Favorite or Most Emotional Finale Experiences — Page 2

#26

re: Favorite or Most Emotional Finale Experiences

Posted: 10/20/09 at 8:35pm

Cabaret and Company are my top two, but also Rent, Sunday, Sweeney (particularly the Doyle revival), Aida, Ragtime, Hair and Next to Normal. The nature of the emotional responses run the gamut.

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#27

re: Favorite or Most Emotional Finale Experiences

Posted: 10/20/09 at 9:02pm

Of the few shows I have seen:

West Side Story: From the rape scene to the end my heart was pounding, very powerful

August: Osage County: The end scene was so chilling and sad. With the very end with Johnna singing(atleast the one I saw)heartbreaking. I was shaking through curtain call and even after I got out onto the street.

#28

re: Favorite or Most Emotional Finale Experiences

Posted: 10/20/09 at 9:21pm

Nothing will ever top the ending of Cabaret. Absolutely haunting. The first time I saw it I remember myself and the audience being too stunned to clap initially.

Other fabulous emotional endings include Les Miserables, Ragtime, Gypsy, and Miss Saigon.

For a play, the best I've seen is either Death of a Salesman (how brilliant was Elizabeth Franz in the last revival, not crying at Willie's grave?) or August.

In terms of sheer joy, it would be hard to top the end of Hairspray. Talk about a perfect finale.

#29

re: Favorite or Most Emotional Finale Experiences

Posted: 10/20/09 at 10:25pm

Fun thread!

For emotion: WEST SIDE STORY and LES MIS

For pure joy/fun: A CHORUS LINE, 42ND STREET (get chills when they all turn around for the end of the song), and of course, HAIRSPRAY! That song sends everyone out smiling. Love every bit of it, especially from Motormouth's part on. Miss it.

#30

re: Favorite or Most Emotional Finale Experiences

Posted: 10/20/09 at 10:42pm

Phantom. When the Phantom kisses Christine and the orchestra plays it is extremely moving. And with the spotlight on Meg holding up the mask... very intense

#31

re: Favorite or Most Emotional Finale Experiences

Posted: 10/20/09 at 10:49pm

August: Osage County: The end scene was so chilling and sad. With the very end with Johnna singing(atleast the one I saw)heartbreaking. I was shaking through curtain call and even after I got out onto the street.

I can't believe I forgot August. The ending hit me all of a sudden and then just haunted me afterward. Very powerful.

#32

re: Favorite or Most Emotional Finale Experiences

Posted: 10/20/09 at 11:16pm

Bernadette's Rose's Turn and Maureen Moore's Another WInter left me overcome with emotion absolutely speechless.

#33

re: Favorite or Most Emotional Finale Experiences

Posted: 10/20/09 at 11:25pm

I've said before that I cried all through South Pacific the first time I saw it. I made a return visit earlier this month and while I didn't cry through the whole thing the finale when he came back and sat the table with them brought tears to my eyes.

Others - Tale of Two Cities, Les Miserables, and for some odd reason Drowsy Chaperone.

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#34

re: Favorite or Most Emotional Finale Experiences

Posted: 10/21/09 at 1:08pm

First Act finale: "Everything's Coming Up Roses" from GYPSY as sung by Ethel Merman.

Second Act Finale: "Rose's Turn" from GYPSY as sung by Ethel Merman, including her walking into the wings arm in arm with Louise, wearing Louise's full length mink coat.( As we all know, Arthur Laurents changed that ending for the LuPone GYPSY.)

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#35

re: Favorite or Most Emotional Finale Experiences

Posted: 10/21/09 at 1:53pm

Okay, full disclosure first. I'm a soft touch. I cry at Hallmark commercials. Happy, sad, moved, stunned, all induce tears. It can be embarrassing sometimes...

So having said that, here are some of mine:

[title of show]: Maybe not so much the Finale itself, but the looks on their faces at the end was incredible.
The Drowsy Chaperone
Cabaret
Company
Angels in America
The Normal Heart
Love! Valour! Compassion!

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"Are you calling me a procrastibator?" Hunter, [title of show] "Guess who's gonna get blamed for the war in Europe?" Eugene, Brighton Beach Memoirs

#36

re: Favorite or Most Emotional Finale Experiences

Posted: 10/21/09 at 2:15pm

The end of Billy Elliot - when the miners are going down into the pit for the last time. You (and they) know it's the end of life as they know it. Still they pooled their resources to help Billy get to school. Completely tears me up.

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#37

re: Favorite or Most Emotional Finale Experiences

Posted: 10/21/09 at 3:19pm

Light-Next to Normal it's the lead up song to this that has me crying all the way through Light. That song would be I Am The One(reprise).

