Standing ovation in the middle of the show?

It depends on what you call the middle. For example, Patti LuPone got a Standing O after Rose's Turn, but that's near the end of the show, so...

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See, that's what I mean. Everyone else will probably just get annoyed by me. But I was just in awe through out Les Mis since it was my first time seeing it and I was sitting front row. I seriously thought about standing up for Lea, but I didn't want to be annoying.

By middle I just mean in the middle of the musical, but after a song. It's hard with Les Mis though because of how it just goes from song to song. I felt bad cause a lot of songs didn't get appluse. I wanted to start clapping after each song, but they don't leave time.

~Darci

I've seen Raul get one after Being Alive, Fantasia after I'm Here, and Patti and Bernadette after Rose's Turn.

I don't think it's rude at all if the whole audience is doing it. Plus, things like Rose's Turn are the big explosive moments in the show (and the women performing them are so amazing) that it's almost...expected? to stand. I don't know, just my observation.

Len Cariou got one in "Sweeney Todd" and I remember the incredible response to "And I Am Telling You" a few times when I saw "Dreamgirls." I believe "an of La Mancha" had a few on occasion.

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I've also heard that Ebersole got one after The Revolutionary Costume for Today, but not while I was there.

allofmylife. I assume Cariou got a standing ovation for Ephiphany?

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Randal Keith got a partial standing ovation (after Bring Him Home) in St. Louis at the final performance of the Les Miz 3rd national tour last summer.

(Yep, I was there.)

One performance of Jersey Boys I was at, one person a row or so behind me tried to start a standing ovation for Chris Jones' "Can't Take..." but no one played along. Awww...

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Updated On: 8/2/07 at 02:17 AM

Christine got a Standing Ovation after Revolutionary Costume when I saw it.

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You are so cute. You remind me of a younger and nicer me. =)

To start, I would suggest that you do not stand up before the curtain call. That's mainly because you are blocking someone else's view. Even if it's brief, it's not the most polite thing to. Unless it's like what antiandrewx said, and the whole audience is on their feet.

I have not been blessed thus far in seeing a performance so powerful that I was tempted to get out of my seat before the curtain call. But I have vocalized my appreciation after a few special numbers (no words, but I WILL 'whoop' if the spirit moves me). I've done this a few times. Once during one of Julia's solos in 'Wicked', once during Frenchie's 'Seasons of Love' solo, and once during dance performance at City Center. Now all of these shows are more lively that other shows that I've seen and the audience was very into it from the beginning. They were very vocal, and so I was totally in line with them. I tend to refrain from whooping and such when they subject matter is serious, but that's just me. People whooped when I saw Les Miserables, and I didn't think it was tacky. It's just not me.

Now, when the curtain call comes up, if I want to stand, I stand up ASAP. I'm not really worried if I'm alone or one of a few doing it. I don't "stage door", so my only way to express my gratitude for an excellent show is to stand and be seen my the cast. I can't think of any actor who would not appreciate people who gave them a standing ovation, even if that person was one of of 4 or 5 people. Love is love, and everyone likes to feel it.

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The whole audience from my view in the mezz stood at Gypsy July 13th, but not the on 18th at night, only a small handful. I wonder why some give it that reaction while other crowds are more willing to.

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^Same! My heart was pounding in my throat, even though I felt like a total ass because I was one of so few people standing, I don't think it would've been physically possible for me to stay in my seat. I've never felt that way before.

...christ, I'm so dramatic.

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When I saw GYPSY the Tuesday before it closed I wanted to give a standing ovation to the strippers, they were incredibly hilarious but no one else did so I didn't stand. Also, everyone in the mezzanine stood after "Rose's Turn."
There were a dozen times in FOLLIES that I thought deserved a standing ovation (mostly "Who's That Woman?") but again, no one stood either.
From reports I've heard/read the standing ovation after Holliday's "And I Am Telling You" during the DREAMGIRLS original run was wild.

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I've seen Brian Stokes Mitchell get a mid-show one after his "Impossible Dream" in Man of LaMancha...I've seen Hugh Jackman get one for "Once Before I Go" which technically isnt the curtain call...and I saw a half-standing ovation at Jersey Boys after "Can't Take..."

It definitely happens, but I think its relatively rare to have a full standing ovation in the middle of a show, that doesn't mean one person or two can't stand up if they feel that strongly about it.

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