Most overwhelming audience reaction?- Page 3

[LeaGirl]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 10:37am

Jane Krakowski's "sheet trick" in Nine during "Call from the Vatican"

And I ain't just saying that because I love the Nine - the audience went NUTS when she came in and went even MORE nuts when she went out, upside down. Every time I saw it the audience seemed more and more suprised. And during the whole number, people around me were crying they were laughing so hard.

That woman can fake an orgasm like no other. And she was well rewarded for it in audience reaction.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 12:15pm

"I saw "Wicked" one week before Idina Menzel left, when she rushed on right before "Dear Old Shiz" everyone went insane! There must have been a good three minuets of applause. "

Oh, I can't believe I forgot that.


And I can't believe I forgot on her "last day" when she walked on on stage in the now famous red track suit. From that point to when the curtain went down, I've never heard such loud screams and sobs in my life. It was kind of pathetic and completely ruined the moment. It was very "Oh my God, Idina Menzel means SO MUCH TO ME that I'm going to show you all by AUDIBLY SOBBING so loud that they hear me ON STAGE!"

It was like it was the last time she'd ever be on stage. I wanted to kick some of them and give them a REAL reason to sob.

[imafantu]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 12:20pm

I was not present, but my cousin was....during one of the performances at The Color Purple. when the cast finished singing the a capella version of the title song (at curtain) the audience kept singing for another 15 minutes- they had to come back and join back in because people were singing and crying and not leaving!

[Jon]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 2:18pm

The biggest I've personally witnessed was for Nathan Lane's "Betrayed" during the pre-Broadway tryout in Chicago.

[LorelaiGilmore]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 2:24pm

Yesterday at Piazza.

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 2:34pm

During the Deaf West production of Big River, during "Waiting For The Light To Shine (Reprise)," the whole cast is onstage singing and signing at the same time until the music and voices get so loud that it goes silent, and all you see is the cast signing, yet you understand what they're saying, and nobody coughs, laughs, sneezes, or is on their cell phone. Everyone is deaf, and it's completely silent.

That got HUGE, HUGE applause. I can't even describe it. Amazing reaction from everyone in the house.

[DG]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 2:38pm

Volleyballer - I experienced that, as well - QUITE moving.

[TIGGOSAURUS]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 6:26pm

I was at David Hyde Pierce/Hank Azaria's last performance in Spamalot. Fantastic receptions when both came on in the 1st Act, but the reaction to HA's ad-libbing as a Knight who says Ni and to 'You Won't Succeed on Broadway' was out of this world - made both of them emotional. Great stuff, felt privileged to be there!

And I can't agree with that article which states that London audiences don't care when shows end / cast members leave. Some people obviously do - I've witnessed it first hand! Maybe we're just more discreet about it over here?!?

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 6:30pm

Norbert Leo Butz + Beef Jerky = Most overwhelming audience reaction

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 8:16pm

The most huge reactions I have witnessed :

Hugh's "Once Before I Go "

Elaine Paige's curtain call in London's "Sunset Boulevard"

The moment Harvey lowers from the front of his face these BIG panties and starts to speak in "Hairspray"

[AnotherDay46]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 8:26pm

The record breaking performance of Phantom of the Opera. Most of the people who attended never saw the show before, if so, maybe only once years ago. But the woman I sat next to would stand up after ever song and shout "BRAVO!!!" The whole theatre was cheering after every song and even the little jokes between the managers that are usually ignored were laughed at for long periods of time. It was truly a wonderful night. ^_^

[citrustwist]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 9:17pm

I will never forget the feeling of the theatre after a "Gods Love Nubia" led by Heather Headley. Everyone would just be abuzz for a few minutes afterward. It got an amazing reaction, but the reaction didn't go away just when the song ended, and I remember thinking that was so cool.

I was at one of the Jersey Boys performances that Frankie Valli attended. He stood immediately after "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" ended, and as the audience realized that Frankie Valli himself was standing in the center of the orchestra, almost every other audience member stood and applauded as well. It is still one of my favorite audience reaction moments.

