Memorable Theatre Moments

'War Horse' at the National Theatre in London.

The first part of the show, they have a little Joey foal puppet. He's only about waist-high at the shoulders, and his legs are stiff blocks of wood. Joey and Albert are running around the stage together, full of the joys of life, and Albert's encouraging Joey to rear up, which he's doing with gay abandon.

Then the lighting changes, the little Joey foal puppet is whipped offstage in pieces, and full focus in the centre upstage is a fullsize Joey puppet, six-foot at the shoulders, with two full-grown men standing up straight inside, and working this amazingly intricate, beautiful, and anatomically spot-on horse puppet. The audience gasps, Albert clambers on Joey's back, the two ride offstage, and the audience erupts into thunderous applause because it's simply the most stunning thing they've ever seen on a London stage.

I'm genuinely in tears right now describing it, I don't think any production will ever beat it for visual beauty. (And if I ever need to cry as part of a play, I just think of Joey, and the tears come. A handy side-effect! :3)

http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/?lid=36800&dspl=images - SERIOUSLY, if you can get to London between September 10th and November 12th, you NEED to see this.

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The end of Act 1 in Evita. A New Argentina is one of the most thrilling chorus numbers ever.

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For me, the best was from TROILUS AND CRSSIDA at the RSC in Stratford and London

Near the end, Achilles (Philip Quast) came forward to the front of the (mostly) empty stage, bathed in red light, carrying the body of Patroclus (Jeremy Sheffield, I think)

He came forward slowly, completely devastated, then slowly sank to his knees (still holding Patroclus in his arms), and made his speech about Hector's life basically being forfeit. He has the most beautiful voice, and his delivery of those lines was incredible

It was ABSOLUTELY chilling and beautiful

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Updated On: 6/12/08 at 02:26 PM

Recent ones:
Oh my gosh, when Jenna Russell started to cry during 'We Do Not Belong Together'. I just lost it. It was beautiful.

Taking a few of my non-theatre friends to see a local prosfessional production of The Producers. It was so great to see them react and feel the love that is live theatre!

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When the puppets have sex in Avenue Q. That was so out of nowhere. And so very funny.

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First seeing George Hearn sing I Am What I Am in LaCage. I was so overwhelmed, I turned to my partner to say something and no words would come out of my mouth.

The end of act one in Equus is pretty powerful. It's more of a vivd memory than the nude scene.

Seeing the closing performance of Grey Gardens. I was in tears for the next 2 hours after the show, I was so moved/heartbroken. And I had seen the show several times before, and I had never freaked out that much.

And, not really a "theatre" moment, but my boyfriend and I saw Linda Eder in concert one time, and after she belted out I Am What I Am, we were both on our feet in tears.

ETA: Also, the first time I saw the Funny Girl movie, I had chills after Don't Rain On My Parade. And I still get them after watching it for the 200th time!

Edited for spelling. I'm really tired!

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Updated On: 6/14/08 at 01:10 AM

The Phantom rowing the boat through the candle filled water...it
is a great visual and theater stage feat.

The last show of Les Mis revival. Ananleigh's last show in Wicked. And probably Steph's last show today will be added to this list.

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-I know i'm prolly gonna sound like a broken record cuz you all have prolly heard this a THOUSAND times but when Elphaba takes flight in Wicked i get chills everywhere on my body and i end up crying like a little girl.

-idk why this specific spot but i LOOOOVE the part in You Can't Stop the Beat when Motormouth sings "cause tomorrow is a brand new day and it don't know white from black. YEAH!!!!!" and as she says yeah the lights do this little flashing type thing and everybody throws their hands in the air as she tears off her pants to reveal the rest of her gold dress. idk why but it always makes me smile and makes the hair on my neck stand straight up.