Broadway Shows without Curtain Call

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 4/21/19 at 1:26pm

Has there ever been a Broadway show that didn't include bows at the end?

[Esther Blodgett]

Posted: 4/21/19 at 1:32pm

20+ years ago, a revised version of The Diary of Anne Frank had no call.

[BalconyClub]

Posted: 4/21/19 at 1:38pm

A Chorus Line - but then again, the finale of ONE are the bows.

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 4/21/19 at 2:13pm

When I went Millenium Approaches had no curtain call. Perestroika did have one very brief bow at the end. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/21/19 at 5:03pm

BalconyClub said: "A Chorus Line - but then again, the finale of ONE are the bows."

Was going to mention this one.  Michael Bennett did that intentionally so the audience isn’t aware that when the cast starts popping out at the start of the “One” number, that’s the curtain call.  As the lights slowly dim during the kick line at the ending of the number, the house lights instantly pop on when the number ends so the audience is left there baffled as the show is over in full.  

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 4/21/19 at 5:28pm

poisonivy2 said: "When I went Millenium Approaches had no curtain call. Perestroika did have one very brief bow at the end."

Similarly, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Part One has no curtain call. (By the way, there was a curtain call for Millennium Approaches for the last revival on single show days.)

[VivianDarkbloom2]

Posted: 4/22/19 at 11:43am

As I recall (anyone feel free to correct me if I am wrong) the Alan Cumming revival of Threepenny Opera did not have a curtain call. When the show ended, the electronic sign at the top of the stage simply read “GO HOME”.

Updated On: 4/22/19 at 11:43 AM

[Mike Barrett]

Posted: 4/22/19 at 12:03pm

HeyMrMusic said: "poisonivy2 said: "When I went Millenium Approaches had no curtain call. Perestroika did have one very brief bow at the end."

Similarly, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Part One has no curtain call. (By the way, there was a curtain call for Millennium Approaches for the last revival on singleshow days.)"

Harry Potter does have one after part 2... 

[JeaniusIsMe]

Posted: 4/22/19 at 4:37pm

VivianDarkbloom2 said: "As I recall (anyone feel free to correct me if I am wrong) the Alan Cumming revival of Threepenny Opera did not have a curtain call. When the show ended, the electronic sign at the top of the stage simply read “GO HOME”."

Yup, exactly correct. The whole production utilized Brechtian devices throughout (actors getting into costume on stage at the top of the show, no curtain call, etc.). Fitting, of course, since it's a Brecht show.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 4/22/19 at 5:36pm

In 1966, Marat / Sade not only had no curtain call, but the asylum inmates tore out of the theatre via all of the external exits, unintentionally scaring (or maybe not) people who happened to be walking past the theatre at the time.  I was too young to appreciate the show -- truthfully, my friend and I, who were 16 at the time, probably should not have been sold a ticket or allowed in the theatre.  We weren't bored, but we didn't understand it much, and it was really out there.

[jdrye222]

Posted: 4/22/19 at 6:02pm

I know this wasn’t exactly the question but it made me think of a show i WISHED didn’t have a curtain call.
The way THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS ended, with the boys wiping off the blackface, and The Woman finally speaking for the first time, revealing who/what she symbolized, and the sudden blackout timed perfectly with that single bass drum hit ..... it was so stunning. I saw it several times and I kept wishing they just left us with that. The curtain call and subsequent exit music weakened the impact of making us sit with that ugly truth.