777

It's the original poster. I met the cast again on Wednesday Sept 5th and it was a LiL bit different than the last time.

Megan McGinnis is really shy. She smiled at me and was really cute when the guy next to me wanted a pic with her. Has a great smile.

Adam Jacobs. Talk to me this time and was very nice.

Haviland Stillwell. She was a sweetheart and drop dead GAWGOUS!!!. LoL

Ali Ewoldt. Again what a sweetheart and really appreciates her fans.

Ann Harada. Talk to me like I was an old friend.

Lea Salonga. This was my third time meeting her and we could have a convo this time.

There was only 2 of us standing at the stage door wanting autographs which I found ODD. Last 2 times the place was mobbed. Maybe no one realized that Lea was back from vacation or no one was really interested in getting autographs Confused .
dcrowley

When I met the cast it was a rainy matin�e, so not many of the actors came out.

Nikki Renee was on as Fantine at the time. I so wanted to see Lea live as Fantine, but Nikki was still pretty breath taking. She was so sweet at the door too. She came out with a huge smile and just seemed so happy to be there.

Drew Sarich was definitely the most talkative cast member we met. He held a long convo with me and my friend about tattoos... My friend fell in love with him... as did I

Adam Jacobs was nice, but seemed distracted or something... not as talkitive

Anne Harada was so incredibly sweet... she kept on worrying about how wet I was getting standing in the rain... I took a picture with her.

Megan McGinnis was very shy, but sweet

Mandy Bruno high tailed it out of there the moment she got out the door

Gavroche was adorable

as was little Eponine

I so wanted to meet Ali and Alex, but they never came out.
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