Posted: 6/6/19 at 10:56pm
Posted: 6/6/19 at 11:03pm
Posted: 6/6/19 at 11:09pm
Posted: 6/7/19 at 12:37am
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When the show begins, the cast and band run on stage - they wave at the audience, set up the stage, and get settled. An idea is immediately presented that there is no true fourth wall here.
Then, Andre walks on stage, and he commands quite the stage presence. He walks around, interacts slightly with some of the actors. He moves to the front of the stage, unbuttons his suit jacket, and places his hands on his hips with a big smile. As normal as this sounds, the audience kind of holds their breath during this sequence, it feels electric. The audience erupts into applause as he stands there and nods (his facial expressions encourage the applause, and he's gotten it all 3 times I've seen it).
He turns to the cast & band and says, "Alright?" They respond, "Alright."
He then turns to the audience and asks again, "Alright?" The audience replies, "Alright."
Finally, he notions to the band, and the music begins.
--
It's about a 60 second scene, and is quite breathtaking. Very rarely on broadway do you see the "rules of the world" set so clearly and personally with an audience. I think people are taking to it so much right now because there is so much hype around the show, that when you're waiting there waiting for it to begin, and you first get this unbelievably special moment with the company, it's thrilling.
I hope that helps!!
Posted: 6/7/19 at 12:42am
Posted: 6/7/19 at 1:01am
Posted: 6/7/19 at 1:40am
hadestown has some memorable parts but i definitely didn't think that intro scene was one of them. I personally didn't think of it as "breathtaking" or an "unbelievably special moment" though maybe there is something to the idea that the audience is so excited to be at this year's (albeit not as hyped) hamilton/dear evan hansen that they imbue that intro with meaning. For me, I had thought the first scene was staged that way so it would bookend with the last scene and help give off that storytelling feel that is necessary so the show doesn't end on a downer. Either way, i thought the special moments were in the middle of the show, right before intermission specifically.
