Swing Joined: 9/25/10
So...I'm working on a production of "The Wiz," and the other day at rehearsal, one of the leads gave such a rousing performance that the other actors threw shoes at the stage. They assured us that it was the highest praise known in the musical theatre world. I, no n00b in the musical theatre world, was baffled.
I'm curious--does anyone know how this tradition came about? Is anyone familiar with the tradition? Have you ever been compelled to throw shoes in a good way?
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/5/04
I'm aware of it, and have seen it in theaters many times, but always as a response to a dance, not to singing or acting. It was always amongst the chorus people, and was definitely intended as high praise for the performance. I am not aware of its origin.
I threw a shoe at my ex-husband once when I was really pissed off. But this is some other dynamic, I would imagine.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
That video make me smile!
Yeah. THAT's how pissed off I was, although in the big picture, my ex-husband is a far superior individual to the former president.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/28/05
I've never heard of that tradition, but many are regional. In my HS (in NY), "b!tch eats mad cake" means "she sings really well," but when I said it in college (in MA), I got strange looks and had to explain what it meant.
My dance teacher throws shoes at us when we talk too much.
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/6/05
I love Buckwild!
Never heard of it, never witnessed it. Are they Dutch?
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/28/05
Oh, and this reminds me: both my HS and college do "ooh I feel so good; like I knew I would" before shows, but the rhythms are totally different.
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