For me it's The Light in the Piazza. The score is the most beautiful thing I've ever heard in my life. It's transcendent. It's taken me to places inside myself that I didn't know existed, or had long forgotten were there. I can completely relate to Clara. I don't have a brain injury, but I have a learning disability which does keep my naive and childlike in some ways. Every time I watch to listen to Piazza, I notice something different. I appreciate more each time, always when I think it's impossible for me to love it more than I already do. Watching or listening to it is like meditating for me. It helps me find the inner peace inside myself.
I think it was Kiss of the Spider Woman, it was so political, dark, yet the fantasy of musical theatre and movies. Fantastic. Lately I was moved by The Apple Tree, the old musical number of Passionella moved me, not sure why. The Vertical Hour was also very political and moving, as well as the passion of these dancers trying to "make" it in A Chorus Line. Also the acting and singing in Grey Gardens.
"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one".
-Felicia Finley-
I would have to say Death of Salesman with Brian Denehey. Probably, the greatest acting I have ever witnessed in my life. The show was such an emotional roller coaster. Everyone in the production was just flawless.
I can't say what moves me the most persay, but lately Nine has been very good. I teared up the other day just listening to the last few lines of Follies and then the applause. That show hits me pretty hard along with Parade, Ragtime, and Caroline or Change.
Bernadette's Gypsy. I have never been so drawn in to an actor's performance or so affected by it. Her portryal of Rose taught me so many things about myself and helped me do things that I wouldn't have done if I hadn't seen it.
Nathan Lane in Butley. His acting was terrific and the only reason it even got mixed reviews, was because Nathan is now getting type cast as Mr. Funny Man on broadway. Does anyone e;se remember his performances in Love! Valour! Compassion!, or maybe even Lips Together, Teeth Apart? He is more than just The Lion King, The Producers, and The Birdcage. His performance was superb in every way possible and that is just my honest opinion.
"I'm tellin' you, the only times I really feel the presence of God are when I'm having sex and during a great Broadway musical." - Nathan Lane - Jeffrey
"Bernadette's Gypsy. I have never been so drawn in to an actor's performance or so affected by it. Her portryal of Rose taught me so many things about myself and helped me do things that I wouldn't have done if I hadn't seen it."
I agree 1000%. As an individual performance, nothing will ever begin to top that for me.
JOURNEY'S END! Although I have felt a lot of emotion in the theatre, there are very few times when I have actually been moved to tears. JOURNEY'S END brought me to tears numerous times throughout the course of the play, and is the singular most moving piece of theatre from start to finish that I have seen. It opened me up to a side of war that we don't often see or think about. It opened me up to how war has changed over time.
I've never felt more for a group of characters in ANY show than I did for this one. They are brilliantly written and brilliantly brought to life in this production. Other shows have moments that get me, but this entire show hit me in a place that I wasn't ready for.
Go see it if you can. You will not be sorry.
"If you've got something to say, say it, and think well of yourself while you're learning to say it better." - David Mamet
I cried during the first act of Ragtime. Also, I really don't know the reason, but I started getting teary-eyed during the finale in A Chorus Line. I was just so moved by it...
"Hey, you! You're the worst thing to happen to musical theatre since Andrew Lloyd Webber!"
-Family Guy
Man of La Mancha Closing Night. Everyone was beyond excellent that night, espedcially Brian Stokes Mitchell and Ernie Sabella. There was huge applause for many of the songs, particularly for "Man of La Mancha" and "The Impossible Dream".
My avatar = A screencap from Avatar, arguably the greatest animated show of all
Ragtime never fails to move in me in so many ways. From the opening number, through "Your Daddy's Son" up til "Back to Before", I cry every time. And when little Coalhouse comes out at the end, buckets of tears. My Mama Rose will always be Tyne Daly. She tore my heart out of my chest. Her "Everything's Coming Up Roses" was heartbreakng, and her bows when the applause dies down after "Rose's Turn" really brought that number to it's knees. One of the greatest performances I've ever seen.
I killed the boss, you don't think they're gonna fire me over a thing like that!!!!
Spring Awakening. I remmber gripping onto my friend next to me at a lot of the points of the show. It was like watching my life right in front of my eyes. It's a show that anyone can see if they are into theatre or not. It is very moving and very thought provoking.
"Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?": Kathleen Turner and Bill Irwin still have me thinking about them and the power of theatre acting two years later. I laughed, I cried... It was the most incredible experience.
"Sweeney Todd": My favorite musical, but that besides, I felt so much a part of the show because of John Doyle, and during "A Little Priest" I thought I was going to die of joy.
'Sunday in the Park with George' in London. There was so much attention to the important litle moments throughout that it really heightened the emotion at the end...
Les Miserables and A Chorus Line, for sure. Also, I found Elaine Stritch: At Liberty to be one of the most moving theater experiences for me. I don't think I've ever seen such an honest, self-aware performance.
"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg."
-- Thomas Jefferson
I think everyone who knows me on this board will correctly predict what I'm going to say. It's Grey Gardens for me. I really connect with both women in a very intimate way. I have never looked so deeply inside myself during a show or after, for that matter. The poignant "Around the World" reduces me to tears and "Will You?" has me crying as well.
I'd have to say "History Boys" is my favorite straight play. I was teaching when I saw it and identified with Hector pretty well, as well as De La Tour's character, Prof. Tottenham. Very interesting look at "good teaching" and what practical knowledge vs. "other" (bar knowledge) is.
But, GG is really the show that has done the best job of moving me-it takes me to uncomfortable places at times. Very powerful stuff.
"A birdcage I plan to hang. I'll get to that someday. A birdcage for a bird who flew away...Around the world."
"Life is a cabaret old chum, only a cabaret old chum, and I love a cabaret!"-RIP Natasha Richardson-I was honored to have witnessed her performance as Sally Bowles.
First: THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA because it is so beautiful. Everything about it is just so amazing. Second: COMPANY. Partially because some of the themes hit very close to home when I saw it, and also because Raul is just so amazing. And I think perhaps his performance moved me more so than the show, but whatevs!
SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE. As a creative person, the eternal struggle to find one's voice and break through to something new hit every nerve in my body, and continues to do so with each hearing of the score, each viewing of the video and with every production I've ever seen, from the original Broadway to several extraordinarily good college and community productions.
Cheyenne Jackson tickled me. AFTER ordering SoMMS a drink but NOT tickling him, and hanging out with Girly in his dressing room (where he DIDN'T tickle her) but BEFORE we got married. To others. And then he tweeted Boobs. He also tweeted he's good friends with some chick on "The Voice" who just happens to be good friends with Tink's ex. And I'm still married. Oh, and this just in: "Pettiness, spite, malice ....Such ugly emotions... So sad." - After Eight, talking about MEEEEEEEE!!! I'm so honored! :-)
Currently: Journey's End. Past: Sunday in the Park at Menier Choc. factory in London, Coram Boy, and oddly anough "Till Him" from the Producers the first time I heard Broderick sing it in its CHicago tryout. One of those rare moments where you realize you are crying once the song has ended.