Best Button at the End of a Song.

[HollidayForever]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 3:12am

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?

[theminutepast]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 10:46am

Can you explain button more?

[mattonstage]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 11:21am

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

[brooklynbecca]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 11:22am

"And I can't wait to eat her **** again." from "My Girlfriend, Who Lives in Canada" in Avenue Q.

[evadiva]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 11:28am

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

[All_For_Laura]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 12:23pm

I think the end of "Company" from Company has an awesome button.

[Dover]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 12:53pm

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.

[dramaqueen2]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 1:36pm

the end of my strongest suit from aida is a good button i think.
and, no one mourns the wicked is good too.. shut up about it.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 1:44pm

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

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 1:54pm

Spamalot's "He Is Not Dead Yet" has some superb lighting and PGs (and I love the way that last line is sung) at the very end of the song. Love it.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 1:57pm

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.

[singingbackup]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 2:02pm

Specifically, the button at the end of "Sunday" Act II of SITPWG at the Kennedy Center a few years ago. The whole, "White...A blank page or canvas" and on the last 'bum bum'(Sun-day) of the underscore, Raul faces upstage and puts his hand on the easeled blank canvas and touches it right at the last bass(?) note. Breathtaking.

(Sidebar: Right after that moment and before the crowd went nuts, the stunned silence was broken by an understandable and very audible sob...chills thinking about it)

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 2:36pm

The very end of Follies.

[EugLoven]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 2:44pm

URINETOWN is oozing with some great buttons.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 2:46pm

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

[evadiva]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 6:00pm

Doesn't Defying Gravity have one too? I remember that ending being cool.

I don't remember any buttons in ACL

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 6:03pm

SATURDAY NIGHT IN THE CITAAAY! :button:

Pure exhilaration.

[Over the Moon]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 6:06pm

Saturday night in the citaaay<3 yes! *que the water* cant forget Dreamgirls...annnnd IIIII AMMM TELLLING YOUUU

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 6:09pm

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

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 6:32pm

I find most so-called buttons in musical theater to be pretty sad, trying to compensate for a merely noisy song by making it "exciting" by adding a button. A good song should be exciting and not manipulative.

Any song that has a strong "button" is usually a song I dont like, unless its a great song that would be great even without it, in which case, the button usually annoys me.

[ElFantasma14]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 11:34pm

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.

[mattonstage]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 11:54pm

And also the original Sweeney, with Angela and Len raising their rolling pin and razor.
The button-ish end of 'I Hope I Get It' with all the headshots.

[FutureAladdinOnB'Way]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 11:58pm

I 2nd " Strongest Suit" from Aida

[broadwaybaby086]

Posted: 3/11/07 at 9:43am

The overture to Gypsy. It's pretty much the greatest in all areas are far as music goes.

[dancinfan]

Posted: 3/11/07 at 3:37pm

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.