Favorite Moment of 2011 Season

[Katurian2]

Posted: 4/22/11 at 10:32am

These sometimes pop up around this time of year- apologies if there's already been one this year, but I always enjoy reading them.

So... What have been some of your favorite moments of this past theatre season on/off Broadway?


Mine:


SCOTTSBORO BOYS: The ending of 'Make Friends With the Truth,' where the audience has been laughing along at the cleverness of the song and the shadow puppetry, but then are confronted with the 'cousin Billy got lynched' line, and are left in an incredibly awkward place. The setup to get to that emotional point was just brilliant, and I don't think I've ever experienced something so audaciously interesting in a Bway musical.

PETER AND THE STARCATCHER: The scene of Peter falling into the lagoon and meeting with the mermaids. The atmosphere was just so haunting, despite the humorous way it was constructed. Everything in the show really came together in that moment, and took on some weight I never anticipated it would.

ANGELS IN AMERICA: Harper's final monologue- the genius interpretation of Zoe Kazan in the part, and the decision to put on top of the filing cabinet made it quite magical.

BOOK OF MORMON: "Hello, my name is Elder Warlord..."

SPIDER-MAN: Hate all you want, but the weaving scene was beautiful.

Updated On: 4/22/11 at 10:32 AM

[yay_gerb]

Posted: 4/22/11 at 7:45pm

I still have a lot of new plays/musicals to see this season but i think so far it might be Model Behavior.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/22/11 at 7:54pm

Leaving the O'Neill after The Book of Mormon, feeling like I just wanted to do a giddy dance of glee for all of Broadway that this show existed.

Raúl's first entrance in Arcadia, the weird, wonderful nostalgia of having him back on the Barrymore stage.

The first time we see Joey in War Horse. Wept like a fool.

Watching Daniel Radcliffe totally deservedly bring the house down during Brotherhood of Man.

Sleep No More, though I can't pick a specific moment, is up there in my favorite experiences. Same of Angels, all of it, to finally see it live. And the above four shows on their respective wholes fall into that, too.

[little_sally]

Posted: 4/22/11 at 8:06pm

*SPOILERS* "Spooky Mormon Hell Dream" in The Book of Mormon. *END SPOILERS*

Also, the thunderous applause "Joseph Smith American Moses" received.

The opening moments of Jerusalem also stand for me.

[shrekster224]

Posted: 4/22/11 at 8:26pm

Sister Act: Patina Miller completely carrying the show like a monster. She is insanely talented. It made the whole show worthwhile. Oh, and Mary Teresa's cartwheel is good, too. :)

Spiderman: The weaving scene was quite good, and I loved Bullying by Numbers.

How to Succeed: Brotherhood of Man, Grand Old Ivy, and seeing that Daniel Radcliffe is very dynamic and has more than just Harry Potter going for him.

WOTV: Model Behavior and On the Verge.

CMIYC: Don't Break the Rules and Goodbye.

Least Favorite Moment: Finally getting around to wait for standing room for Book of Mormon and the person before got the last ticket. They closed the window while I stood there. I have to see this show!

[quizking101]

Posted: 4/23/11 at 9:37am

Favorite:
- HIGH...and everything about it. (If it were up to me, I would've given Kathleen Turner and Evan Jonigkeit a Tony Award on the spot.)

- TIE FOR SECOND: Laura Benanti doing "Model Behavior" and BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON

Least:
- BABY IT'S YOU (The Shirelles were fine...it was EVERYBODY ELSE!)

[americanboy99]

Posted: 4/23/11 at 9:48am

"Model Behavior" in WOMEN ON THE VERGE...

"Fly, Fly Away" in CATCH ME IF YOU CAN. I teared up when Butler began accapella. A haunting moment. The best song from a musical this season by a mile. So touching.


(And, of course, all of Aaron's shirtless scenes in CATCH ME. I die!)

Updated On: 4/23/11 at 09:48 AM

[jkramer123]

Posted: 4/23/11 at 10:00am

FAVORITE PERFORMANCES:
SETH NUMRICH - His beautiful, heart-breaking performance as Albert in WAR HORSE grounded everything and was the real reason that we cared for Joey in the first place. And let's not forget that he also starred as Lorenzo in THE MERCHANT OF VENICE. What a season he's having!!

MARK RYLANCE - His two incredibly dynamic, take no prisoners performances in LA BETE & JERUSALEM left me completely in awe.

PATINA MILLER - She is truly giving a star-is-born performance in SISTER ACT. She carries the show on her back and delivers at every turn - an incredible voice, great comedic chops, and the stage presence of a longtime Broadway veteran. She is giving one helluva performance!!

[goldenboy]

Posted: 4/23/11 at 11:29am

The Book of Mormon. Especially the opening Number. And the African's "celebration" of God. And Everything about it.

Also when Sister Act Ended. I was so relieved to get out of my seat
go to bathroom and vomit.

[willep]

Posted: 4/23/11 at 11:57am

Of the stuff I have seen so far...

Mark Rylance's 30 minute monologue in La Bete.

The Book of Mormon. I went in not really knowing anything, Not being a South Park fan, so I didn't have many expectations.

Bengal Tiger: When Musa and Tom are arguing and Musa says "I am an artist!" also Robin's closing monologue.

Merchant of Venice: the Baptism scene

How to Succeed: Brotherhood of Man

Spider-Man: The curtain opening and seeing the first set. Those sets were awesome. Also, hate all you want, I loved the scene in Act 2 where Peter fell asleep in his bed and Arachne came to him and they had that floating dream sequence.


