best 11 o'clock number- Page 2

[musicaltheatreman]

Posted: 7/1/04 at 8:05pm

well why dont you do that for us then!! :)

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 7/1/04 at 8:09pm

LOL, I don't think I know myself!

Here's my best shot: A show's 11 O'Clock Number is the song that:

- Is near the end of the second act
- Helps rouse the audience and usher the show to its conclusion.

Usually, it is some revelatory moment for the main character or characters, and is a "showstopper" moment. Not all shows have 11 o'clock numbers. And, contrary to popular usage of the term, not all showstoppers are 11 o'clock numbers.

Anyone care to expand/correct/refute?

Updated On: 7/1/04 at 08:09 PM

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 7/1/04 at 8:10pm

i believe the definition is a number near the close of the show that is sung by the star or leading character- i believe urinetowns would be "i see a river" sung by hope

[musicaltheatreman]

Posted: 7/1/04 at 8:24pm

i dont think i see the river is really an 11 0'clock # because personally i dont think urinetown has one.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 7/1/04 at 9:06pm

I See a River is actually Urinetown's finale number, followed by a short epilogue. An 11 o'clock number is a big powerhouse ballad just before the end of the show, usually performed by the lead (but sometimes can be a duet) to energize the audience before reaching the finale. They are most often found in the old-fashioned musical comedies, but sometimes in the dramas as well, but they are not in every musical and they are not always the most popular song.

Some examples:
Cats - Memory
Company - Being Alive
Mamma Mia - The Winner Takes it All
Cabaret - Cabaret
A Little Night Music - Send in the Clowns
The Sound of Music - Edelweiss (thought I was going to say Climb Every Mountain, didn't ya?
South Pacific - This Nearly Was Mine
Zorba - I am Free
Phantom of the Opera - Past the Point of No Return
West Side Story - I Have a Love
Chicago - Nowadays

[jo]

Posted: 7/1/04 at 9:52pm

ONCE BEFORE I GO - poignant, defiant, sentimental, rousing, and climactic!

The song slid into the eleven o-clock number so easily during previews ( replacing TENTERFIELD SADDLER) - and drew so many standing ovations that it was decided to keep it in as Hugh/Peter's last solo number.

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 7/1/04 at 10:01pm

They don't always have to be the ballad, right? I think Avenue Q's "The Money Song" serves the same purpose as an 11 o'clock number, without being a ballad.

[wendy72]

Posted: 7/1/04 at 10:13pm

Well, on Regis and Kelly, J-Tags referred to "I wish I could go back to College" as Avenue Q's 2nd act 11 o'clock number. And I have also heard Stephanie refer to "Fine,Fine Line" as an 11 o'clock number.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 7/1/04 at 10:19pm

Gimme Gimme...although I know there are other great ones, I can't come up with any others right now.

[directorkid]

Posted: 7/1/04 at 10:20pm

Sit Down You're Rockin' the Boat - Guys and Dolls
Rose's Turn - Gypsy
Impossible Dream - Man of La Mancha
Bring Him Home - Les Miserables
Beauty School Droupout (when done well) - Grease
Ain't It Good - Children of Eden
Benjamin's Calypso - Joseph...

[GovernorSlaton]

Posted: 7/1/04 at 10:42pm

Move On-Sunday in the Park with George
Nobody Needs to Know-The Last 5 Years
All the Wasted Time-Parade

[Matt_G]

Posted: 7/1/04 at 11:07pm

Rose's Turn
Lot's Wife
Move On

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/1/04 at 11:17pm

It took almost two pages of posts for "Send in the Clowns"!?

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 7/1/04 at 11:21pm

All The Wasted Time is one of the most gorgeous and moving songs ever written for modern American musical theatre in my opinion.

[PJ]

Posted: 7/1/04 at 11:35pm

"Rose's Turn." No competition. Never will be.

Honorable Mentions:
"My Man" - Funny Girl
"Lot's Wife" - Caroline, or Change
"Betrayed" - The Producers
"No Good Deed" - Wicked
"Cabaret" - Cabaret

[Jamie Hat]

Posted: 7/1/04 at 11:42pm

Being that I brought up Bat Boy, I would just like to add (AGAIN; and thanks for the help friends) that Apology to a Cow is NOT in act one, and YES, IS the 11 o'clock number.

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 7/1/04 at 11:43pm

And how can we forget "Timeless to Me"

[M J R]

Posted: 7/1/04 at 11:43pm

Agree with lots of others y'all have listed....also "Always True to You" from Kiss Me Kate!!

Updated On: 7/1/04 at 11:43 PM

[magruder]

Posted: 7/2/04 at 3:48am

"When I'm Drunk I'm Beautiful" from Prettybelle
"I'm Going Back" from Bells Are Ringing
"Sit Down You're Rocking the Boat" from Guys and Dolls
"So Long Dearie" from Hello, Dolly
"If He Walked Into My Life" from Mame

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 7/2/04 at 4:12am

"50 Percent" from Ballroom
"The Brotherhood of Man" from How To Succeed
"Flesh Failures/Let The Sun Shine In" from Hair
"Sing Sing Sing" from Dancin'
"Midnight Radio" from Hedwig

[hawkeyemania]

Posted: 7/2/04 at 9:35am

"For Good" Wicked
"Rose's Turn" Gypsy
"A Step Too Far" Aida ????is this considered or not really???
"Written in the Stars " Aida
hmmm can't think of anymore off the top of my head....

[judy_in_disguise]

Posted: 7/2/04 at 10:01am

"Cabaret" from Cabaret
"Nice Work if You Can Get It" from Crazy for You
"A Boy Like Dat/ I Have A Love" from West Side Story
"All the Wasted Time" from Parade

[joeyjoe]

Posted: 7/2/04 at 10:42am

Make Them Hear You - Ragtime
Being Alive - Company
Rose's Turn - Gypsy
Live, Laugh, Love - Follies

[robbiej]

Posted: 7/2/04 at 10:43am

THANK YOU, MAGRUDER!!!

'Hello, Dolly' is most certainly not the 11 o'clock number. 'So Long, Dearie' is.

'Send in the Clowns' is not the 11 o'clock number. 'Miller's Son' is.

The 11 o'clock number is usually the penultimate song used to goose the audience into the home stretch of a show. Sometimes the homestretch is short (see 'Rose's Turn'). Basically, what ya have to do is move the start time of a show to 8:30-8:45 and guess which number would come at around the 11 o'clock time.

OH...one more...'Ladies Who Lunch' is the 11 o'clock, not 'Being Alive'.

[joeyjoe]

Posted: 7/2/04 at 10:56am

Ladies Who Lunch - Company