"I miss the big overtures !"

I was watching a 2013 interview with Joan Rivers she did for a theater site. She mentioned she had seen just about every Broadway show, off-Broadway show, off-off Broadway show for as long as she could remember. She loved live theater and the excitement of the audience.



She was asked what biggest change she saw in theater, and what she was disappointed with. "I miss the overtures", she answered. "I miss the orchestra playing the audience out when the final curtain comes down."



She explained that musicals of the golden age and right through the mid-90s had a great big overture to welcome the audience once they took their seats, and the orchestra would play the audience out of the theater, too. The excitement builds from the overture, and then you leave in a happy mood from the closing.

She said for the past 15 years or so (at the time of the interview that would bring her back to the late 1990s), 'that's been missing'. The show 'just starts' and then it 'ends'. At the time of the interview, she had just seen "Kinky Boots" which she enjoyed, but was using as an example.



I have to say, I agree with her. I miss the great overtures, as well - getting ready for the start of "Hello Dolly" (what a treat in the revival), or 'Phantom'. Today, that grand overture is missing.

What do you guys say ? Do you agree with Rivers or not ?

Updated On: 7/26/22 at 09:11 AM

Completely agree. I think unfortunately with all the emphasis being placed on spectacle and elaborate sets and costumes and such, producers are spending all their money there instead of on big orchestras. So I fear huge overtures are a thing of the past.

Alexander Lamar said: "Most shows still have exit music, don’t they?"

That's what I was going to say. I miss the overtures too, especially for classic-style new shows. But almost every show I've been to has exit music and sometimes it's quite lengthy. I always love the exit music.

Me too! But I also miss shows slowing up for a big song which takes your breath away.

EvanstonDad said: "Add me to the list of people who miss big overtures. Do you think part of the reason they've gone out of fashion is the perception that audiences don't have the attention span for them anymore?"

I'm guessing that's part of the reason. I have noticed both on Broadway and in local productions in recent years that people tend to chitchat as they are find their seat during Entr'Actes or even as they're just sitting in their seats. It seems like they see it as a warning the act is about to start instead of the actual start of the act. It drives me crazy!

Alexander Lamar said: "Most shows still have exit music, don’t they?"

Yeah, I'm not sure what she's talking about in regards to the exit music. The only time I've ever done a show without exit music is when it's a conscious decision by the writers, in order to maybe let the final moment sink in or something. I can't think of any right now, but I know there are shows that don't even have bow music, for the same reason.

As for overtures, yes, they're great, but I agree it has to do with diminishing attention spans. Also, the days of 5 or 6 songs from a show going mainstream are over. If you saw Cats in the '90s you already knew "Memory"; including it in the Overture was a great way to get people excited for what was to come. Nowadays I'm not sure how many songs the average tourist knows going in, unless it's a revival. Personally I think a nice little 30-60-second musical prelude works nicely; long enough to say "We're starting now" but short enough to get to the point, lol.

CATS is from the 80s and “Memory” isn’t in the Overture. The Overture is the running theme music used throughout the show - no songs from the show are in it. Similar to the COMPANY Overture - it’s the running “Bobby, Bobby” melody used throughout the show.

Nowadays after the show ends I mostly see people open up their smartphones and check texts/apps/notifications

Based on the music video for "Some Like it Hot" I'm feeling hopeful there will be a nice overture to start the show! Fingers crossed!

When I saw the tour of My Fair Lady in Detroit, I was so surprised by how loud the audience was during the overture. Granted, there was no pre-show announcement and the lights weren't fully dim yet. But people were talking through almost the entire overture.

This is one of the first shows I've seen in a while with no pre-show announcement. Is this common?

I wouldn’t mind if The Sound of Music did have an overture. I’m pretty sure I saw a regional production when I was a kid that played the entr’acte as the overture.

I will shamelessly admit that MAMMA MIA! has one of my favorite overtures.

I too miss them. I suspect some feel it's 'old fashioned' and not the way to start a 'modern' show. Also, most of the great overtures are a medleys of great tunes. That too is less in vogue.

Updated On: 7/26/22 at 04:16 PM