Updated On: 4/23/11 at 11:57 AM

[Kad]

Posted: 4/23/11 at 12:17pm

Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson: The Washington scenes
Scottsboro Boys: "Electric Chair"
Book of Mormon: "Turn it Off"
Angels in America: The Kaddish
Importance of Being Earnest: "...a handbag?"

[aasjb4ever]

Posted: 4/23/11 at 10:53pm

Favorite: Daniel Radcliffe and the company's masterful execution of "Brotherhood of Man" in How to Succeed...

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 4/23/11 at 10:57pm

Nina Arianda in Born Yesterday. Pretty much everything she did start to finish, but special mention to her wonderful work in Act II.

[little_sally]

Posted: 4/23/11 at 11:15pm

"Electric Chair" definitely stands out as the most memorable moment for me this season. I have never been more disturbed by a musical number than I was during that song.

[CockeyedOptimist2]

Posted: 4/23/11 at 11:27pm

"The Scottsboro Boys"- of all of the striking moments in this show, I'll choose two:
-During the finale, when each of the Boys is revealing what happened to him. Especially the silence of Ozzie Powell.
-The lady being revealed as Rosa Parks: "No, not no more. I'm gonna sit here and rest my feet." followed by the beat of the drum and the blackout.

[Katia2]

Posted: 4/24/11 at 12:06am

Women on the Verge: "Invisible" was heart wrenching. At 'supergirl' I had to fight to keep it together, haha.
And can I say just everything about Murphy's acting in People and the Picture? Seamless performance.

[wendilin622]

Posted: 4/24/11 at 12:08am

I got goosebumps and started weaping all over again when Joey (as Joey, not the actors) came on stage during Curtain Call and everyone LEPT to their feet. It was amazing to see that kind of response to a puppet.

And also, my father is not a big musical/theatre fan. But taking him to see Bloody Bloody and War Horse. And him telling me he loved both of them rank pretty high in my book. Before this season, a rave review from my father was "I didn't hate it."


Also, the last 5-10 minutes of Jerusalem. Wow.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/24/11 at 12:11am

Ellen Barkin's monologue - The highlight of the season.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 4/24/11 at 1:59am

1. Daniel Radcliffe leading one of the best production numbers I've seen live or not: 'Brotherhood of Man' in HOW TO SUCCEED

2. SPOILER!! The Scene in BOOK OF MORMON when the Ugandans perform what Elder Cunningham has 'taught them' about the history of the Mormon faith.

and now sure if this counts, but

3. Harvey's 'I Am What I Am'. He brought the house down and drove me to tears.

[GimmeABreak2]

Posted: 4/24/11 at 3:18am

1. Spoiler! The rave scene opener of Jerusalem--actually all the musical moments in Jerusalem (including drumming...)
2. Brotherhood of Man in How to Succeed, as others have said, there was just such high energy in the whole theatre, it was amazing.
3. Winning the Merchant of Venice ticket lotto
4. Joanna Lumley's golden La Bete entrance

[fosca3]

Posted: 4/24/11 at 7:10am

Angels -- when Ethel came in and sat down as Roy was dying, and then the kaddish (sp?)

War Horse -- the tank scene, and when Joey got tangled in the barbed wire - both were just almost unbearably intense

Merchant -- the baptism

It's just been an AMAZING year for plays

[Tom-497]

Posted: 4/24/11 at 9:58am

Act II of "Nevermore: The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe."

This was at the New Victory last Fall. David Rooney in the NY Times wrote, "Look, tone and musicality recall 'Shockheaded Peter,' but where that nursery nightmare anthology unfolded with a malevolent grin, 'Nevermore' is unrelenting in its one-note dourness. The rigorous morbidity of its storytelling is impressive but stifling, making it easier to admire than to enjoy."

I think that's an accurate assessment of Act I, but Act II was much more varied. And the pretty "Edgar Met Elmira" was, for me, a highlight not only of this season but of the last few. If I've done it correctly, this is a link to a video of that song on YouTube, put up by the Catalyst Theater:
Edgar Met Elmira - Catalyst Theater

[GatorNY]

Posted: 4/24/11 at 10:32am

I agree with Jordan.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/24/11 at 10:40am

Model Behavior and On the Verge - Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

Joey and the plow - War Horse

The African God Song - The Book of Mormon

[sdsm2006]

Posted: 4/24/11 at 10:34pm

Hands Down -> JERUSALEM: The entire production - from the sounds of the forrest when you walk in, to the blackout at the end, and most of all Mark Rylance's stunning performance as Johnny 'Rooster' Byron! Listening to a clip of "Who Knows Where The Time Goes" on iTunes the next day almost brought me to tears.

Also

LA BETE: Again, Mark Rylance and his 30 minute monologue (and the applause that followed). Plus, Elomiere's (David Hyde Pierce) facial expressions, reactions and attempts to get a word in during the speech/ the rest of the play and Joanna Lumley's entrance.

ANGELS IN AMERICA: Louis (Zachary Quinto) and Belize (Billy Porter) in the diner, the dual break-up, "What did I do to deserve you?", the Kaddish, and for both good and superficial reasons - the third time Louis and Joe meet (at the end of "Millenium Approaches")

HOW TO SUCCEED: Definitely "Brotherhood of Man".



Least Favorite: Missing the opportunity to see "The Scottsboro Boys" before it closed.