Last Performance Experiences — Page 2

I was at the final performance of Head Over Heels, front row center, the show was electric! Standing ovations for almost every song, it was a night I will never forget.

Broadwaybri2 said: "Was anyone else at the prom today? I’ve never cried so much at a show that I’ve already seen multiple times?? It was my first closing performance of a show but that one felt particularly emotional.

Things that happened that were memorable:

- before the curtain went up they started with some chant I missed what they said but heard the word “bull****” i think?? Can anyone confirm?
- Beth level i believe waved from beneath the curtain before it began
- many many standing ovations, including for lady improving (where Beth cried during the ovation), Barry’s going to prom, unruly heart.
- caitlin was in a onesie at some point which i don’t remember being a thing? They referred to her as a kitten lolol?
- courtenay could not get her final line out. Just was crying so hard.
-i just wanna dance with you reprise Izzy and Caitlin we’re crying so much and could barely sing that then they (and everyone) started laughing
- the cast did a clapping thing during and then Beth clapped a second time even though no one else was doing it the second time and it was hilarious. Hard to explain.
-brooks then literally said “guys let’s get our **** together” since they were all sobbing before the last number
-Caitlin and Izzy kissed twice at the last number.

Also had a view of the creative team and they were sobbing from the musical intro before the curtain goes up through the end. As were most folks.

Anything else I’m forgetting folks who were there? God i still have goosebumps. I’m going to miss it so much."

i was there ... the we’re saying “Meryl in the movie, bull****” which Beth Pulled up the stage curtain and did an okay sign to. It was truly a magical afternoon. Soo much love in that audience and cast. I have seen it 9 times and I am So honored to have seen the final show. To all involved, thanks for bringing such joy to many of us with a story that made a point.

For anyone interested -

The final performance of Be More Chill was wonderful today. Obviously a very enthusiastic crowd, but everyone was very respectful to the performance and well behaved, aside from the expected cheering and regular standing ovations. It felt like a true celebration of a special show that meant so much to so many. Everyone in that room knew every beat of the show, and we all still sat on the edge of our seats.

As for the show itself, it was very by the book. No ad-libs, extra riffs, or extraneous actions. The cast held their emotions together shockingly well and the mood was super light the whole afternoon. Seeing the audience leap to their feet after Michael in the Bathroom was a moment I won’t forget for a while.

However, after curtain call, oh boy. Joe Iconis came out and gave a really moving speech, addressing and highlighting many praises and criticisms he and the show have received while on Broadway. He mentioned how the show had been “embraced, bullied, elevated, ignored, energized, and weirdly parodied.” He thanked the new, younger generation of theater audiences, he thanked the front of house for dealing with this crazy show, and thanked Broadway for making space for this zany show. He then brought Jason Sweettooth out to sing Iconis’ “The Goodbye Song,” most recognizable from Smash’s musical Hit List.

As Jason sang, the company joined him, followed by the entire Iconis Family, or as he put it, dozens and dozens of artists who have worked with him for years for free, in basements, through all things. This amazing Family got to sing on Broadway, and celebrate the next step in what I hope is a lifetime career for Joe and everyone up there.

The stage and theater shook as we all sang The Goodbye Song. It was pure magic.

(The full encore is on their Instagram story, I highly recommend it).

Updated On: 8/11/19 at 10:44 PM

I also attended the New York closing of FOLLIES in 1972 and can echo jayincheasea's remarks, adding the absolute shell-shocked look on Alexis Smith's face during that curtain call. I suppose her stock performances of PLAIN AND FANCY didn't prepare her.

VotePeron said: "For anyone interested -

However, after curtain call, oh boy. Joe Iconis came out and gave a really moving speech, addressing and highlightingmany praises and criticisms he and the show have received while on Broadway. He mentioned how the show had been “embraced, bullied, elevated, ignored, energized, and weirdly parodied.” He thanked the new, younger generation of theater audiences, he thanked the front of house for dealing with this crazy show, and thanked Broadway for making space for this zany show.He then brought Jason Sweettooth out to sing Iconis’ “The Goodbye Song,” most recognizable from Smash’s musical Hit List.


Oh brother you know I went to closing of The Prom today and it really solidifed for me just how fake Be More Chill is and was, its suppose to be about outcasts and loser but it always felt like they felt they were the cool kids table with how people acted offstage, meanwhile The Prom felt truly like an underdog story about "loser and outcasts" looking to be accepted. good riddence to BMC

Yeah The Prom didn't use their curtain speech to talk about how unfair life is and that their show was bullied (hard eye roll)

If we want to talk about the Prom vs. BMC, let's keep that on another thread. While the conversation is, of course, valuable, it's not what this thread is about.

Was fortunate also to be at the final performance of Spongebob The Musical and would agree it was very moving. Great energy and was so happy to share it with my daughter. I have only been to a couple final performances, but the first one I was at was for the original production of Sunday in The Park With George. Had no idea it was going to be the final performance when I got the ticket, but it wound up closing early. Amazing performance which ran about 15 minutes longer than usual due to extended ovations, especially after Move On. After the initial bows, Mandy Patinkin made a very nice speech thanking all the crew, the swings, the house staff, the orchestra, He then said that if we ever see any of them on the street to tell them we were here since this was a very moving day for them. Finally both James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim came out to thunderous applause. It was a pretty amazing afternoon.

I have never seen Sierra Boggess live in a show, but I’ve attended her last two performances at 54 Below. Among the many talented young actresses, she is way up there in the hierarchy. Moved easily between light (leading a singalong of “Danced All Night&rdquo to the heavier(“Wishing” dedicated to Hal Prince). She tenderly sang “Feed the Birds” to create an awareness of that song that I never had before. Told the story of being at the head of the table with ALW when the Queen dropped by.

Yet it doesn’t appear that producers are banging down her doors. The show they will tell you she sold out, and attendance was excellent, but there were still some seats available on the morning of the show.

This is a tough business. Thanks to the policy of 54 Below to allow non-disruptive videos, I think all her songs are preserved on YouTube.

I'm thrilled this Sunday we have tickets for the closing night of The Cher Show. We saw it last month and just found it so FUN we wanted to go back.

I've been to one other closing night performance -- Once On This Island (revival). Speechless.

I was at The Play That Goes Wrong's closing performance on Broadway. During the ledger scene where Chris yells at the audience, Mark Evans said, "If you're going to behave this way, go get tickets to Be More Chill the musical!" The audience loved that!

OlBlueEyes said: "A first reaction is that there aren't as many new shows calling for ingenues or post-ingenue actresses."

This is true, and I hadn't realized it.