What determines a show's standing ovation?- Page 2

[allofmylife]

Posted: 1/12/08 at 3:01pm

Nowadays, if the show isn't interrupted by a blackout, expect a standing ovation.

[BroadwayBound86]

Posted: 1/12/08 at 3:24pm

For me it really depends on the show and the performances the cast delievers. It's all a matter of personal opinion. If you feel the need to give one, don't hold back because no one else is standing. As people have stated before, you may be the first to get everyone else on their feet.

[winston89]

Posted: 1/12/08 at 3:27pm

As I had said before.

I do stand for the ensamble only because in most musicals they work the hardest and don't get a lot of credit for the work they are doing and that most people come to see or only care about the leads.

In every musical I have done I have been in the ensamble and I loath the fact that the leads get all the cheers and whatnot while we (the ensamble) didn't and we worked twice as hard as they did onstage.


I do think that more often then not tourists do it as a way to up and leave the theatre quickly. I find that to be rude and very disrespectufl.

I remember during Poppins my mom tried to use that as a way to get out and I had to stop her.

I do give standing ovations most of the time. When I saw yong Frank, despite the fact that I thought the material was weak, the cast did a wonderful job with it and I stood up. Due to the fact that I won lotto for that show the entier cast saw me and was greatful at the stage door because of it.

[Baiseur82]

Posted: 1/12/08 at 3:29pm

Every show I have seen with the exception of Wicked and Sweeney did not get a full standing ovation. It usually seems to me that if the show moved you or you really liked one of the actors stand. The only time I felt I should stand and did not was for hairspray I won the lottery tickets and I felt like if I stood I would literally be in the actors faces.

[biggest CHENO fan]

Posted: 1/12/08 at 3:34pm

Well, I started to stand up for Avenue Q (I had never seen the show and ADORED every single member of the cast) and my friend told me to "sit down" because it was embarassing. She thought it would be "distracting". Well, I should have stood up because in my opinion, that cast did a phenomenal job! Just curious, does Avenue Q get a standing ovation on Broadway (fyi-saw it in London) ?

[biggest CHENO fan]

Posted: 1/12/08 at 3:35pm

Well, I started to stand up for Avenue Q (I had never seen the show and ADORED every single member of the cast) and my friend told me to "sit down" because it was embarassing. She thought it would be "distracting". Well, I should have stood up because in my opinion, that cast did a phenomenal job! Just curious, does Avenue Q get a standing ovation on Broadway (fyi-saw it in London) ?

[BroadwayBound86]

Posted: 1/12/08 at 3:37pm

I do stand for the ensamble only because in most musicals they work the hardest and don't get a lot of credit for the work they are doing and that most people come to see or only care about the leads.

When I'm at the stage door I always try and catch as many of the ensemble members as I can to sign my Playbill as well. I remember when I was at one show and has asked and his response was a little surprised I asked and responded with "but I'm only in the ensemble...". I found that quite upsetting, the fact that people don't realize how much work it is even though it's an ensemble role. I think they are some of the hardest working people on stage, IMHO.
Updated On: 1/12/08 at 03:37 PM

[myManCape]

Posted: 1/12/08 at 3:38pm

Winston you were in the "ensamble"? Was a spelling test part of the requirement to get cast as a lead?

[roquat]

Posted: 1/12/08 at 3:46pm

Some critic once said that Broadway audiences always give standing ovations "to justify the mountainous cost of the evening out."

In regional productions, the standing O usually depends on how many audience members are related to/friends with the cast members. I recently saw a regional FOOTLOOSE which was one of the worst theatrical experiences of my life; practically the whole audience jumped up immediately at curtain call, and several gave me furious stares as I sat impassively and defiantly.

My own rule? Stand if the show (or an actor, or whatever) has significantly changed the way you look at life, if only for that one night. Otherwise, don't stand, and don't let anyone else intimidate you into standing.

[roquat]

Posted: 1/12/08 at 3:52pm

The show BLOOD BROTHERS is a special case; people stand for that show every time it is presented--in "stuffy" London, where it originated and became a hit; on Broadway, and in regional productions. That's partly because there are no opportunities to applaud individual songs in the show--every song either fades out or segues right into dialogue. The only times for the audience to release their emotions are at the act endings--and, after the stunningly tragic, inevitable resolution (and the show's best number) it's almost impossible not to leap up at once.

I once did a production of AIDA where the FIRST ACT got an ovation--right after the gospel number "The Gods Love Nubia." I'm not sure what to make of that...

[another_reprise]

Posted: 1/12/08 at 4:06pm

I know it's not Broadway, but I attended Geva Theater's production of Cabaret this week and was astounded when the audience gave it an immediate standing ovation. The production was exceptional, but it didn't sound like anyone else was enjoying it. There was barely any applause after the numbers and only a few chuckles at jokes. I guess I was wrong. As soon as the stage went dark, the entire audience leapt to its feet

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 1/12/08 at 4:32pm

ensamble

ensemble

loath

loathe

more often then not

more often than not

disrspectufl

disrespectful

entier

entire

greatful

grateful

[adamgreer]

Posted: 1/12/08 at 4:56pm

"I once did a production of AIDA where the FIRST ACT got an ovation--right after the gospel number "The Gods Love Nubia." I'm not sure what to make of that..."

