Chorus Member Joined: 12/15/11
Who has received the best entrance applause in a performance that you have seen?
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/11
Probably Angela Lansbury on the road with MAME in a 3,000 seat house.
Yul Brynner in The King and I farewell tour.
When I saw Blithe Spirit Angela Lansbury got entrance applause for all 3 of her entrances.
For me, it's any time a performer makes their entrance and the audience has enough respect for the show not to break the mood by applauding a star's mere presence.
Michael Crawford's entrance in The Wizard of Oz is designed for entrance applause and it's just a tad awkard when theres none of it.
I disagree. I think entrance applause, if it's not too drawn out and obnoxious, is a nice way to let the actor know it's good to see them.
I remember the first time I saw Night Music, I couldn't wait to applaud Angela's entrance, I was just so happy to finally see her on stage.
Most entrances these days are designed for entrance applause. And of course it's awkward when there's none. Like at the performance of FOLLIES I recently attended where not a single principal received more than a hushed spattering. If 99% of entrances weren't built around entrance applause, then it wouldn't be so weird when there isn't any, and it would be truer to the flow of the show.
Just my $0.02.
^Especially when some principals got applauses and then some didn't.
I don't really understand entrance applause, minus certain circumstances (ie: after Tonys, closing, etc)
The opposite but:
I thought the entrance applause for Laura Osnes and Jeremy Jordan was random and distracting in Bonnie & Clyde, as well as unnecessary during previews anyway.
The most awkward entrance applause in my book, however, came from another Wildhorn musical, WONDERLAND with the villain, Kate Shindle receiving huge applause; looking back I don't think it was intentional but it calls her it. Especially since no one else got entrance applause, most importantly, uh Alice.
^ In the same token, I found it rather silly how Audra McDonald and David Alan Grier received massive entrance applause in PORGY & BESS, but Porgy himself (Norm) received none.
Well Kate was the only name in WONDERLAND, correct?
I saw Fantasia in The Color Purple in her very early shows, her entrance received quite the applause. When I saw Wicked this past week, the 2nd national tour, Glinda received roars while Elphaba almost got the, "Are we clapping for her as well" response.
I wouldn't necessarily say it was Kate Shindle "packing" in the houses with WONDERLAND.
Actually in the January Tampa incarnation, Alice had a chance for entrance applause, perhaps it is in the style of the director: Some like the entrance applause opportunity, some don't (And it was a mesh of directors).
It doesn't bother me but probably because I came to theatre through my love of ballet--where breaking the fourth wall for bows, etc, is the norm (particularly in Russia where it DOES become annoying, they can go on for five minutes).
Contrary-wise, I do think it takes guts for a composer, writer and director to do a show that has no room for applause at all--song "buttons", entrances, etc.
Oh I know she wasn't, but still a more recognizable name than Janet Dacal.
Leading Actor Joined: 8/17/07
The couple of times I saw Wicked with Eden Espinosa, her applause was insane when she enters before "The Wizard and I."
I was just listening to the soundboard of Barbara's final performance in Funny Girl.
I call it a tie between Kathleen Turner in HIGH and Harry Connick Jr. In ON A CLEAR DAY....although I give the edge to the former as the applause was uproarious in a half-full 750 seat house...
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/5/11
topol in fiddler on the roof. ( chicago tour)
John tartaglia in avenue Q
idina menzel and kristin chenoweth ( wicked) DUHHH
.Daniel Radcliffe in How to succeed
.Gate opening in Addams Family
.Sutton Foster in Anything goes
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
I haven't been on stage for a while, but the entrance applause I used to receive (along with my exit applause) really bothered other members of the cast. I don't know why.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/28/05
The beginning of the Prologue during the final week of the Ragtime revival.
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