What happened to applause during a song?

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 7:43pm

Well, I'm not even sure if it existed during a live performance, after watching so many clips from Broadway: The Lost Treasures, I can't help but to notice the wonderful audience reaction at the climax of the song (i.e. Willkommen's last verse)

If it didn't happen and only at Tonys, then I'm sorry to ask...

I know it happens sometimes (like Defying Gravity), but it just seems like the audience nowadays are totally different...

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 7:49pm

And what exactly are you asking?

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 8:01pm

lol. I thought my post wasn't clear.

I was just wondering, since what time did they stop happening? I know it was a random question.

[pab]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 8:07pm

I assume that you are talking about the "end of song" - "break" - "applause" - then the continuation of the show?

Updated On: 8/4/06 at 08:07 PM

[Yero]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 8:09pm

I think he's talking about the audience clapping DURING a song, hence the title of the thread.

Updated On: 8/4/06 at 08:09 PM

[bare_nakedlady]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 8:09pm

I went to see the Color Purple and (possible spoiler) each time when Sophias sisters came out during 'Hell No' and the one is polishing the gun the audience clapped. It was crazy. I loved it.

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 8:15pm

"I think he's talking about the audience clapping DURING a song, hence the title of the thread. "

Yup. Another example of the applause that I'm talking about is during Show Off, when Sutton Foster puts on her final dress and after the drumroll, she starts singing "I don't want to show off no more!"

I really love those moments, and I just wish more shows would include old-fashioned show-stopping numbers where there's a silence (more like a drumroll) then the final verse or two.

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 8:25pm

I don't think I've ever seen a show where people applaud DURING a song.

I'd think it would ruin the moment.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 8:27pm

Two reasons:

1) There has to be a moment deserving such a reaction. I personally wouldn't do this at all, unless it was REALLY special... like Jennifer Holliday's "And I'm Tellin' You." It borders on audience participation if it's overdone (or even worse, it borders on "American Idol" -type reactions), which I find offensive and disruptive.

2) Habit or behavior. Most audiences today have been raised on TV or film, not theatre. They're not as likely to burst into applause, even at the end of a song, and sometimes I've seen audiences that needed to be reminded they were watching a live performance and not a video or film.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 8:30pm

It still happens, but it depends on the song. It's much more likely to happen in a musical comedy, especially in a big dance number, i.e. 42nd Street.

[TomMonster]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 8:33pm

Start a kick line and they will always applaud...I still don't get that.

I agree with Best12Bars. I've been to many shows where audiences had no idea what they were watching was 'live'. Sad.

[hermionejuliet]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 8:33pm

I've seen people applaud during songs, but I agree that it is distracting. I don't even understand that type of reaction at concerts. I mean don't you want to hear that long or high note instead of clapping through it?

[pab]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 8:44pm

"I think he's talking about the audience clapping DURING a song, hence the title of the thread."

Yes, well the original post was so very clear that I'm happy someone know what it was about.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 8:47pm

I think most of the applause you speak of was because the clips were taken from the Tony Awards where audience reaction is always "heightened." Updated On: 8/4/06 at 08:47 PM

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 9:01pm

I don't think anything ever really happened to it.

During "Show Off," it happens because Janet continues to do so many tricks that the audience is overwhelmed and just has to cheer.

During "On My Own," it happens if/while Eponine holds out the high "never known" note forever, like when Diana Kaarina did it in the last few shows on Broadway.

During "Love Is My Legs," it happens when Christine opens the doors to the hotel because it's just so corny and funny and the chorus is waiting behind the doors. The audience is just compelled to cheer.

It happens for so many reasons in so many different shows, but I haven't seen any less applause now than I did years ago.
Updated On: 8/4/06 at 09:01 PM

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 9:05pm

Applause in the middle of "On My Own" is totally unappropriate, I don't care how well sung.

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 9:20pm

Regardless of whether the applause is apropos to the situation on stage or not, my point is just that I personally haven't seen it disappear in the last few years, which was the main question of the thread.

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 9:29pm

I don't like applause in the middle of a song. It make's the performer hard to hear what they are singing and can put them a few beats behind in the music. I personally find it really annoying.

[SNLMedia]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 10:07pm

TomMonster, I've noticed that trend too. Any live performance that features a kick line will always elicit applause from the audience. It's guaranteed.

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 10:39pm

During Love is My Legs I think it is OK to laugh and cheer. I meant that when somebody is in the middle of a verse it's, not right to applaud no matter how well they are singing,hitting a high note,holding a note etc.
Updated On: 8/4/06 at 10:39 PM

[xoxRogue]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 10:49pm

Well, when I saw Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, during "All About Ruprecht" there was a huge show-stopping applause at the Bush line.

[MrSweetNAwful]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 12:47am

On a certain website of "ill repute" there is footage of One Day More from the final broadway performance of Les Mis, and the crowd bursts into roudy applause throughout the whole thing! It gets way too crazy.
If you want see go to said site and search "One Day More Broadway"

Updated On: 8/5/06 at 12:47 AM

[mustard]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 12:47am

Start a kick line and they will always applaud...I still don't get that.

Haha. Especially an all-male kickline. They practicaly fall out of their seats!

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 12:52am

I agree about the kick line. Ain't it strange?

Must be a "Pavlov's dogs" kinda thing.

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 12:54am

I've officially decided that B12B is the funniest poster.

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