How often do you cry at musicals? — Page 3

Not one to ever audibly bawl in public, but 4 shows where tears always streamed down my cheeks:

THE RINK. "All the Children in a Row" hit me in the gut hard, and the tears would stay till the finale where that sumptuous set levitated into the files. Heartstopping.

BILLY ELLIOTT. Mum's entrance in "The Letter", followed by Billy perfecting his pirouettes at the climax of "Solidarity Forever", followed by his airborne pas-de-deux with his adult self with the Swan Lake music. All moments guaranteed to bring instant tears.

THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY. Nearly all of Act 2 was ineffably moving, particularly the one-two hit of "When I'm Gone", "It All Fades Away", and "Always Better". Spoken as someone who did leave his previous longterm boyfriend for a new life (26 years and counting) with his own handsome stranger.

ONCE ON THIS ISLAND. I had loved this score for so many decades without seeing a professional production, that from the moment I sat down at the revival with my sneakers in the sand, and those first notes of "We Dance" began, the tears started flowing and honestly never dried on my face for nearly the whole 90 minutes. I have never been so surprised by the depth of my emotions at a show in my life. Sublime.

I cry when I charge my tickets.

As I get older, a little to my surprise, my eyes well up just from seeing an old beloved musical, for what may be the last time, and hearing its familiar and timeless score.

Besides at the opera watching La Boheme it's for sure at Carousel especially You'll Never Walk Alone. Then the funeral scene in Ragtime and last but not least the finale to Sound of Music whether it's Lincoln Center or the church basement theatre group.

When little Winthrop breaks out of his shell during "The Wells Fargo Wagon" in THE MUSIC MAN. Sniff, sniff.

Oh, yes. I do. And it's so good to know I'm not alone in reacting this way. It's usually a song that gets to me, but a dance number or amazing set change can set me off. My biggest cries -

Fun Home - I thought I would need to be carried out on a stretcher,

Come From Away - The whole concept was an emotional ride.

Billy Elliot - Dear Billy. "Mum's Letter" and "Electricity," and the ending always do me in.

Even if I don't cry during a part of the performance per se, I lose it at the curtain call every time. I become overtaken by the excitement of the wonder I just experienced,

What a great thread. I cry a ton at just about everything, but Ragtime has me at several places:

That opener with the entire cast on stage and the glorious final measures of that brilliant song

The end of New Music - when Coalhouse pleads for Sarah to come down to him

Til We Reach That Day - the whole damn song

Make Them Hear You - ditto

....and don't even get me started with the finale when little Coalhouse runs out (*uncontrollable crying jags*)

Updated On: 5/24/18 at 10:30 AM

I thought I was alone with the crying! It seems every show sets me off somehow, whether from sadness or happiness. I even cried during the long tap dance number in Anything Goes!

Not a musical, but I still remember many years ago sobbing at the end of a play called Tea, about Japanese war brides after World War II. It's an excellent play but very sad at the end. We were in the front row. I must have been quite a a sight, because during the curtain call one of the actresses looked at me, smiled and made an "awww" face. :)