When have you seen a mid-show standing ovation? Obviously they happen a lot for first/last shows of a performer, opening/closing nights, etc but when have you experienced one that seemed to be out of affection for the performance?
The first that comes to mind for me is Andrea Martin in Pippin two years ago.
Hugh Jackman's "Once Before I Go" on the Boy from Oz, Patti's "Rose's Turn" and Aladdin's "Friend Like Me" are the ones I have personally experienced (and been a part of)
Andrea Martin got one when I saw Pippin in Cambridge. In her book she said people never stood until Broadway, but I KNOW she got one at the end of "No Time at All" and another when she exited the scene.
"A Musical" during Something Rotten.
"The Gods Love Nubia" in Aida.
"Rose's Turn" bot Patti and Imelda. Imelda's shocked me because she didn't receive entrance applause. It was so weird to hear "Sing out Louise!" not followed by applause, but people stood for her at the end of that song. Ironically there wasn't one during the curtain call.
I didn't stand for either of these, but two that I've noticed recently were for "A Musical" in Something Rotten! and during It's Only a Play for Stockard Channing's character right near the end. The It's Only a Play standing ovation looked to be a little under half the audience, while the one for "A Musical" seemed to be most of the house.
I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.
"Friend Like Me" would get them early in Aladdin's run; something about it felt manufactured rather than spontaneous, though. I don't know if it still occurs.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
I saw Alladin this past Jan and there was thunderous clapping and some folks stood up (but not the whole house) when James came out for the first time. Then a standing ovation after Friends like Me.
i was also in a Something Rotten performance in May where there was a standing ovation after the A Musical number (which I participated in) I thought this reaction had died down but was pleasantly surprised it happened in a show I was watching!
Yes, I recall Kiril Kulish getting a standing ovation after his ELECTRICITY when Billy Elliot was in previews. Also a standing ovation for Sam Faulkner as Billy in Maine right after his ELECTRICITY was one of the longest I've ever seen, and he just stood there on stage sobbing. It was one of those theater moments you'll never forget, though it was his final show so it does not meet your criteria. Still unforgettable.
At the end of the Anything Goes/Sutton Foster in Anything Goes.
Andrea Martin in Pippin.
And, the most unexpected (and probably my favorite) was not an actual show but was during Dreamgirls, the movie. Christmas Day (opening day) at Midtown Art Cinema in Atlanta. The perfect audience to see this movie with: half African American and half gay. The audience applauded after many of the numbers and stood applauding in the movie theatre at the end of And I Am Telling You. I know it was only a movie, but it WAS a magical moment!
James Monroe Iglehart in Aladdin and probably Blow Gabriel Blow with Sutton Foster in Anything Goes. I was right in one of the front rows, but there was an applause that lasted almost a minute. I didn't see the people behind me, but I'm presuming now it was a standing ovation.
When I saw Jersey Boys on tour in New Orleans in January 2013, "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" got a standing ovation. First time I had ever seen a mid-show standing ovation, and it was very much worth it. I stood too (no mean feat given my right ankle was in a full cast due to surgery a few weeks prior).
Andrea Martin's No Time at All immediately comes to mind. I think Brad Oscar got one, or came close to getting one, for A Musical when I saw it. Although I might just be remembering wrong. Maybe it was just thunderous applause.
I know that the roaring ovation after Kristin finished "Never" in ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY went on and on-- a true showstopping moment. A few standees, though it was not widespread.
A few people stood up for Andrew Rannells' last "I Believe," but it was never announced in the theatre that it was his last show, so it wasn't particularly fanfare-filled. (I was in standing room, so I was already standing!)
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