Closing Nights.

I saw the final performance of "La Boheme." It was great.

I went to the final performance of Dance of the Vampires (well to be more accurate, I went to the last two performances of the show - matinee and evening, plus got to go backstage between shows). It was a thrilling experience, and also a sad one. I still believe that the show was thoroughly entertaining and deserved a longer run; it was never given a fair chance. There wasn't any special fanfare at the end, but I wished there was.

What I remember most was the audience's reaction to the show - all positive, and the comments I overheard of disbelief that the show was closing (I heard a lot of that at some of the performances I attended that January) The cast gave their all for that performance and were properly rewarded with a standing ovation at the curtain call. Some of the cast became emotional during the performance - I remember how much more emotion there was in Crawford's voice during "Confession of a Vampire" and how he fought to hold back the tears.

Although technically not the final performance, I went to the next to last performance of Les Miserables (since the final performance was closed to the public) and that was another emotional night for me - I found myself close to tears at moments, and I wasn't the only one. There were several people around me, visibly moved that the show was closing. Again, the cast gave a fine performance and were given a standing ovation at the curtain call.

Jen

Well...I was at the closing of my school's production of A Chorus Line last night.

I think it would have been wonderful to go to the final Les Mis (or the second to final). It was my first Broadway show. *tear*

I've never been to a closing night of a show actually ON Broadway, but I was at the closings of both the original SF cast of the Phantom of the Opera and the final show for the Benny tour of Rent. I was at the next-to-last performance of the Angel tour as well.

If it counts, I was at the final show of the Les Miz tour before it went to Shanghai, and at its final show before they recast half of it this summer/fall.

Amazing!

I was at the final performance of the original production of TWHM on December 27, 1970. Ethel Merman was Dolly and Gower Champion danced in the chorus for that performance.

At curtain calls, Merman took her bow and then TGC walked out of the wings: the first and last Dolly's stood basking in the admiration of the audience.

The final curtain did not fall that afternoon, indicating that the show would never really end. It hasn't for me.

(I have been to every Opening Night and Closing Night of TWHM since Jan. 16, 1964--Damned proud of it, too!)

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Great question. I've got tickets for the closing night of Cabaret on January 4th! This will be my first opening or closing night. Hoooray!

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That was one great costume Matt had on at Scarespray!

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Cabarethed, did you see the $500.00 tickets (including dinner)? Ay, Carumba!! I'm on the banquette--not too bad.

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I was at the closing night of STEEL PIER in 1997, which was a very emotional experience. Debra Monk brought the house down with "Everybody's Girl" (as I'm sure she did EVERY night) and there were tears in evidence all around when Karen Ziemba gave her speech after the curtain call.

As I was walking out through the crowd leaving the theater, I heard voice after voice commenting "why the hell is this show closing?" It dumbfounded me too that such a wonderful show should close after just 3 months. I felt that the book maybe needed more work but it looked quite stunning, it had terrific performances from Karen Ziemba, Debra Monk, Gregory Harrison, Damiel McDonald, Kristin Chenoweth and the entire cast - and each time I play the CD I am reminded of what a truly beautiful score it has.

It was not the greatest show I have ever seen - but I have seen far worse shows that have been running for years.

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I have to say, I think closing nights are the pits. They're really out of control & you're usually not getting the show as it was written, designed, directed. Actors frequently change lines, the audience is filled w/ family & friends & production people who constsantly break the flow of the show w/ excessive reactions. It's really only for insiders. There have been only a few closing nights I've attended where everyone was completely professional (& theatre is, after all a business selling a product). I feel very badly for the folks in the audience who have never seen the show before. It's like attending a wedding for people you don't know.

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Tons of them. Agree though that they probably mean more to fans of the show since there are so many little insider things going on... and the emotion from both sides of the footlights might confuse the first-time attendee.

Totally agree about DOTV final performance. Wow!

Sunday in the Park was probably the most spectacular I've been to.

TFM final performance with American cast in London simply spectacular - even though some of the Americans had already left...this was Jarrod, Romain, and Andre's departure...even though Jarrod was sick with food poisoning...it was a prime, peak performance.

Most recently, yesterday's finale of "Listen to My Heart" was particularly touching. A simply terrific revue which had what most revues don't - real emotional content that touched the heart. Just loved it. Sorry to see it go. Get the CD!

I was at Rocky Horror's closing night and the normally crazy crowd was beyond wild. It was a lot of fun!

-Christina