Opening and Closing Nights Question- Page 2

[Doug Giffin]

Posted: 4/4/19 at 10:21am

I saw Taboo on closing night and it was great. The place was packed and I sat right by Rosie.

(I'd already seen it once on Broadway and twice in London before that.)

[RWPrincess]

Posted: 4/4/19 at 4:57pm

I was also at Anastasia on Sunday afternoon. I was lucky to be seated next to a nice family who had also seen the show multiple times so we had some nice conversation about the show and its actors.

Anyway, I agree with all the comments written so far. It was definitely an afternoon I won't forget and I was in tears for most of the show. My favorite parts were at the end of Journey to the Past when the audience gave Christy a standing ovation as she was still singing the final note in the song. The stage goes dark immediately after the final note and I know she can still see the audience but it was a nice way for us to see her while giving the standing ovation. I also enjoyed Cody's reactions throughout the show, especially after Learn To Do It. It was also nice to see the full cast come out for curtain call. 

I didn't go to the stage door on account of the large crowd but reading the comments here makes me wish I had stuck around to see Christy.

[jo]

Posted: 4/4/19 at 9:20pm

Two remarkable closing nights  - so much so that The Observer's John Heilpern wrote an article about the memorable experiences : The Boy from Oz & Caroline Or Change --

https://observer.com/2004/09/farewell-hugh-and-caroline-closingnight-hysteria-and-tears/

I was lucky to be very close to the stage at the closing show of OZ and noted this :  there were so many celebrities around  ( not usual for a closing show) that it seemed like Opening Night.  Matt Damon and Barbara Walters were there and joined Hugh/Peter Allen onstage for a bit of fun!  Matt and Hugh's agent Patrick Whitesell was also there.  Barbara Cook was  2 seats behind us and gave us loads of confetti and other stuff (from her big Tiffany bag) for us to throw to the actors at curtain call, Joel Grey sat together with Hugh's wife DeborraLee, Nancy Sinatra and many others that I can't recall now ( this happened in Sept 2004). Most people were violating the cardinal sin in theatergoing : taking pictures during the performance itself. Management stepped in and told us at intermission : Just please don't use Flash!

Stagedoor crowd after the show -- no way can you even get close to where the stagedoor was. What Hugh did was to stand on the ramp of his vehicle to wave at the enormous crowd overflowing on the street!

 

 

[magictodo123]

Posted: 4/5/19 at 7:56am

RWPrincess said: "I was also at Anastasia on Sunday afternoon. I was lucky to be seated next to a nice family who had also seen the show multiple times so we had some nice conversation about the show and its actors.

Anyway, I agree with all the comments written so far. It was definitely an afternoon I won't forget and I was in tears for most of the show. My favorite parts were at the end of Journey to the Past when the audience gave Christy a standing ovation as she was still singing the final note in the song. The stage goes dark immediately after the final note and I know she can still see the audience but it was a nice way for us to see her while giving the standing ovation. I also enjoyed Cody's reactions throughout the show, especially after Learn To Do It. It was also nice to see the full cast come out for curtain call.

I didn't go to the stage door on account of the large crowd but reading the comments here makes me wish I had stuck around to see Christy."

I still can't believe she was still there 5 hours after the show ended. Something I saw posted somewhere else I feel compelled to write here: that is  by no means required from actors. They are not obligated to stage door. This was out of the kindness of her heart and how much she loves her fans and the show. I'm having a hard time thinking of any other examples where actors have shown this much kindness. Although Corbin Bleu was amazing and very kind when I met him after Holiday Inn! 

[Dave13]

Posted: 4/5/19 at 9:37am

I have been to the closing of Torch Song in January and the opening of Fiddler on the Roof in 2015. In Torch Song in January, the actors put on performances of their lifetime. Harvey Fiersten was in attendance. Fiddler was great if you were into watching Stars. Both great memories.

[Maggie05]

Posted: 4/5/19 at 4:19pm

magictodo123 said: "Someone at the theater near the final stage door was saying that it was their first time seeing show. I agree--the final show is usually a way for the fans to show their love and appreciation for the cast, and that usually comes in the form of extended applause, a bit over the top reactions to moments in the show. Definitely not the first show for an out of towner to go to, since they won't have the normal audience reactions. I understand you want to show support, but for the love of all that is good please let the actors hit their button (right? the end of the song?) before you cheer and applaud!!! We WANTED to hear Christys final note at the end of Journey To The Past and everything else. Applause comes AFTER. Standing ovation, sure, you can stand, but applause AFTER.

Speaking of closing performances...is anyone going to Kinky Boots on the 7th? I'm not but I'm curious if anyone is. I know someone here is seeing The Bands Visit on Sunday."

I'll be at the closing of Kinky boots, and Saturday night's show as well.

[zainmax]

Posted: 4/5/19 at 7:25pm

Maggie05 said: "magictodo123 said: "Someone at the theater near the final stage door was saying that it was their first time seeing show. I agree--the final show is usually a way for the fans to show their love and appreciation for the cast, and that usually comes in the form of extended applause, a bit over the top reactions to moments in the show. Definitely not the first show for an out of towner to go to, since they won't have the normal audience reactions. I understand you want to show support, but for the love of all that is good please let the actors hit their button (right? the end of the song?) before you cheer and applaud!!! We WANTED to hear Christys final note at the end of Journey To The Past and everything else. Applause comes AFTER. Standing ovation, sure, you can stand, but applause AFTER.

Speaking of closing performances...is anyone going to Kinky Boots on the 7th? I'm not but I'm curious if anyone is. I know someone here is seeing The Bands Visit on Sunday."

I'll be at the closing of Kinky boots, and Saturday night's show as well."

Did you book tickets right after the announcement??

[mailhandler777]

Posted: 4/5/19 at 8:30pm

I've been to more closings then openings. 21 closings and 4 openings. Granted some were tours that I've been to but the majority was on Broadway.

[Maggie05]

Posted: 4/5/19 at 8:34pm

zainmax said: "Maggie05 said: "magictodo123 said: "Someone at the theater near the final stage door was saying that it was their first time seeing show. I agree--the final show is usually a way for the fans to show their love and appreciation for the cast, and that usually comes in the form of extended applause, a bit over the top reactions to moments in the show. Definitely not the first show for an out of towner to go to, since they won't have the normal audience reactions. I understand you want to show support, but for the love of all that is good please let the actors hit their button (right? the end of the song?) before you cheer and applaud!!! We WANTED to hear Christys final note at the end of Journey To The Past and everything else. Applause comes AFTER. Standing ovation, sure, you can stand, but applause AFTER.

Speaking of closing performances...is anyone going to Kinky Boots on the 7th? I'm not but I'm curious if anyone is. I know someone here is seeing The Bands Visit on Sunday."

I'll be at the closing of Kinky boots, and Saturday night's show as well."

Did you book tickets right after the announcement??"

I booked the tickets for Saturday night as soon as they released those tickets (Which was in November) I got front row. I've seen the show three other times, so front row will be great, I don't mind if I'm too close...I want to look J. Harrison in the eyes.

Sunday I booked after I received an email code about a week ago. But if you go to ticketmaster, they have now opened up some other seats for Sunday that you don't need a code for. The only seats released to the public are in the mezz as of now.