Cabaret. I don't think I've ever been impacted by something as much as I was by Cabaret. I was simply in shock when it was over. I'm Jewish, so the ending hit home really hard, but the show had so much depth, which a lot of shows around now don't have.
Aida. Nothing has ever actually made me cry - except this show. I love the story... it's so beautiful.
Rent. The characters seem so real, and I think that's the most effective thing about the show. The first time I saw it, it really opened my eyes to a lot of important issues.
i definitly agree with RENT, i saw it when i was 14 so it opened up a ton...as for the emotional stuff little shop was done very well when audrey's fate is realized, that was emotional...but my friends who hav seen wicked tell me im gonna bawl my eyes out when i see it...
The closest I've come to crying at a theater was at Les Mis, but I can't say it really affected my life. I can say that listening to Company opened me up to the wonders of Sondheim. Does that count? :)
RENT made me so much more aware of issues going on in the world, and since I used to be a really negative person, my attitude was always "Oh, I can make up with that person tomorrow", but with the whole 'NO DAY BUT TODAY' message, it made me realize that every day is a new day and I should live it to my fullest, even if it's little things.
Wicked. I know it's cliche, but "Defying Gravity" just really put things in perspective for me. When the curtain fell I was breathing really heavily because I hadn't been breathing during that whole number. The second that number ended I realized that this was exactly what I was going to do with my life no matter what it takes.
"What a mystery this world. One day you love them and the next day you want to kill them a thousand times over." The Masked Bandit in THE FALL
Wicked definitely strengthened my relationship with my best friend. When the curtain came down for intermission, he turned to me and said, "It's not very good, is it?" And I replied, "That last song was good." He said, "It proved she sure can scream."
Then, after the curtain call, I turned to him and said, "I'm sorry I suggested this and I'm sorry it cost us over a hundred dollars each." He said, "It's not your fault" and he forgave me. It really did bring us closer together.
When I saw CATS I got touched. By a cast member, he rubbed his head on my leg... that had a profound impact on me. I swear I turned gay right then and there.
The show that touched me the most was Les Miz. Aida kinda did too because of the beatiful story. Though i've yet to see them, but the music in rent and wicket are ver powerful and inspring to me. If i'm ever down, i turn to those Cd's.
"Chicago is it's own incredible theater town right there smack down in the middle of the heartland. What a great city! I can see why Oprah likes to live there!" - Dee Hoty :-D
POTO touched me because I always feel for the Phantom. Le Miz was another because of what everyone went through. JC:SS touched me when Jesus was being whipped. I can't stand to see anyone hurt.
A Chorus Line. When the actors who were asked to step forward were then summarily dismissed, I GOT IT! On SOOO many levels, I GOT IT! I had been teaching high school theatre for about five years when I first saw A Chorus Line, and that single moment, thankfully, changed EVERYTHING about how I approached young actors.
I'd never really cared much about acting in high school and college myself. I'd ALWAYS wanted to teach and direct. And though many of my friends CARED about acting, I never really understood the tears when cast lists were posted. After seeing A Chorus Line, I understood...
"Heaven doth with us as we with torches do not light them for themselves."
- William Shakespeare
les miz made me love theater, so its impact was more than i can describe.
rent touched me too, every once in a while when i am about to procrastinate (sp?) over something very important, i hear the lyrics "no day but today" in my head. i know that it is cheesy, but isnt that what art is supposed to do- change perspectives-? if it is done right that is.
I first saw RENT when I was 11, and of course I adored it. I didn't really realize how it made me feel until I got the cast recording. It gave me something real, something to hold on to when I was going through a tough time. I saw it again recently, and it totally changed my outlook on life. I know that sounds really stupid, but it's true. I can't really describe how it makes me feel, but you get it.
Les Miserables... I can't even say. I always knew I wanted to do musical theatre, but when I saw Les Mis, it confirmed everything I want to be. OMG I LOVE IT!
"The stage is where I live and come alive and act out all the things that go on in my life. It's not just what I do for a living, it's my shrink and my love affair. No one in my life has ever or ever will kiss me on the mouth like this lover called my relationship with my performance."