While looking back on it, I do feel the standing ovations were justified but it seems crazy at the same time. When I saw RAGTIME back in 1998, it may have gotten an instant standing ovation at the end of the show but it got not just one or two throughout the middle but FOUR. I don't know what was in the air that night but the audience was completely in awe apparently. Your Daddy's Son got one but that one was very quick because the scene shifts so fast but it did seem to throw off the rhythm a little bit. Wheels of a Dream got one; the Act One finale got one and then Make Them Hear You.
The one that stands out for me was when I saw The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. I personally had little knowledge of the show prior to seeing it other than it transferred from off-Broadway and had William Finn and James Lapine involved. I knew it would be quirky and funny, but I left feeling inspired and in awe of the creativity behind it. The whole show was really funny and I loved the performances. The score was good, but the whole time I was thinking how much I would love a nice William Finn ballad....and then The I Love You Song came along. At the moment Lisa Howard opened her mouth, I immediately became entranced. The melody was just so pretty and yet so simple. The harmonies the last section stayed with me for the longest time and I can still vividly remember that whole performance. As soon as the number ended, I actually lept to my feet and so did a few people around me and then several others stood. It was the only time I ever felt the urge to instantly stand.
Recently, Andrea Martin got one with PIPPIN as is often stated.
I have seen Something Rotten twice...the first time I saw it "A Musical" actually did NOT get a standing ovation but the ovation of the crowd was still very loud and positive and went on for probably a minute maybe.
Now, the second time I saw it, most of the audience stood for it (I didn't....I actually love the song and listen to it a lot now but I just didn't think it was worth enough to stand) but what also got a huge standing ovation and maybe even a tad bigger than "A Musical" was the Something Rotten/Make an Omelette sequence.