Historically, I think the phrase "11:00 Number" came about in the 1930s/40s and specifically referred to the leading lady's final number -- which was also usually her best of the evening.
"Blow Gabriel Blow" - Ethel, ANYTHING GOES
"The Saga of Jenny" -- Gertrude, LADY IN THE DARK
Would be two early examples of this.
Obviously, that term has kind of opened up -- almost every musical has some kind of big number in the last ten minutes of the show, but I'm not sure they really qualify as "11:00 Numbers" in the traditional sense...
Some of my favorite "11:00 Numbers"
"Rose's Turn" -- GYPSY
"The Music that Makes Me Dance" -- FUNNY GIRL
"Home" -- THE WIZ
"So Long Dearie" -- HELLO DOLLY
"The Bus from Amarillo" -- WHOREHOUSE
"Never Go Back to Before" -- RAGTIME
"Cabaret" -- CABARET
Updated On: 3/27/05 at 10:17 PM