Posted: 5/18/16 at 4:52pm
For the two people in the world who haven't seen "Wicked", but know the show because of the cast album, they miss out on a beautiful part with Nessarose, because it wasn't on the cast album due to
Stephen Schwartz not wanting to reveal that she was the Wicked Witch of the East and is killed.
Not all spoken but still beautiful I think...
Posted: 5/18/16 at 5:02pm
Speaking of Wicked, I've always loved G(a)linda's line about Fiyero: "I don't even think he's perfect any more and I still want him." When done correctly by an actress, it's an important and funny/touching step in the character's maturation.
Posted: 5/18/16 at 7:06pm
In DOLLY, just before the parade number Dolly emphatically states, "I will, Irene, I will!" It leads to the big parade and the whole 2nd act hinges on it.
Posted: 5/18/16 at 7:17pm
Great topic.
Posted: 5/18/16 at 7:36pm
From The Fantasticks, one of El Gallo's speeches:
"You wonder how these things begin. Well, this begins with a glen. It begins with a season which, for want of a better word we may as well call- September. It begins in a forest where the woodchucks woo, and the leaves wax green, and vines intertwine like lovers; try to see it. not with your eyes, for they are wise, but see it with your ears: the cool green breathing of the leaves. And hear it with the inside of your hand: the soundless sound of shadows flicking light. Celebrate sensation. Recall that secret place. You've been there, you remember: That special place where once- Just once- in your crowded sunlit lifetime, you hid away in shadow from the tyranny of time. That spot beside the clover where someone's hand held your hand and love was sweeter than the berries, or the honey, or the stinging taste of mint. It is September- before a rainfall- a perfect time to be in love."
Posted: 5/18/16 at 7:44pm
See, I never heard about "The Red Shoes," I never saw "The Red Shoes," I didn't give a f*** about "The Red Shoes."
Posted: 5/18/16 at 8:21pm
"Don't be afraid it won't be perfect, The only thing to be afraid of really is that it won't be."
Posted: 5/18/16 at 8:49pm
Etcetera etcetera etcetera.
Posted: 5/18/16 at 10:41pm
"What in the world happened to you?" "The world happened to me."
--The Fantasticks
"What we need...is a drink."
--Follies
Posted: 5/19/16 at 8:52pm
The last line of Fun Home is that perfect final gut punch after a song that already has you pouring tears out of your eye sockets.
I also think one of the most brilliant spoken sections of dialogue of any musical ever is from Into the Woods. When Little Red is upset about the idea of killing another human, and the Witch criticizes her for killing the wolf that her new cloak is made from, Little Red defends herself by saying "A wolf's not the same." The Witch knocked the wind out of me with her reply: "Ask a wolf's mother."
Posted: 5/19/16 at 9:02pm
The first time I saw '1776' live, our local community theater put on a production in 1979. The whole country was feeling pretty crappy about itself, but when the scrim dropped down at the end with all the signers of the Declaration of Independence on it, and the actor playing John Adams stepped in front of it and pointed to it with his walking stick - spontaneous standing ovation. It was awesome!
Posted: 5/20/16 at 4:17am
There's so many to choose from, but right now I think my very favorite part of a musical (with only musical accompaniment, not a song of course) is probably the part in Matilda inbetween "My House" and "Revolting Children". My favorite parts out of that section is 1) when Matilda finds out that Trunchbull is Honey's aunt and the loud music, flashing lights, and intimidating visuals begin, and 2) I just love the "Chalk Writing" sequence.
I also love the "Amanda Thripp" scene, just hearing the whole house gasp made it even funnier!
Posted: 5/20/16 at 7:20am
At the end of all the transformations in Cinderella, when the Fairy Godmother says to her "Now go to the ball, in the name of every girl who has ever wished to go to a ball in a beautiful dress, in the name of every girl who has ever wanted to change the world she lived in! Go, with the promise of possibility!"
That line gets me at least a little bit, every time.