I've seen that happen several times, at all levels, from Broadway to community theater. I've never seen a production of this show (whether it was good or bad) that didn't get a standing ovation. If the leads are played by exceptional singers, the audience ignores the plot-holes and terrible book, and gives it a standing ovation.

[heatherr]

Posted: 1/12/08 at 4:59pm

I find that on the West End, a show like We Will Rock You will automatically get a standing ovation... despite some completely mediocre performances. Whereas in a show that is truly deserving of a standing ovation, it just won't happen. I've often been one of only a few people standing.

[CyCoSpAz2]

Posted: 1/12/08 at 5:15pm

I thought the same thing at Avenue Q - the cast was phenomenal and there were very few people standing; other shows it just seems automatic.

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 1/12/08 at 5:17pm

there was a standing ovation for avenue q when i saw it on broadway. your friend should've stood up with you..unless he/she felt like they didn't deserve it.

i don't agree with the people who say standing ovations are meaningless. these actors perform 8 shows every week..it's hard to have the same amount of energy for each and every show..and most of them pull it off. that is commendable..plus the talent, i think they deserve one.

and i agree that the ensemble deserves credit too

[Kaybee]

Posted: 1/12/08 at 5:38pm

I stand out of respect. When an actor or an ensemble truly takes me somewhere in the show, I always feel like I somehow want them to know that I truly appreciate the time, energy and devotion it took for them to do that.

Although, I must say I generally find myself standing more often than not.

Funny story actually--I recently caught the Sweeney Tour in Miami Fl. I was sitting in the second row (Thank you student rush) and as the lights came up for the beginning of the bows I stood. ( along with many people sitting with me.) HOWEVER- the rest of the audience seemed much more concerned with getting out to their cars before the heat game (basketball) ended. At least 2/3 of the orchestra level was headed out the door DURING the curtain call!!!

They were gone before Judy Kaye even entered for her bow!

I was appalled... and apparently so was Lauren Molina. She literally laughed and her jaw dropped when she saw. She nudged Diana Dimarzio and threw her hands up in the air as if to say "Are you kidding me?"

They all kind of laughed in disbelief through the whole curtain call.

It truly made me ashamed to call myself floridian...

[biggest CHENO fan]

Posted: 1/12/08 at 6:28pm

"I find that on the West End, a show like We Will Rock You will automatically get a standing ovation... despite some completely mediocre performances. Whereas in a show that is truly deserving of a standing ovation, it just won't happen. I've often been one of only a few people standing."

^^^ And how depressing is that? Makes me sick!

[carolineorchange]

Posted: 1/12/08 at 6:33pm

"Some critic once said that Broadway audiences always give standing ovations 'to justify the mountainous cost of the evening out.' "

This is it entirely. The standing o's happen more often at shows that are filled with the majority of tourists. And you have to consider that families are paying $100 a person or more EACH to watch a show... SO you trick yourself into thinking that it was the best thing you've seen and stand up for it, because what fool pays $100 for something they don't like?

[biggest CHENO fan]

Posted: 1/12/08 at 6:40pm

Hmm...good point...

[SpellRENT777]

Posted: 1/12/08 at 7:11pm

Whenever I see a show, I only stand up when I didn't like it (or am in the last row). I didnt stand for Tarzan, Chitty, or most recently Avenue Q. None were up to par. But, if standing ovations are ways to judge if the audience throughly enjoyed the show, then judge it on how fast they get up. For instance, one of the times I saw Rent (on just a regular day), the audience, shot up right after that last note in the show. But with other shows, it takes a few curtain calls with the whole cast to get people standing. I dunno. Just my take.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 1/12/08 at 9:19pm

I've seen a standing ovation at A Chorus Line. /random fact


Whenever I see a show, I only stand up when I didn't like it (or am in the last row).

You only stand up for shows you don't like? I don't follow...

If I really like a show, I'll give it a standing ovation. If not, I just don't see the point.

[myManCape]

Posted: 1/12/08 at 9:23pm

Whenever I see a show, I only stand up when I didn't like it (or am in the last row).

You only stand up for shows you don't like? I don't follow...

He stands to boo. Its hard to throw those tomatoes from a seat, they travel a lot further if you stand up.

[nygrl23]

Posted: 1/12/08 at 10:45pm

I stood for Julie White at the end of Little Dog Laughed. No one else did, though. Dummies.

[FinalDestination]

Posted: 1/12/08 at 10:54pm

My school did Seussical-and if this is disrespectful, I'm sorry but I did NOT stand.

I was like "They spent three months on THIS?".

Everyone sounded bored or overacted, and a bunch of people's ideas of singing was SHOUTING.

Usually, professional shows I've gone to, there has ALWAYS been a standing ovation. Although, at Dirty Rotten Scoundrels some overly religious woman sat down saying that God would punish her for standing for such garbage.

Also, I've seen a show where there was Standing Room available and the people who didn't enjoy the show who were in Standing Room left as soon as the theatre blacked out.