Best Button at the End of a Song.

For me what makes a great musical number all comes down to the last button. Everything has to be on in order to due the song any justice. The best buttons are when he lights, sound, and actors all hit it at the same time.I hate it when you see a huge number and then it ends with a weak button, or if everyone hits it, except one. What are some of your favorite buttons. Color Purple has one at the end of Mysterious Ways at the end of the opening number when they all raise their hands on the last note, and the light got to black leaving only their silhouette. What's yours?

My favorite is the end of The Ballad of Sweeney Todd, with him slamming the door.

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I love the Margaret entrance in Piazza at the end of Say It Somehow when Fabrizio and Clara are in that delicious embrace on the bed.........

Fabulous!

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Updated On: 3/10/07 at 11:28 AM

As a stage manager, I appreciate a good button as much as anyone -- and hate a bad button even more, especially if I called it. It's a great feeling when it all comes together and the audience is that much more enthusiastic because they're left with that satisfaction at the end of the song.

When I'm watching a show I'll certainly be impressed with a good button, but I tend not to remember the details as well as the ones I've had to worry about myself. A recent favorite of mine is the blackout at the end of "Round and Round" in The Fantasticks. The first time I nailed it I was kind of in shock, I wasn't expecting it to be so dramatic. I wouldn't put it up among best buttons of all time or anything, but it was an excellent example of a great button making taking the whole number to another level.

The button to Music..Mirror for ACL (really the last 30 seconds)

The moment in Falsettos where Marvin goes crazy and hits Trina and the cast says "Whack!"

The ending of "Nothing" in A Chorus Line where Diana feels nothing.

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The very end of Follies.

Last second of You Can't Stop the Beat
The last note of Jersey Boys
The last few seconds of Company
The end of Gimme Gimme
The end of the Jellicle Ball
And of course, Circle of Life

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SATURDAY NIGHT IN THE CITAAAY! :button:

Pure exhilaration.

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And...of course...the end of "Rose's Turn."

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Definately the ending of a Little Priest in the revival, what with Michael and Patti mounting the table in synchronized movements, and the way the music crescendoes as their arms raise. Gave me chills.

I 2nd " Strongest Suit" from Aida

The button of The Full Monty finale, "Let It Go," when the guys whip off their red G-strings and are backlit by the wall of lights - perfectly done, IMHO.