Updated On: 5/20/16 at 07:20 AM
Posted: 5/20/16 at 12:47pm
The cartwheel at the end of Matilda
Posted: 5/20/16 at 1:17pm
Priscilla Queen of the Desert .... Tony Sheldon to Keala Settle - aka Bernadette and Shirley....
"Now Listen here you mullet. Why don't you just light your tampon and blow your box apart, because it's the only bang you're ever going to get sweetheart."
Updated On: 5/20/16 at 01:17 PM
Posted: 5/20/16 at 8:18pm
From THE MUSIC MAN:
WINTHROP
You said there was gonna be a band!
HILL
I always think there's a band, kid.
Posted: 5/20/16 at 9:57pm
I'm going to be vague here to avoid a spoiler - there is a moment in Hamilton where two characters hold hands. One of the most heartfelt moments ever onstage.
Little Shop:
Mr. Mushnick: let me guess, you got tied up?
Audrey: No, just handcuffed a little...
And pretty much the entire book of Into the Woods
"I was raised to be charming, not sincere"
"You talk to birds?"
"Giants are bigger!....Much, much bigger..."
"We should tell someone." - "Who are you going to tell?"
"We are moving."
Posted: 5/20/16 at 11:26pm
Wow, I didn't expect this many people to respond! Thanks everyone and keep it coming because this is really interesting to read. I have more: There's a line in at least the movie of West Side Story where Anita says " I don't know which is thicker, your skull or your accent!" Also, pretty much everything Madam Armfeldt says in Night Music qualifies. And for some reason, I love the way Archibald says "last night I had a dream, I walked through the maze to Lily's garden and saw Lily and Mary standing there" on the recording of Secret Garden is just beautiful. Could whoever said the Hamilton thing about holding hands please elaborate? I am so curious, and I won't be seeing it anytime soon unfortunately!
Updated On: 5/20/16 at 11:26 PM
Posted: 5/21/16 at 2:05am
"I thought you did it for me, Momma."
Posted: 5/21/16 at 7:29am
I don't know if this counts, because it's said during a song but it's hilarious. A:"That sounds miserable." B: "Actually they call it Miser-AH-ble," from Something Rotten. (Paraphrased)
GOOOOOOOO! from The Phantom of the Opera.
Tevye's asking God to choose someone else, i.e., someone other than Jews, from Fiddler.
Great topic!
Audrey
Posted: 5/21/16 at 8:43am
Actors are not animals! They're human beings!
They are? Have you ever eaten with one?
Posted: 5/21/16 at 9:48am
"I'm a pretty girl, mama." from Gypsy.
It's a total throwaway line, but "I swear the slaves in Ancient Rome were on a pleasure cruise compared to my life in this house!" from Mary Poppins always cracks me up.
Posted: 5/21/16 at 11:01am
"She showed me and taught us all that being true to yourself never goes out of style" -- Vivienne, Legally Blonde: The Musical.
"Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground." -- Theodore Roosevelt, Newsies.
The moment in Wicked as Elphaba is preparing to leave and Fiyero is beckoning her and she turns to look out as Glinda's in the bubble and they just share this last moment, not aware the other is watching.
"Excuse me, there's no pretense here - I happen to be genuinely self absorbed and deeply shallow" - Fiyero, Wicked.
Any of the moments between Henri, Adam, and Jerry in American in Paris are pure gold. The banter is just perfection.
"Does your cousin dance?" "Like a drunk Chita Rivera" -- In the Heights.
The horrified looks on the Elders faces as the Africans perform "Joseph Smith All American Moses" in Book of Mormon.
Posted: 5/21/16 at 11:37am
Pretty much the whole book of A Little Night Music is perfection. I've always loved the scene between Frederick and Desiree right before Send in the Clowns, and all of Charlotte's lines are phenomenal as well.
It's probably moreso Bernadette's delivery, but I love this line from Into the Woods: "Who cares? The cow is gone! Get it back!"
Posted: 5/22/16 at 7:41pm
"Well, we can't all come and go by bubble". - Wicked
