getting the final bow...

Bows are often contractual, and there can be other reasons besides the size of a role that determines the bow order. Often a replacement simply inherets the bow spot from the production's originators. Also, directors try and avoid any drop in applause during the curtain calls. The Beast may be a smaller role, but he's a more colorful role than Belle and is likely to get more applause. The Phantom and the Engineer are also both flashier roles than the leading ladies and are also more likely to get a bigger hand.

And what's the world coming to when a big chunk of metal on wheels gets the final bow over one of the most talented actors of his generation? ahem. (And I don't care that the show is called "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" and not "Caractacus Potts." )

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Updated On: 7/6/05 at 12:43 AM

so i never liked that the emcee got the final bow in cabaret until one production of it i was in where it was utterly clear that it was the emcee's show. he was orchestrating the whole thing. it was marvelous... and a revelation to me as a performer

you bowed after lola? i think when i did it applegate, joe hardy and lola were the last three? who went after you?

When I did Damn Yankees, Applegate was the last to bow.

When I played Applegate, the director had all 5 come out together (old joe, meg, young joe, lola and applegate) each couple took individuals bows together, then applegate.....sorry but that show is applegate's...he bow's last. Nothing like a bad curtain call..

If there's a lead couple, the man usually bows last because of "ladies first"

this is random... but i hate that word chided... only because i missed it in a spelling bee in the 8th grade... aaargh

In the London production of Grease a few years back a 'star' (read failed pop artist) played teen angel and had the final bow over Sandy and Danny. I was furious, but probably the only one that really cared in the whole theatre

It really is as much to do with the actors performance as much as the characters importance - Ian McShane had the final bow after the three witches in The Witches of Eastwick and I remember a dip in applause when he came out. When Clarke Peters took over, the balance was restored and the order worked.

True, true, but in ACL, the reprise of One IS the bows. It's listed in the Vocal Score as Bows.

Some calls are most definitely negotiated into the actor's contract.

"Last Star Bow" is a term for a solo call and the last one onstage. No one else is onstage when the star's entrance is made for their bow. Think most curtain calls for Rose at the end of Gypsy.

Solo Bow is when there company stays onstage and the star enters, bows, and then the company leaves stage (or the grand drape comes in, they leave and then it goes up again) so the star can have a solo bow. Then the company returns.

Yes, the bows are set by the director, but they are often mandated by agents doing their job. Some actors get solo bows (and featured billing) instead of more money.

What happens at the end of Wicked? Both actresses enter at the exact same time (or at least Idina and Kristen did), both walked down center and bowed at the same time. No one came onstage first, neither bowed last and neither took an extra bow. That's agentry. Also tact on management's part.

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