Bow Order

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Bow Order

Posted: 5/7/08 at 4:57pm

Is there a website out there that chronicles the order of the bows in Broadway shows? Like who gets the big bow, who gets second and third, etc. I don't know why, but I find it really interesting. Does anyone out there know of a site like this?

re: Bow Order

Posted: 5/7/08 at 5:11pm

More often than not, it's up to the director.

Posted: 5/7/08 at 5:23pm

Updated On: 5/6/09 at 05:23 PM

re: Bow Order

Posted: 5/7/08 at 5:26pm

I noticed last night at The Little Mermaid it was a combo of Lead and Fame. Sierra(Lead) was last and before her was Sherrie (Fame)

re: Bow Order

Posted: 5/7/08 at 5:29pm

I feel that the Little Mermaid final bows are not fame of the actor, but fame of the character.

Prince Eric is hardly a show-y or famous role, while Ursula is a iconic one, thus the 2nd to last bow.

"Oh look at the time, three more intelligent plays just closed and THE ADDAMS FAMILY made another million dollars" -Jackie Hoffman, Broadway.com Audience Awards

re: Bow Order

Posted: 5/7/08 at 5:33pm

I was suprised Megan got the second bow for YF, but then again she is being top billed for some reason.

re: Bow Order

Posted: 5/7/08 at 5:33pm

Megan Mullally bows second to last in Young Frankenstein because she's the star. Sutton and Andrea have bigger roles then her.

re: Bow Order

Posted: 5/7/08 at 5:35pm

I also hate how low-billed Chris Fitzgerald gets. I mean, I know he's not a "name", but come on.

re: Bow Order

Posted: 5/7/08 at 5:36pm

I can't think of any examples off the top of my head but I am fairly certain that there are some shows with no specific bow order. The actors just sort of bow however and in whatever order they want.

"Perhaps, when we remember wars, we should take off our clothes and paint ourselves blue and go on all fours all day long and grunt like pigs." Kurt Vonnegut, Cat's Cradle

Updated On: 5/7/08 at 05:36 PM

#10

re: Bow Order

Posted: 5/7/08 at 5:45pm

Like when Bernie took the last bow in WOODS, even after Joanna Gleason's deafening applause.

#11

re: Bow Order

Posted: 5/7/08 at 7:23pm

its OFTEN up to the director...but I have seen the producer step in and change the order.

#12

re: Bow Order

Posted: 5/7/08 at 9:22pm

When there are stars involved, it's often decided in negotiations with the agents. For example, Angela Lansbury didn't accept the role of Mrs. Lovett until she was guaranteed top billing and the final bow (this is documented in her biography). Or when Wicked opened, it was decided from the beginning that Kristin and Idina would share the final bow. Joe Mantello didn't really have much of a choice in that case.

#13

re: Bow Order

Posted: 5/7/08 at 9:30pm

I am fairly certain that there are some shows with no specific bow order. The actors just sort of bow however and in whatever order they want.

That made me laugh.

#14

re: Bow Order

Posted: 5/7/08 at 9:34pm

^Me, too.

If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.

#15

re: Bow Order

Posted: 5/7/08 at 9:44pm

I just finished up a production of Anything Goes (1962 version) and the bows were as follows:

Ensemble (which included Ching and Ling)
Angels
Steward, Purser, Captain, Whitney (me)
Mrs. Harcourt, Moonface and Bonnie came out together and took a separate bow
Evelyn and Hope bowed together
Billy
and finally
Reno

That's how we did it.

I've done shows where we've just done a group bow (Our Town, Into the Woods, The Scarlet Letter)

When we did Godspell, it was Sort-of ensemble members (it's an ensemble piece after all), people who sang the main songs, then our Jesus.

Butters, go buy World of Warcraft, install it on your computer, and join the online sensation before we all murder you. --Cartman: South Park ATTENTION FANS: I will be played by James Barbour in the upcoming musical, "BroadwayWorld: The Musical."

#16

re: Bow Order

Posted: 5/7/08 at 9:55pm

"I can't think of any examples off the top of my head but I am fairly certain that there are some shows with no specific bow order. The actors just sort of bow however and in whatever order they want."

WHAT?????????

#17

re: Bow Order

Posted: 5/7/08 at 10:23pm

"The actors just sort of bow however and in whatever order they want."

FUNNIEST thing I've ever heard!!! LOL!!!!

"It's not so much do what you like, as it is that you like what you do." SS

"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana." GMarx

#18

re: Bow Order

Posted: 5/7/08 at 11:35pm

In every show I've don it was the director's choice.

It Sucks To Be Me

#19

Posted: 5/8/08 at 12:15am

Updated On: 5/6/09 at 12:15 AM

#20

re: Bow Order

Posted: 5/8/08 at 12:34am

its always awkward when they don't bow
In "Hot n' THrobbin", at my college, the director just had the actors walk on stage one at a time and stand there in red light for about a minute. No bows. The audience had no clue, so us in the booth in the back had to start clapping like crazy to get everyone else to realize that yes, these were "The bows"
I was also in "Impromptu", where another director decided that the audience will get it if we just stand there.,....they didnt. It wasnt until we walked off stage until the audience was like, "oh, NOW the show is over. Now we can clap"

Fear no more the heat o' the sun, Nor the furious winter's rages; Thou thy worldly task hast done, Home art gone and ta'en thy wages: Golden lads and girls all must, As chimney-sweepers, come to dust. ~Cymbeline

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