#26
Posted: 12/29/13 at 1:27am
I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned the final moments in the '98 CABARET. I hope that it is as stunning this spring.
Favorite Final Moment of a Show? — Page 2
#27
Posted: 12/29/13 at 1:52am
My absolute favorite is the ending of the Mendes/Marshall Cabaret. Simply stunning. The first time I saw that production I remember the audience being too stunned to applaud at first.
Beyond that, other favorites of mine:
-Ragtime, when the ghosts of Sarah and Coalhouse look down and watch their son and realize he will be well cared for, while the ensemble sings those chords of Wheels of A Dream.
-The final moments in August: Osage County when Violet is left alone and finally has to call for Jonna.
-Peter Pan, in a cheesy, but it makes my eyes well up every time, way. When Peter flies off with Jane, and the grown up Wendy asks to go as well, but Peter tells her she's "just too grown up," so Wendy is left to watch Jane and Peter fly off together.
Beyond that, other favorites of mine:
-Ragtime, when the ghosts of Sarah and Coalhouse look down and watch their son and realize he will be well cared for, while the ensemble sings those chords of Wheels of A Dream.
-The final moments in August: Osage County when Violet is left alone and finally has to call for Jonna.
-Peter Pan, in a cheesy, but it makes my eyes well up every time, way. When Peter flies off with Jane, and the grown up Wendy asks to go as well, but Peter tells her she's "just too grown up," so Wendy is left to watch Jane and Peter fly off together.
#28
Posted: 12/29/13 at 3:00am
When I read "final moment" the first one that jumps to my mind is Jerusalem. Loved that last image of beaten and bloody Rooster and the drum.
#29
Posted: 12/29/13 at 7:24am
No question for me:
Cabaret revival at 54.
Cabaret revival at 54.
....but the world goes 'round
#30
Posted: 12/29/13 at 8:37am
My favorite final moment is actually the final moment of act I of Grey Gardens. The young Big Edie stands outside her house having just sung "Will You?", her world crumbled. The music swells, the house behind her opens up. The floor beneath her draws her backwards into the house which then closes up as if it's swallowing her. A great way of conveying her withdrawal into the safety of her self-imposed prison.
Art has a double face, of expression and illusion.
Updated On: 12/29/13 at 08:37 AM
#31
Posted: 12/29/13 at 9:29am
The ghosts in FOLLIES, the hand clutch in SOUTH PACIFIC, and, on screen, the closing scene of WEST SIDE STORY.
#32
Posted: 12/29/13 at 9:38am
the finale moment of Pippin when Theo is flying in the air on the trapeze and Patina does her fosse hands and thats all you can see, In the heights, and Matilda are very emotional
#33
Posted: 12/29/13 at 10:16am
I loved the ending to Mary, Mary.
And what could be more thrilling than the finale to Hello, Dolly? Pure euphoria!
Oh, if only we could savor today the kind of finales Jerry Herman gave us in Milk and Honey, Hello, Dolly!, Mame and Dear World.
And if only we heard today the kind of music Jerry Herman gave us in Milk and Honey, Hello, Dolly!, Mame and Dear World!
And what could be more thrilling than the finale to Hello, Dolly? Pure euphoria!
Oh, if only we could savor today the kind of finales Jerry Herman gave us in Milk and Honey, Hello, Dolly!, Mame and Dear World.
And if only we heard today the kind of music Jerry Herman gave us in Milk and Honey, Hello, Dolly!, Mame and Dear World!
#34
Posted: 12/29/13 at 10:39am
As others have said, love the final moments of Wicked, both for the witches' harmony and the silhouette of Elphaba and Fiyero leaving. Also, the reprise of "Do You Hear the People Sing" at the end of Les Mis always makes me tear up when it builds from nearly inaudible to the full chorus.
Other moments would be the hand clasp in South Pacific, Finale B in Rent, and "Where the devil are my slippers?" from My Fair Lady.
Other moments would be the hand clasp in South Pacific, Finale B in Rent, and "Where the devil are my slippers?" from My Fair Lady.
Updated On: 12/29/13 at 10:39 AM
#35
Posted: 12/29/13 at 10:52am
The final slow Vamp of 'Merrily' When they stand close to each other and raise their hands gets me every single time.
And from the BBC recording of A little night music at the very end when they added the dialogue: "Fredrika: Grandma, why do you sleep with your eyes open? how cold you are! Fredrik: I fear madam Armfeldt is dead Fredrika: But she's smiling"
And from the BBC recording of A little night music at the very end when they added the dialogue: "Fredrika: Grandma, why do you sleep with your eyes open? how cold you are! Fredrik: I fear madam Armfeldt is dead Fredrika: But she's smiling"
#36
Posted: 12/29/13 at 12:24pm
Billy Elliot for sure. Billy saying goodbye to Michael followed by the "celebration."
#37
Posted: 12/29/13 at 5:36pm
One of my all time favorites is the ending to the original production of THE SECRET GARDEN, with R. Luker as Lily kissing her family goodbye, realizing they are healed, and walking slowly into the garden as the lights slowly dim and the last thing we see is her silhouette. Loved that!
Also, the ending of BILLY ELLIOT, especially when the miners head back down to the mine and their mining lights on their helmet turn to Billy and he is in silhouette, followed by Billy's letter to his mum and finally Michael saying goodbye to Billy, realizing that Billy has escaped and he (Michael) has not. That is why I prefer the ending to the musical as opposed to the film, where we see Michael in the audience of Billy's show. Much more powerful if we see Michael stuck in that dying community while Billy leaves it behind.
