Top 5 Favorite Theatrical Moments of the 2016-2017 Season — Page 2

In no particular order:



1) The Great Comet - as others have said, it's so hard to pick just one moment, I adore the entire show. That being said, I will go with Dave Malloy's "Dust and Ashes". He kind of ruined Josh Groban's version for me. Extra GC mention to the moment when the ensemble joins in that song, from the onstage seats the sight and sound of them in the orchestra and mezzanine was just gorgeous.



2) Hadestown - Patrick Page's "His Kiss, the Riot"...so simple and powerful. I really want them to release the full recording if only to hear his performance of that song again.



3) Beardo - the scene where Beardo is healing the year's son. I thought Damon Duanno was the weak link in Hadestown, but I thought he was terrific in Beardo and in this scene was stunning to me.



4) Groundhog Day - "Hope". I really enjoyed this show, but this number in particular was terrifically staged and just so much fun to watch.



5) Sweeney Todd - "Epiphany". Sweeney walking the tables and kneeling down in front of me with his razor will not soon be forgotten.

In no particular order:

1. Ben Platt's and Rachel Bay Jones' performances in DEH especially in Words Fail and So Big/So Small.

2. Honestly all of Hadestown (especially Patrick Page and Amber Gray) and also The Band's Visit

3. Jake Gyllenhaal's final line delivery on the closing night of Sunday in the Park with George (also that brilliant Chromolume)

4. Bette Midler's entrance at the top of the stairs in Hello, Dolly!

5. The abduction dance in The Great Comet and also the wine glasses being played as Anatole and Natasha kiss

6. The ending of Falsettos which had me literally bawling uncontrollably.

Nicole 10 wrote: The end of the song "Pierre"where Josh Groban is up front and everyone is holding out a menacing "aaa" behind him over railings, and he cues with his hand in a frustrated fist and the lights go off and the spotlight is on him. It was a striking visual I still can't stop thinking about it.

Lucas and Denee's first kiss in the end of Act I of The Great Comet. The wine glass sounds and the lighting is striking. And the "I will love you anatole" part is something I will never forget! What an amazingly effective closer.

bwayrose7 wrote: "The Great Comet of 1812". It's hard to describe, exactly, what it feels like when the chorus comes in a cappella, and the lights come on like stars, and by the end, every single person in the theatre is watching the Comet fill the theater with light and hearing the words "blossoming into a new life" as it got brighter and brighter. It was this powerful moment of connection and purity that I don't think I've ever felt in a theater before. Magic.

I only saw two new shows on my New York trip, so I'm not qualified to give a full list of five, but these responses really do match up with my Great Comet reaction. The entire experience of walking into the theatre, marveling at the design, then starting with "Prologue" and "Pierre," ending with the conclusion Nicole 10 describes, the show had me right there. That conclusion of "Pierre," with those unsettling background "aaa"s from the cast behind Groban and his wrapup, is a minor thing, but the lighting and staging creates a fantastic moment in a musical that is really good at creating memorable moments.

And bwayrose7, you've done a more poetic job than I could of describing why the ending worked so well for me. I loved many things about the show, but the visually arresting conclusion elevates the musical with its beauty and hope.

1) Being conducted by Dave Malloy while recording the Great Comet cast album.

2) Watching and hearing my students' reactions to Ben Platt's performance.

3) Stephanie J. Block "Breaking Down"

4) "Put on Your Sunday Clothes" - the definition of joy

5) The "very long line" in Indecent.

Updated On: 5/27/17 at 03:54 PM

1. Seeing you from Groundhog Day

2. The overture from Groundhog Day

3. Sara Bareilles riffing the hell out of What Baking Can Do

4. The final scene of Falsettos

5. Sunday from SITPWG

Only saw five shows from this current season, Come From Away, Dear Evan Hansen, Dolly, Comet and Sunday. I think I chose pretty wisely since those seem to be the favorites of many. I'll choose some from each show.

5. Annaleigh and Jake's overall performances, specifically We Do Not Belong Together, Putting it Together and Move On.

4. Jenn Colella's stunning performance, especially of course Me and the Sky, but also her solos in Somewhere in the Middle of Nowhere.

Astrid Van Wieren also was a standout in the amazing ensemble. Really wish she was given more recognition. Such a captivating performance.

3. GRACE MCLEAN. GRACE MCLEAN. GRACE MCLEAN. What an underrated performance. She commended that theater and was powerful. Truly the whole cast was terrific, but the final moments of Act 1 are thrilling.

2. All of Hello, Dolly was gorgeous and exhilarating. Everything that needs to be said has been said and it will go down as one of, if not, the best revivals ever. Bette is back where she belongs and she is thriving up there.

1. Dear Evan Hansen was a show that I had been waiting for a while to see and it was well worth the wait. Everything about it I loved. The book, score, actors, everything. I truly do not see the problems everybody had with it. It was the first time I ever had chills due to dialogue and the score is memorable and relevant. Ben gave a transcending performance and the Tony is his, no doubt. Witnessing the emotion he put into Words Fail was breathtaking and I saw a matinee, not understanding how he'd be able to do it again in three hours, let alone another few times that week. Rachel is also giving a hell of a performance, dealing with many emotions of sadness, betrayal and hopelessness. So Big/So Small was very subtle, but incredibly passionate and moving. Those two words could be used to describe the show, passionate and moving.



Overall, it was a fantastic season. To say three of my favorite (original) shows all came from the same season is pretty crazy.