Song of Purple Summer-Spring Awakening

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#38

re: Favorite or Most Emotional Finale Experiences

Posted: 10/21/09 at 3:43pm

The Light in the Piazza
Fiddler on the Roof
1776
Sunday in the Park With George

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#39

re: Favorite or Most Emotional Finale Experiences

Posted: 10/21/09 at 3:59pm

I'm surprised no one's mentioned Assassins yet. Truly one of the most powerful moments I've experienced in a theater. Such a mixture of emotions- outrage? Sympathy? Disgust? Guilt?
I'm also going to second (fifth?) Sunday, the 2002 Kennedy Center production left me teary, a little sad, but somehow uplifted. Art.

#40

re: Favorite or Most Emotional Finale Experiences

Posted: 10/21/09 at 5:53pm

I think my vote has to go to HAIR, for a few reasons.
Anything that gets the audience singing and dancing with such emotion and excitement is going to be a memorable finale (I'm looking at you too Rock of Ages. And you Spamalot.)
But more importably, the fact that the younger crowd as well as those who were old enough to be truly connected to the show and its issues we sharing in this moment together was really something special. It really connected the two eras in a way that was truly endearing.

*edited for typos

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Updated On: 10/21/09 at 05:53 PM

#41

re: Favorite or Most Emotional Finale Experiences

Posted: 10/21/09 at 11:32pm

My most recent finale of note has to be Billy Elliot. The sight of Billy walking alone up that aisle to his destiny while his pal Michael, with no aparent future, sadly watches always gets me. And that music! It was twice as devastating at Kiril's final with the slight change in dialogue to suit the occasion. That was unforgettable.

#42

re: Favorite or Most Emotional Finale Experiences

Posted: 10/22/09 at 12:15am

"What I Did for Love" from A Chorus Line. As soon as Zach asks the question: "If today were the day you HAD to stop dancing, how would you feel?". It's so emotional, but I was never more of a mess then during the final performance of the revival seeing most of the cast in tears as well.

*There's a few moments from the closing performance on "that site", but none of WIDFL. I really wish someone had captured that moment as well. [plus seeing Mario Lopez rush off stage only to run into a wall.]

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A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.

#43

re: Favorite or Most Emotional Finale Experiences

Posted: 10/22/09 at 12:30am

I love the finale of Billy Elliot. What was the change for Kiril's last, homeimp?

The Light in the Piazza and South Pacific have wonderful finales that moved me.

I wish the current production of West Side Story were more powerful for me. Instead, I was questioning directorial choices. Otherwise, that would definitely make my list.

Sweeney Todd. In fact, many of Sondheim's finales are rich and emotional. He knows how to write an ending I guess.

~Steven

#44

re: Favorite or Most Emotional Finale Experiences

Posted: 10/22/09 at 12:58am

A Chorus Line- The horrible realization that (with few exceptions) it's impossible to tell who is who, gets me. I think it taps into everyone's fear of not being noticed.

And then on CD, every time I hear the ending of Secret Garden, I tear up.

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#45

re: Favorite or Most Emotional Finale Experiences

Posted: 10/22/09 at 2:44am

CABARET continues to haunt me. That final moment was both moving and horrifying. That is an image I will never erase from my mind. Powerful stuff.

THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA is a pretty great one for me as well. "Fable" is not only a beautiful song, but it is also the closure and release we have been waiting for. And even then, there are more questions. A beautiful moment. When Victoria Clark looked out and just spoke "Clara..." I lost it.

#46

re: Favorite or Most Emotional Finale Experiences

Posted: 10/22/09 at 3:02am

South Pacific.
I found the ending so Beautiful. You didnt need a kiss between Nellie and Emille. The hand holding, so perfectly timed with the Orchestra was just wowing for me.

Avenue Q
I just really love the song "For Now" and dispite its "happy" beat, the song is actually very sad, but true. In the end of Avenue Q nobody really has everything they wanted (comedian career, purpose, etc) but they are happy and they know that happiness is only for now, and they accept it and are fine with it.

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#47

re: Favorite or Most Emotional Finale Experiences

Posted: 10/22/09 at 6:35am

I'm dating myself here a bit: but does anyone remember the end to Music Man in 99. Everyone came on stage playing a trombone for the finale.

Color Purple
Tale of 2 Cities

#48

re: Favorite or Most Emotional Finale Experiences

Posted: 10/22/09 at 7:02am

Carousel-was not prepared for the emotion i felt
Sweeney Todd-stunning
Spring Awakening- I was a mess, basically, the entire 2nd act.

#49

re: Favorite or Most Emotional Finale Experiences

Posted: 10/22/09 at 8:54am

bwaybri, I totally remember the finale of the 1999 Music Man revival! So fun. I was pretty young when I saw it but I remember that part.

Also I'll add the finale of Sweeney Todd to my list, particularly the ending of the Doyle revival.

#50

re: Favorite or Most Emotional Finale Experiences

Posted: 10/22/09 at 9:19am

I will strongly concur with Cabaret and Fiddler, and for non-musical, I'd like to add Irena's Vow.

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