I tear up pretty easily at the theater, but man, it was open weeping at Sunday in the Park with George (2005 Broadway) during Move On and Sunday reprise. Too damn beautiful to bare.
Children Will Listen from Into the Woods has always made me emotional.... What You Mean to Me from Finding Neverland, Send in the Clowns from A Little Night Music...
I absolutely agree with you on the Sunday in the Park songs. I've never actually seen it, but listening to the soundtrack is almost as good as seeing it live. Have you seen the Sondheim birthday concert? There was a sort of Bernadette Peters/Mandy Patinkin "reunion" at the event, and it was amazing and emotional at the same time, listening & watching them perform it after several years.
When I really get into this song while singing, I can't help but shed tears. "If I Can't Love Her" from Beauty and the Beast.. I'm gay so I say "Can't love HIM".. lol
I've never seen the show live but 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee's "The I Love You Song" has gotten me going a few times. I remember once listening to the soundtrack on a late night drive on the way home, and I was super tired so I needed something with a story to keep myself awake, and from "I wrote you a letter" on I was sobbing as I sang. It was completely ridiculous, but the amazing connection I felt to it was electrifying.
I cry easily, so my list is very long. Haha! "I'll Cover You (Reprise)" from Rent, "Goodbye Until Tomorrow/I Could Never Rescue You" from The Last Five Years, "No One Is Alone" from Into The Woods, "Midnight Radio" from Hedwig, "Tell Her I Love Her" from Urinetown, multiple Les Mis songs (but none more than "A Little Fall Of Rain", and SO MANY OTHERS.
This one has only made me cry once, but I was at Nikki M. James' final performance in The Book Of Mormon, and I was in tears during most of "Sal Tlay Ka Siti." Part of that was because I'm a big fan of hers and I was sad that she was leaving, but it was also because I think it was really hitting her that it was her last time singing the song, and it was so full of emotion and she gave it everything she had.
I'm pathetic. I often start sobbing during the first few notes of the overture at any given show just from the joy of being there. And I cry pretty easily during live performances in general. But the one song that will get me without fail, even in a really bad production is Sunday from SITPWG. It's funny because on the surface, the lyrics don't seem to be about anything emotionally stirring or related to any of the plot lines. Yet somehow, the music itself always makes me climax, emotionally.
Art has a double face, of expression and illusion.
This is a little different but I wanted to mention it:
Almost every time I've cried in a show it has been during a musical number, which is understandable, as they are often the emotional climaxes of shows.
However, only one musical (that I can think of) has ever made me cry during book scenes: Matilda. I've seen the show 3 times, and without fail, my eyes immediately start to swim with tears when Matilda hugs Miss Honey in class and she says "That is the biggest hug in the world." Similarly, I always cry at the end when they both say "They had found each other," then do a cartwheel upstage.
Also, from the 2013 Tony Awards opening number, the line "...And we might reassure that kid. Or do something to spur that kid,. 'Cause I promise you all of us up here tonight, we WERE that kid...." really got to me.
Days and Days (and Days) in FUN HOME. I wouldn't say it's moved me to tears but it is a pretty but depressing song. Judy Kuhn's voice is beautiful and haunting.
From time to time, I watch NPH sing the opening to the Tonys, "bigger". I cry every time. It's not the song as much as the audience's reaction. They are mesmerized. It makes me happy. With technollogy and special effects, theater still has the power to surprise and impress. I find it so moving,