middle of show standing ovations

[lancerpanz]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 3:00pm

I was just wondering what shows have had a standing ovation right after one or more of the songs? I heard that BKLN had some right after Once Upon A Time but I'm not positive about that. I was just so tempted to stand right after 'Sherry' in Jersey Boys - does this happen?

[QMAN03]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 3:02pm

When I saw Man of La Mancha, after Stokes sung Impossible Dream, there was like one minute of non-stop applause then about half the orchestra stood up. My mom still considers it one of her favorite moments inside a theatre in her life.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 3:04pm

When I saw Jersey Boys, after the combonation of Sherry, Big Girls Don't Cry, and Walk Like A Man, the mez and about half the orchestra stood up!

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 3:10pm

When Chita Rivera and Dick Van Dyke sang Rosie on "Chita Rivera The Dancer's Life", there was an instantaneous standing ovation.

[kec]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 3:11pm

The Boy From Oz, the song "Once Before I Go" -- When I saw the show in preview, (and I think it might have been the first time he sung the song at that point in the show), after Hugh finished, people were applauding like mad. Then people started getting up until the entire orchestra was on its feet. I saw the show twice more after that, and it was the same reaction.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 3:11pm

Nobody stood up during BKLYN when I saw it, except perhaps to flee the theatre.

DREAMGIRLS had one of the legendary middle of the show standing ovations which always started halfway through "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going." People were literally applauding and screaming and cheering and crying and standing on top of their seats with more than a minute to go in the number. In 35 years of theatregoing and 1000+ shows, I've never seen a reaction like that to another number, before or since. Not even close.

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 3:12pm

Three out of the six times I saw Gypsy, Bernadette got standing ovations. Probably due to the fact that I started a few of them...lol

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 3:13pm

That's the number I've heard stopped the show 9 times out of 10, Margo. No one I know who saw the original production fails to mention the show got a standing O there when they saw it.

Also, Linda Eder apparently received several standing Os in Houston after performing "A New Life" in Jekyll and Hyde, famously being pushed into actually encoring the number at one performance.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 3:15pm

Wow Margo, that sounds amazing! I would have loved to be there. Did the actress playing Effie keep in character and keep singing through the appalause?

[dirty rotten guy]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 3:20pm

Whene Christine Ebersole came out on the deck in the start of Act II of Grey Gardens. It was the final performance at Playwrights Horizons and she just got this instant standing ovation, without even saying a thing. That is one of my all time favorite theater memories.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 3:23pm

When I saw Guys and Dolls a while ago, Sit Down You're Rocking the Boat got a standing ovation.

I might add it wasn't broadway, it was a regional production.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 3:25pm

Oh yeah, all the Effies kept plowing forward with the scene and pouring out all that painful music despite the pandemonium in the theatre (when Holliday did it, I'll never forget that this woman ran up the aisle to the apron of the stage to cheer her on close up while the number was still going on -- I've NEVER seen that happen before). It was almost unbearably intense with electricity in the air of a type I've rarely experienced.

[Gpvegas]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 3:27pm

I have seen a few mostly on special days.

Harvey got one upon entrance during his last show
There were a few for Hugh at the last show of the Boy from Oz

Now on to 3 that I saw during a regular performance.

One was at the Altar Boys after Tyler Maynard sang Epiphany. That performance of that song was truly moving

The next was at Taboo after Raul sang Pertified. Again, a truly moving moment.

The last was at Dreamgirls in Philly during "And I am telling you."
Updated On: 5/26/06 at 03:27 PM

[circusliz]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 3:31pm

During Dirty Rotten Scoundrels after "Dirty Rotten Number." This was when Lithgow was in the show. I don't know if the combo of Butz and Pryce gets the same response...

Updated On: 5/26/06 at 03:31 PM

[broadway86]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 3:43pm

- "Rose's Turn" with Bernadette
- "Once Before I Go" with Jackman

I stood up after "Quiet Please, There's a Lady Onstage", and several other people followed.

Other than that, I've never seen a mid-show ovation.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 3:47pm

Once after "Rose's Turn" with Bernadette her final week.

Other than that single song, I can't really think of anything else I've seen that deserved one, let alone got one.

Of course, at TABOO's final performance, there were a handful.


Um...Tyler Maynard at ALTAR BOYZ? What? That song is touching? It's a comedic song...

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 3:50pm

"One was at the Altar Boys after Tyle Maynard sang Epiphany. That performance of that song was truly moving"

Yes, it happens frequently. It touches many people in the audience. One of the few serious moments in the show!

"The next was at Taboo after Raul sang Pertified. Again, a truly moving momen"

I totally agree! This was the most moving moment for me. He's a genius.

[WickedOne2]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 3:54pm

I saw Jersey Boys for the second time on Tuesday night and JLY got a standing ovation from a bunch of people in the Orchestra after Can't Take My Eyes Off of You.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 3:55pm

Final Broadway performances typically have several. Bernadette received S.O. after Rose's turn both times I saw it.

Of course Carol Channing got one after HELLO DOLLY on her last (?) tour.

[morningglory]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 4:03pm

A couple times when I saw Les Miz with J. Mark McVey as Valjean there were standing ovations after BHH. And well deserved, I might add. His voice is incredible!

[JoshuaEads]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 4:11pm

Gpvegas,

I, too, saw "Dreamgirls" in Philly and can honestly say that Effie received the warmest, most truly heartfelt ovation I've ever witnessed after "And I Am Tellin' You". The only other times I've witnessed a stop-the-show-standing-ovation were during "Wicked" (after Idina's "The Wizard and I" just before the Tonys) and "Rent" (after nearly everything about six years or so ago ... the Benny Tour ... rowdiest group I've ever seen a show with!) Also, I've seen a semi-standing-ovation a couple of times just after "Circle of Life" in "The Lion King". Usually just a few clusters of people, though.

~Joshua

P.S. - On the opposite end of things, have you ever expected a tremendous ovation after something or other and been surprised by a lack of response? That's happened to me a couple of times when I've gone to see a show. For instance, I was truly moved by Celie and Shug's duet "What About Love" the first time I saw "The Color Purple", which resulted in me jumping up, cheering, then immediately crouching low into my seat from embarrassment (sp?) when I realized I was the only one. Eh ... diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks, right?

Updated On: 5/26/06 at 04:11 PM

[mrslovett7]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 4:15pm

When I saw the La Cage revival after I Am What I Am, Gary Beach got a HUGE standing ovation. People were going insane!

At Patti's concert on Monday, she did all these songs form her CD but most were others, a lot of belting songs. This one she did was INCREDIBLE and people were jumping to their feet before she hit her final note.

[sybil7]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 4:16pm

Oh my goodness, Morningglory - - I, too, remember seeing Les Miz with J. Mark McVey and, yes, the SO after BringHH was so well deserved! It was the longest SO I can remember - ever. Wonderful voice!

[Gpvegas]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 4:21pm

Munk - What you are saying that humor can not be moving. I know the song is funny lyrically, but the subtext is what I find moving. I found the song extremely moving and amazingly performed and by the reaction of the crowd I was not they only one.

Just a FYI, Nova Payton played Effie in Philadelphia.

Updated On: 5/26/06 at 04:21 PM

[JoshuaEads]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 4:27pm

And she was fantastic! She actually reminded me a bit of Nell Carter when she sang - a younger Nell Carter - from back in her "Ain't Misbehavin'" days.

O/T - does anyone know if the proposed Atlantic City transfer of the Philly "Dreamgirls" is going to be a reality?

~Joshua