And, I must add, in honor of its closing performance today, the ending to A CHRISTMAS STORY where all the characters come back on stage with their special "moment" and the Gene Shepherd narrator says of his bee bee gun, "Are you kidding....my old man, my DAD bought that for me. And this is why it is the greatest gift I ever received."
So long A CHRISTMAS STORY. Hope to see you back next year!
Also, the ending of BILLY ELLIOT, especially when the miners head back down to the mine and their mining lights on their helmet turn to Billy and he is in silhouette, followed by Billy's letter to his mum and finally Michael saying goodbye to Billy, realizing that Billy has escaped and he (Michael) has not. That is why I prefer the ending to the musical as opposed to the film, where we see Michael in the audience of Billy's show. Much more powerful if we see Michael stuck in that dying community while Billy leaves it behind.
And, I must add, in honor of its closing performance today, the ending to A CHRISTMAS STORY where all the characters come back on stage with their special "moment" and the Gene Shepherd narrator says of his bee bee gun, "Are you kidding....my old man, my DAD bought that for me. And this is why it is the greatest gift I ever received."
So long A CHRISTMAS STORY. Hope to see you back next year!
Updated On: 12/29/13 at 05:36 PM
#38
Posted: 12/29/13 at 6:52pm
The new Pippin ending was perfect and chilling
#39
Posted: 12/29/13 at 7:37pm
I was very disappointed in the ending to the show BILLY ELLIOTT.
the film's ending was among the top 3 film endings in my life. When Billy's father sees his son soar into the air, and as he takes that sudden audible intake of breath while his eyes tear up gives me chills every single time. Whenever the film is on tv, i watch the entire thing just for the ending.
The show's ending had only Michael on the stage. i think they could have reproduced the film ending very easily on that stage.
the film's ending was among the top 3 film endings in my life. When Billy's father sees his son soar into the air, and as he takes that sudden audible intake of breath while his eyes tear up gives me chills every single time. Whenever the film is on tv, i watch the entire thing just for the ending.
The show's ending had only Michael on the stage. i think they could have reproduced the film ending very easily on that stage.
<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES
#40
Posted: 12/29/13 at 9:22pm
I can not believe I left out the closing of "Six Degrees of Separation", from the phone conversation through Ouisa's speech to the audience and Paul's presentation of the Kandinsky. Chilling.
#41
Posted: 12/29/13 at 11:01pm
NINE in 1982 when Guido hands the baton to his younger self to conduct (& the white dove release!)
#42
Posted: 12/29/13 at 11:03pm
What about CATS and the ascension to the heaviside layer on top of a tire? I also LOVE the last song of Jersey Boys. And Hairspray has a great big finale too. In The Heights gets me for most emotional ending. And although everyone but me seemed to hate Ghost, it did have a pretty amazing finale scene.
#43
Posted: 12/30/13 at 4:07pm
The coda at the end "The Shadow Box" will stay with me forever.
#45
Posted: 12/30/13 at 5:22pm
Quixote and Sancho going up the staircase to the Inquisition at the key change of "The Impossible Dream" in Man of La Mancha. Get the hanky!
#46
Posted: 12/30/13 at 10:21pm
--The final tableau of "Fun Home" has stuck with me since I saw it. Chilling.
--The final dance at the end of Rylance's "Richard III" - what a release of dramatic tension into theater-geek heaven
--The finale of "Giant"
--Celia's exit in "The Glass Menagerie"
Just to name a few that I've seen fairly recently
--The final dance at the end of Rylance's "Richard III" - what a release of dramatic tension into theater-geek heaven
--The finale of "Giant"
--Celia's exit in "The Glass Menagerie"
Just to name a few that I've seen fairly recently
#47
Posted: 12/31/13 at 11:12am
I love Cinderella's I WISH at the end of Into the Woods. To me, it's always meant that it's gonna start all over again and that they've learned nothing about wishes lol.
One of my all time favorites however is the ending of Fiddler on the Roof when they're all leaving Anatevka and Tevye gestures for the Fiddler to join him and he pulls the Fiddler off on his cart into their new lives. So chilling, every time.
The finale to Smile is also chilling with Doria holding the crown and dreaming of Disneyland and the chorus of Disneyland singing offstage.
And God Bless Us Everyone in the Ahrens/Menken Christmas Carol is just a beautiful song and beautiful ending to a beautiful show!
One of my all time favorites however is the ending of Fiddler on the Roof when they're all leaving Anatevka and Tevye gestures for the Fiddler to join him and he pulls the Fiddler off on his cart into their new lives. So chilling, every time.
The finale to Smile is also chilling with Doria holding the crown and dreaming of Disneyland and the chorus of Disneyland singing offstage.
And God Bless Us Everyone in the Ahrens/Menken Christmas Carol is just a beautiful song and beautiful ending to a beautiful show!
#48
Posted: 12/31/13 at 11:58am
Ihave to agree with the ending of Man of La Macha. Seen that show maybe 50-60 times during my life and it always gets me every time. Even in the crappiest of productions.
Those Blocked: SueStorm. N2N Nate. Good riddence to stupid! Rad-Z, shill begone!
#49
Posted: 12/31/13 at 12:12pm
Next to Normal. I'm a sucker for seeing the whole cast in a line on the edge of the stage.
#50
Posted: 12/31/13 at 10:10pm
If we're including moving plot denouements as well as special effects, then I would add the ending of THE MUSIC MAN. It always gets to me when the boys band can actually, kinda, sorta play the Minuet in G. But mostly it's the surprised elation of the parents that moves me.
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