Best showing of appreciation from a cast?

[crazychicksj]

I was just wondering what some of the best shows of appreciation are people have gotten from there casts? We all have a few that make our job worth doing, and some that nearly brought us to tears.

One of the best I've experienced was last night. We did a really low tech showcase in which I acted as producer, director, and crew in a venue where the "booth" is a table set up next to the audience. After their curtain call they continued the applause and walked most of the way over to the booth to say thank you. When I went backstage afterward they all rushed me for a giant group hug. It was the best thing a cast has ever done for me.

What has your cast (or an actor) done to show they appreciate you that you really enjoyed?

[ReyYaySM]

When I SMed Peter Pan, on closing night the cast presented me with a scrapbook that they had started with pictures from the show.  It is one of the sweetest things that a cast has done for me.  I finished the scrapbook with my own pictures and it is a beautiful reminder of my amazing cast and the show that reminded me daily why I do theatre. 

[EFMcMullen]

One of my first casts got me up on this bridge that was part of the set and then they all gathered below to serenade me closing night. 

[Tempest]

A big, tearful hug from the lead, who said, "You're one of the best stage managers I've ever worked with; I would love to work with you again." 
After that, everything else is just window dressing.

[crazychicksj]

EFMcMullen: In high school we had a cast serenade the crew while we hung the noose during Chicago. To do it we had to stand on the baby grand shell we'd built to cover a keyboard needed for the show. When we finished all the girls laid down on the piano to listen. It's always nice to get a song from a particularly thoughtful class.

[missliz]

It's the little things, I think- an actor brought me coffee and a bagel at the beginning of our 10/12. Offering to pick up lunch if I can't get out of the theater, etc.

On a superficial level, I love gifts themed to the show- I got a bright (Malvolio) yellow bag with a quote from Twelfth Night on it at the end of that show, a basket of champagne and oranges (referencing the brunch-gone-awry scene) for The Real Thing, and a big box of #2 pencils, erasers, and notebook paper for Children At Play.

Unfortunately, no coins from Rosencrantz+Guildenstern.

[loebtmc]

On a particularly ... interesting show, the band leader wrote a little "running" vamp - that he played as I ran from the booth thru the theater to backstage for calls ever day (theater w no intercom and no backstage access without going thru the house) touched my heart deeply.

And on another challenging show where we moved rehearsal spaces daily, the set designer was an idiot and nothing was done on time or well (our TD had to rebuild two key props on a nightly basis) - the full cast bought huge gift baskets for my crew and me. It was a total surprise and totally amazing.

And of course, I love when my actors tell me how much they love me and how much they appreciate our team and me, and how they want to work with me again and again - and when they invite me to join them at dinner or offer to bring something back when they know I am working thru the meal break. Those are folks I recommend for work time and again.

[geoffsm]

I've gotten everything from hugs and compliments to offers to pick me up food when I can't get out and even the occasional bottle of booze on closing night.  To me, there is nothing more satisfying than hearing an actor say that the process was smooth and stress-free or to say that I helped to make them feel comfortable in any way.  It's why I do what I do, so to me that's worth more than gifts.

[LCSM]

On my birthday last year I got sent out of the room on an errand, and when I came back everyone had gathered in there to sing me "Happy Birthday" and shower me with candy corn (my favorite) and home-made cards. Makes me smile whenever I think about it, despite how sick I got from all the candy!

[dallas10086]

I just got a 6-pack of Mike's from one cast member tonite. She reasoned that everyone else onstage gets to drink, it was my turn...that's good enough for me!

[BlantonRK]

I once received a gift certificate for a massage at a local spa. WONDERFUL!!

[missliz]

I once received a gift certificate for a massage at a local spa. WONDERFUL!!

I worked with an actress who's also a licensed massage therapist. She gave me a post-tech massage...it was wonderful.

[Tempest]

I once received a gift certificate for a massage at a local spa. WONDERFUL!!

I worked with an actress who's also a licensed massage therapist. She gave me a post-tech massage...it was wonderful.

I think you just became the envy of every SM on the planet!   

[BlantonRK]

I once received a gift certificate for a massage at a local spa. WONDERFUL!!

I worked with an actress who's also a licensed massage therapist. She gave me a post-tech massage...it was wonderful.

I think you just became the envy of every SM on the planet!   

It only happened once! 

[missliz]

I once received a gift certificate for a massage at a local spa. WONDERFUL!!

I worked with an actress who's also a licensed massage therapist. She gave me a post-tech massage...it was wonderful.

I think you just became the envy of every SM on the planet!   

It only happened once! 

God, I'd work with her again just for the promise of a post-tech full-body massage...