Moments in Shows that Made You Cry When You First Saw It — Page 3

I get so emotional---I actually got goosebumps from reading these posts! I think the most emotional scenes for me were the finales of Les Miz and South Pacific. (never fails to get me to tears)

Much of next to normal, specificially "I've Been". Also the finale in Les Mis when Fantine and Eponine come back, for some reason, the finale in WSS, and the letter scene in Billy Elliot.

OH and the end of Hair. From "like it or not, they've got me" to the end.

Updated On: 8/13/09 at 03:56 PM

Listing shows where I haven't cried would probably take less time. A few where I did:

Les Miz -- Pretty much anytime anyone died, so most of the show
Blood Brothers -- The ending had me sobbing
SITPWG -- The last scenes in both acts
Billy Elliot -- The letters between Billy and his Mum and the miners' going back down into the ground at the end of Act II
A Chorus Line -- Paul's story and What I Did for Love
I wasn't lucky enought to see it in person, but the clip of David Carroll singing Anthem from Chess really got to me.

I've never actually cried at the theatre, but the scene in Next to Normal where Dan and Diana fight over the music box had me pinned to my seat. When Alice Ripley let out that terrifying, wildcat scream on the line, "WHAT WAS HIS NAME?" I just slapped my hand over my mouth and kept thinking, "Oh God oh God oh God..."

And the be-in at the end of Hair's first act never fails to spark a panic attack. It just gets so intense.

---

I can cry at a show for being exhilarated, sad, or just overcome with, the moment, and have so often. Comes to mind, totally by surprise, the Lincoln Center revival of Carousel some years ago now. By the end, not knowing how intense it was to be, I just lost it. Big surprise to me and i'm sure many others, Jersey Boys at several moments.

I've had several moments of feeling overcome literally by the start of a show's overture. Specifically shows that I have been extremely anxious to see.

The best example I can give was when I saw the original, full scale "Sunset Boulevard." I was more excited about seeing that show (I am extremely visually intrigued by shows) than pretty much any other show I can recall. My reaction was not at all what I thought it would be. From the first somber strain of the minor overture into "I Guess it was 5am..." I became a blubbering idiot. All my anticipation and excitement culminated in those moments. It was, true to my expectations, the most visually stunning show I have ever seen.

As far as other moments in shows that gave me the weepies... well, they are pretty rare and typically odd.

Many, many moons ago when I first saw Les Miserables, I remained pretty non-emotional. However after Jean Valjean "buys" Cosette from the Inn Keeper, he then dresses her in a nice coat and hat and they hum "Castle on a cloud" in perfect harmony. It, IMO, was the most pivotal moment in the show and turned me into mush.

Another that tugged my heartstrings was in AIDA. When Amneris struggles with the fate of the two people she loves. She's required to uphold the law... and does so... but bends so that Aida and Rodames can share their tragic fate together. The visual closure of that tomb, coupled with Amneris leading into "Every Story..." is magic and terribly bittersweet.

Ah bittersweet... my favorite emotion!

Wow, this thread is chock-full of spoilers!

I can't even remember what bits made me cry... I just remember sitting and crying in various theatres. I do remember crying when Michael Cerveris sang "Finishing The Hat" in a very small concert. That was one of the best performances of anything I've ever seen. And I'd never even liked him much at all until then.

---

SA -- Moritz's suicide / "Left Behind" sequence

Mary Poppins' final flight (I was in the balcony & it was magic)

Billy Elliot -- mulitple moments:
*Solidarity final moments -- in awe of that whole number
*letter scene
*Billy flies in the Swan Lake sequence (gorgeous moment)
*Electricity
*finale
I was pretty much a mess through the whole show

N2N -- after the dance between Diana & Gabe and we learn she had attempted suicide -- I was just really moved by that sequence

HAIR -- the final image & the cast exit (don't want to spoil) -- simply stunning stage tableau

SOUTH PACIFIC -- I'm with the poster who said when the stage peeled back to reveal the orchestra -- that was freakin' amazing!

When Krystal Brown sang 'Without You', I lost it.

---

The only time I think I actually cried was when Angel died in RENT, followed by "I'll Cover You (Reprise)". But I also got teary eyed/feeling a strong emotion during:
-Alabanza, Everything I Know and the Finale from In The Heights. Especially Alabanza. It just tugs at my heart strings.
-A lot of scenes from West Side Story. Especially "Somewhere", "A Boy Like That/I Have A Love" and during and after Tonys death.
-Who I'd Be and Big Bright Beautiful World (reprise) from Shrek: The Musical. Big Bright Beautiful World (reprise) just mostly makes me go "awwww..."

In seventh grade I saw Wicked. And I (like many others here, I'm sure) did not fit in in middle school. And I had this amazing computer teacher who grew into a friend for me. And she would tell me everyday, "Key, Kev, remember - it's not easy being green". Well when Madame Morrible says the line about "she is distinguishable by her green skin" I started tearing up. And then when the ensemble sings "Look at her! She's wicked!" I lost it. I was sobbing. Lights come up and my brother (bless him for trying) goes, "don't worry Kevin it's only half over." and I go "WELL, DUH!" haha that was a fun time.

Another one that comes to mind is the Mom's Letter scene in Billy Elliot. Especially sitting next to my mother. It was just. beautiful.

i just saw the tour of Spring Awakening at the Ford Oriental in Chgo today. I was pumped to see this, loving the score, duncan shiek and what I had read. I was not prepared for the emotional roller coaster it took me on. I was a mess from the beginning of act II. So sad, sweet, i couldn't stop bawling even after the lights went up. i looked at this guy in front of me who was in the same shape and we had an agreeing glance. the cast, music, awesome design, orch, everything was beyond what I could imagine. I think the cast was really on to this audience too, who absolutely was crazy. It was their last perf for a very short run in Chicago. If this is where we're headed in theatre, i'm all for it. I saw so many young people rapt watching today. i'm 56.

oh my god When Idina flew i sobbed. Also the end of SA