How often do you cry at musicals?

[Charley Kringas Inc]

I was thinking earlier today about how Fun Home wrecked me, and then I remembered all the other times that I cried at a musical and realized the ratio of musicals seen to musicals cried at was 1:1. I even cry when just listening to musicals. Am I an unusual cry-er, or does everyone else do this? Sondheim once talked about how he was the perfect audience member, because he cried at everything, which made me feel a little better about ugly-sobbing through Ring of Keys.

So, do you cry at everything? Or nothing? Are you more emotionally balanced than I am? What is it about musicals that provokes weeping, and why is it enjoyable?

[Call_me_jorge]

I feel like the only time I’ve ever actually cried was at Dear Evan Hansen.

[poisonivy2]

I cried at Dear Evan Hansen, Carousel, Fun Home and Fiddler on the Roof. I'm very close to my parents and any musical that deals with parents and children gets to me.

[tja928]

The Color Purple and Dear Evan Hansen got me good.

[BroadwayConcierge]

I well up rather often, but I don't usually full-out cry. The only times I've really cried in the theatre were at Hedwig, Hamilton, and The Color Purple.

I also cried at Hello, Dolly!, but just because it was so heavenly. A cloud-nine cry, not an emotional one.

Edit: I also cried at the 2009 revival of Hair. Forgot about that goodie.

[ColorTheHours048]

I cry often. A harmony, a strain of music, a particularly beautiful stage picture - lots of things about musical theatre make me teary. It’s such a heightened experience, a really good musical should set all your emotions into overdrive.

[theodora2]

When I saw Dear Evan Hanse, it came at a pivotal moment in my life, as I felt so alone and invisible. This show means to much to me, so when I saw it, I was crying so hard by the end.

 

I recently saw Next to Normal, and I was shaking I was sobbing so hard at the end.

[robskynyc]

—HAMILTON SPOILERS—

when phillip does, and they’re counting in French and Eliza sobs and collapses on top of him- every. damn. time.

[Cat Guy]

I can't think of a musical where I haven't cried.  Perhaps not full-out sobs, but definitely tears down the cheeks.

[bwayphreak234]

Never. The only time I even come close is when I get just a little teary eyed over something that is so overwhelmingly beautiful and perfect. For example, Sunday Clothes in Dolly.

[ArielSara2]

I cried through all of Come From Away. 

Every time I thought I was done crying... I wasn't.

[mxfish1313]

Almost always. Sometimes from a sad part, sometimes from a happy part, sometimes because the choreography and the music and the voices meld together perfectly and my body is desperate to be up there with them... as someone else mentioned, theater is about heightened emotions and I relate to that completely. If it makes me FEEL something, utterly and completely, it's going to get me going, eve if that feeling is elation rather than sorrow.

[pdjennings]

Cat Guy said: "I can't think of a musical where Ihaven'tcried. Perhaps not full-out sobs, but definitely tears down the cheeks."

^ THIS. Exactly. 

[Dave13]

Define crying. I have never cried uncontrollably or sobbing.

However, I often get choked up and teary eyed. 

[Impossible2]

I 'welled up' in Come From Away, Band's Visit and Evan, I was curled up in a ball sobbing at the end of Great Comet and was even worse on further viewings.

I find plays upset me far more than musicals. Amy and the Orphans, The Father and The Humans all had me almost choking in my seat.

[veraclaythorne2]

I definitely tear up during most shows, but there have been several where I was genuinely shocked by how emotional I became, we're talking messy,shaky sobbing: The Color Purple, Follies, Come From Away (maybe not shocking, that one), SpongeBob (seriously, "Best Day Ever" is a beautiful moment), and Cabaret. The last being the worst because it was initially just the ending that wrecked me, but every subsequent time I went, I would begin crying earlier and earlier in anticipation of what was to come!

[quizking101]

I've cried at certain moments and it means a show has really has done something special:
-The "Sunday Clothes" parade in "Hello, Dolly"
- "I'm Here" in "The Color Purple" revival
- Moritz's suicide in the "Spring Awakening" Deaf West revival
 

[Dollypop]

HELLO, DOLLY! but they're tears of unmitigated joy. (I no longer bring Kleenex to the show. I now bring half a role of Bounty paper towels--they really do absorb more!)

[Danielle49]

I well up more often during musicals than plays, mostly because of the magic and spectacle of it all, not because of what's happening plot-wise. SpongeBob, Dolly e.g.

At The Band's Visit I fully cried twice and was teary during Katrina Lenk's numbers. I cried a lot throughout Falsettos (Act 2 is RUTHLESS).

However, I was a mess (along with the rest of the audience) at the final performance of The Great Comet, particularly during Dust & Ashes, Balaga and the final two songs.

Well. Now that I realize it, I guess I'm always crying at the theater.

[tsondie21]

Every single time.

[dramamama611]

I cry all the freakin' time.   Hell, I cried at a stunning set design.

[JudyDenmark]

I feel like the majority of the time I will get choked up for one reason or another, but there are definitely a few where I downright sobbed.

Seeing Hamilton while Obama was simultaneously giving his final speech in office... that one was rough.

DEH the second time... I was having a day and it spoke to me.

I was an absolute mess during the ballet at the end of Tuck Everlasting. I had to take a minute to collect myself after that one.

The Song of Purple Summer in Deaf West's Spring Awakening. Pretty much that whole show. 

Once On This Island, though that recording has been making me cry since 1991, so the first time I saw this revival I knew I'd be a goner from the first chord. haha

The usual suspects of Fun Home, Color Purple, Les Mis....

I like a good cry, but I also like (and prefer) a good moment of chills, or something that makes me grin ear to ear. 

[kade.ivy]

Full-on sobs at the end of seeing Hamilton, and I almost always cry when I listen to “One Last Time.”

Teary-eyed and chills at Dear Evan Hansen and Waitress.

Surprising tears of joy when I saw The Sound of Music at the Stratford Festival a few years back. It was just a glorious production. Stephanie Rothenberg (who appeared in the Radcliffe H2S revival and is now associated with Anastasia) was the perfect Maria.

Fully expect to add to this list when I make my trip next week!

[A Canadian in NYC]

Reading everyone's responses makes me feel so much better because I cry all the time at shows.  At Hedwig and Hamilton I had tears streaming down my face.  DEH had me almost at ugly cry.  I knew better the second time I saw it and brought Kleenex.  Falsettos had me well up.

The one that reall caught me by suprise, in a good way, was "Sunday" in Sunday In The Park With George.  I'd knew nothing about the musical and had not previously listened to any recordings,  so when THAT happened, I was so overwhelmed with the staging and the beauty of the song I just broke out in tears.  It was such a joyful moment for me.  I listen to the 2017 cast recording all the time and that song always has me well up.  

[KnewItWhenIWasInFron]

"Sunday" always gets me, too but I cry pretty often at musicals: "Follies," "Sweeney Todd," "A Chorus Line" (although at a dialogue scene, every time) and, most recently, "The Band's Visit" this week.