[whatyouown223]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 9:18pm

That I've seen, Victoria Clark's entrance and curtain call at Piazza yesterday.

[meggsison]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 9:20pm

The audience at the Color Purple when I saw it was absolutely amazing and crazy.

[curly120]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 10:49pm

I was also going to say The Color Purple. Throughout the whole thing, but especially after the final scene, the entire audience was standing before the lights came back on.

[singtopher]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 11:27pm

I saw Benadette Peters in Concert merely weeks after her husband died. She sang Not a Day Goes By, and Time Heals Everything and put her heart and pain into those songs. The audience went wild and stood after both of them. I've never seen something so courageous in my life.

[Just_John]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 11:32pm

Ummm everyone at the record breaking Phantom had of course seen the show before. Because it was an invitation only event. ALOT of the audience members had been in the production since everyone who was ever in it was invited back.

[rosekwbp]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 11:34pm

I saw Bernadette's Lincoln Center Concert. The audience reaction there was amazing.

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 11:40pm

Two shows come immediately to mind, MY FAIR LADY, after several numbers, the audience leapt to its feet in wild applause (THE RAIN IN SPAIN, I COULD HAVE DANCED ALL NIGHT and GET ME TO THE CHURCH ON TIME). Also, the audience applauded throughout A LITTLE BIT OF LUCK. I've never seen anything like that, since, and that was 47 years ago! The single biggest audience reaction to a number, was for CHAPTER 54, NUMBER 1909, from SEESAW. The standing ovation seemed endless. It remains the greatest number I ever saw on stage.

[Chanticleer148]

Posted: 7/4/06 at 8:59pm

My sister encouraged me today to share several experiences that I have had that included an amazing audience reaction.

Sharon Wilkins performing "The Oldest Profession" on the day before THE LIFE closed in June 1998! Lillias White sat in the row with us, and she led an unstopabble ovation. The conductor laid down his baton, and the audience applauded forever!

Bernadette Peters performing "Rose's Turn." I saw it three times, and she was stunning! The audience went nuts!

Mary Bond Davis singing "I Know Where I Been" in Hairspray. The Longer Bond-Davis remainded the cast, the stronger she became. This was an earth-quaking, house-shaking moment of endless joy!

Harvery Feirstein's entrance in Hairspray on his second night in New York during the previews. The house "went-up" for Harvey and would not permit the show to continue. This was the most spontaneous demonatration of admiration and love for a performer that I have ever witnessed! His entrance and first line alone truly stopped the show!

Roz Ryan performing "And I am Telling You I'm Not Going" in Dream Girls-1984! She was amazing! Many of the audience members stood before the number was over. At 22 years old, I was overwhelmed and overcome by emotions!

This is a great topic!

Thanks everyone!

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 7/4/06 at 9:03pm

In DRS when the Bellboy steps on the dog in the bag! That alsways gets a huge response!

[west end artist1]

Posted: 7/4/06 at 9:12pm

JH Im Telling You Im Not Going from Dreamgirls(woooooooooow)

I really dont think anything will ever top that.

[Peter]

Posted: 7/4/06 at 9:13pm

Ive seen Linda Eder get a standing o in the middle of Dont Rain on My Parade. She also was known to stop the show with standing os in Jekyll&Hyde and finally her Carnegie Hall concerts are about the loudest and wildest audience reaction Ive ever witnessed with several standing os.

Posted: 7/4/06 at 9:21pm

"Sharon Wilkins performing "The Oldest Profession" on the day before THE LIFE closed in June 1998! Lillias White sat in the row with us, and she led an unstopabble ovation. The conductor laid down his baton, and the audience applauded forever!"

When Sharon sang "There's Always Me" in ALL SHOOK UP, as she neared the end, the audience went insane. She's one powerful singer & I loved her in All Shook Up.

[Chanticleer148]

Posted: 7/4/06 at 9:32pm

I have no doubt that Sharon was wonderful in All Shook Up! I talked with several people who saw her in that show, and they loved her!!!

Sharon is truly an amazing performer!