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#1

Unexpected openings..

Posted: 1/11/08 at 11:17pm

What's a Broadway show that has an opening or overture you were not expecting when the show started? What was your reaction? Cause, I seem to have a different reaction to different shows' overtures and opening numbers.

Personally, I was scared crapless when I saw Wicked in Chicago.
I had seen it in New York (December 2004) and hadn't been paying attention to the overture, and the sound system had been messed up. So it was decently quiet and didn't get louder until the "unlimited" instrumental part.

However, in Chicago Wicked had my full attention. And there was silence after the announcement then BAM No One Mourns the Wicked started. And I jumped, and after seeing the dragon moving in all directions instead of left and right I was debating on whether or not to stay.

So, what are some of YOUR stories.

"That's a good point. Next time I pee on a Starbucks couch and throw straws and napkins at a barista, I'll just yell, "YOU DON'T KNOW ME OUTSIDE OF STARBUCKS! YOU DON'T KNOW ME AT ALL!" and that should do it. "-LizzieCurry

#2

re: Unexpected openings..

Posted: 1/11/08 at 11:20pm

Usually the audience jumps from "Big Spender" vamp that opens the SWEET CHARITY overture.

#3

re: Unexpected openings..

Posted: 1/11/08 at 11:26pm

Even on the recording, the opening of No One Mourns the Wicked scares me.

One time, Patti LuPone punched me in the face...

It was awesome. - theaterkid1015

#4

re: Unexpected openings..

Posted: 1/11/08 at 11:28pm

I don't jump at anything.

"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt

#5

re: Unexpected openings..

Posted: 1/11/08 at 11:31pm

Well, I was debating whether or not I should stay since the opening when I saw Wicked, and really, I regret staying.

#6

re: Unexpected openings..

Posted: 1/11/08 at 11:33pm

Also, when Mamma Mia's overture begins the audience all jumped back. I was in Standing Room so it was quite a funny sight.

#7

re: Unexpected openings..

Posted: 1/11/08 at 11:38pm

Lizzie always has the right thing to say

Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE

#8

re: Unexpected openings..

Posted: 1/12/08 at 12:04am

Yeah, I'm ashamed to admit that Mamma Mia! made me jump. I was right next to a speaker...and yeah, definitely unexpected.

#9

re: Unexpected openings..

Posted: 1/12/08 at 2:03am

They always did the first chord of 'The Who's Tommy' before the lights went down, I saw it 5 times and it always made me jump in my seat.

I killed the boss, you don't think they're gonna fire me over a thing like that!!!!

#10

re: Unexpected openings..

Posted: 1/12/08 at 2:10am

i caught the Avenue Q tour, and I jumped at the first chord!

#11

re: Unexpected openings..

Posted: 1/12/08 at 2:17am

LOL, blaxx, I just don't startle easily at all. I'm the worst nightmare of people who like to come up behind others and scare them, because it just doesn't work with me.

"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt

#12

re: Unexpected openings..

Posted: 1/12/08 at 2:18am

Not so much for the opening of the show, but the beginning of Act II in the recent Cyrano revival!

Talk about being "in the middle of warfare." Very, very effective.

#13

re: Unexpected openings..

Posted: 1/12/08 at 3:11am

Mamma Mia was pretty loud.

#14

re: Unexpected openings..

Posted: 1/12/08 at 3:16am

AIDA, right before Amneris sings, "This is the story of a love that flourished in a time of hate."

It practically gave me a heart attack in the theatre.

"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad

"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)

Updated On: 1/12/08 at 03:16 AM

#15

re: Unexpected openings..

Posted: 1/12/08 at 9:12am

Even though it's not the beginning of the show, the beginning of the overture scares me in The Phantom of the Opera.

I'm expecting a big chord to scare me, and when the guy says, "Gentlemen!" I just get chills.

"Hey, you! You're the worst thing to happen to musical theatre since Andrew Lloyd Webber!" -Family Guy

#16

re: Unexpected openings..

Posted: 1/12/08 at 11:01am

The beginning of Mamma Mia did scare me, even the entr'act scared me too.

#17

re: Unexpected openings..

Posted: 1/12/08 at 11:05am

I was 11 when I saw MAMMA MIA on the pre-Broadway tour at the Shubert (I miss that theatre). I was so scared when the overture began and the waves moved. The entr'acte scared me ****less as well.

"I saw Pavarotti play Rodolfo on stage and with his girth I thought he was about to eat the whole table at the Cafe Momus." - Dollypop

#18

re: Unexpected openings..

Posted: 1/12/08 at 11:12am

Footlose in the UK has no announcement it just starts with bang and then in to the music for Hero.

Bad Girls the musical also started whilst the lights were up so they were no warning, all of a sudden you just heard a cell door bang shut, i nearly flew in to the pit lol

Namo i love u but we get it already....you don't like Madonna

#19

re: Unexpected openings..

Posted: 1/12/08 at 11:46am

Haha 'Bad Girls' was a rare one that got me too!

The big jump for me was and still is the whistle for 'Sweeney Todd' at Londons Drury Lane- it got me 4 times!

A young actress with Noel coward after a dreadful opening night performance said to him 'Well, i knew my lines backwards this morning!'' Noels fast reply was ''Yes dear, and thats exactly how you said them tonight'!'

Updated On: 1/12/08 at 11:46 AM

#20

re: Unexpected openings..

Posted: 1/12/08 at 1:08pm

...my ex's!

#21

re: Unexpected openings..

Posted: 1/12/08 at 2:20pm

The opening whistle of the original Sweeny Todd.

"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>> “I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>> -whatever2

#22

re: Unexpected openings..

Posted: 1/12/08 at 2:58pm

the beginning of the second act at Jersey Boys!

to keep up the "rock concert" incredible feel of the show, they just began to play BIG MAN IN TOWN! took me by surprise!

#23

re: Unexpected openings..

Posted: 1/12/08 at 3:44pm

Not proud of it, but The Lion King. When She just starts like that... a little spooky. Also, Cats, when they pop out like that.
You know what, I'm just not proud that I saw either of these...

"I think of avant-garde as downtown shows where you rub waffles and chocolate on yourself."- Hunter Bell

#24

re: Unexpected openings..

Posted: 1/12/08 at 4:12pm

to keep up the "rock concert" incredible feel of the show, they just began to play BIG MAN IN TOWN! took me by surprise!

Actually, it's an instrumental of "Oh, What a Night," (not that sudden, either, IMO) which then leads into "Big Man in Town."

"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt

#25

re: Unexpected openings..

Posted: 1/12/08 at 4:41pm

Hahaha! I love Mamma Mia!

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