Most creative/interesting curtain calls you've seen?

[aces25]

What are some of your favourite, most interesting curtain calls you have seen? 

[BwayLB]

Hairspray You Can’t Stop the Beat encore

High School Musical Megamix

Grease featuring Taylor Hicks

Mamma Mia

La Cage’s Best of Times reprise

42nd Street

A Chorus Line kickline

The Music Man featuring some local school marching bands

Jersey Boys Oh What A Night

Motown

Billy Elliot

White Christmas

[BalconyClub]

Well, my answer is very incomplete because I do not remember the show title, nor the theatre, nor the year!

But it was definitely in Chicago maybe 20 or 25 years ago either at Victory Gardens or Body Politic.

There may have been 4 to 6 performers in the dramatic play. The show was a satisfying downer.

At the end of the play, the performers slowly came out one at a time - stone faced with blank looks - then as soon as the stage was full, the performers slowly exited the stage one at a time.

The audience shared genuine applause, even though the performers did not acknowledge the clapping. It was a haunting way to end a great evening of theatre.

[SomethingPeculiar]

MAME curtain call had the ultimate star-treatment: whole cast takes their individual bows, then a group bow, and THEN the leading lady makes her entrance in a costume that hasn't been used previously, greeting her co-stars, bowing to them, and bowing to the audience. Only a special kind of star could pull off this type of curtain call without it seeming entirely self-indulgent.

Finale starts around 3:25

[dearalanaaaa]

Spongebob! In my second they had a bubble blaster, orchestra has streamers and beach balls and the balcony got bubbles too! I loved it, it was so much fun and not only that but everybody did a bow and had a dance party. Slater did a worm, and everybody just looked like they had so much fun and were having a blast.

[SweetLips22]

SomethingPeculiar said: "MAME curtain call had the ultimate star-treatment: whole cast takes their individual bows, then a group bow, and THEN the leading lady makes her entrance in a costume that hasn't been used previously, greeting her co-stars, bowing to them, and bowing to the audience. Only a special kind ofstarcould pull off this type of curtain call without it seeming entirely self-indulgent.

Finale starts around 3:25"

WOW! The energy,the precision, the timing to get that correct. And the best for me was how on the final bow, when she was down, the head lifted, then the body rose enveloped in all that 'swansdown'?

 

[poisonivy2]

The Band's Visit - the band plays 

[markypoo]

Rags, 1986, Hellinger.

Teresa Stratas stood on stage from the beginning of the curtain call, applauding both the chorus and supporting cast, and then took her bow.
Magnificent.

[Dollypop]

It was a high school production of WEST SIDE STORY in the 70's. At the cast's suggestion, there was NO curtain call. They didn't want to ruin the mood. Instead, Tony's body was carried up the aisle and out the door, into the parking lot. The audience sat in chilled silence.

[BroadwayMan5]

^^ I was just gonna comment that I think School of Rock is really creative with their curtain call

One thing I strongly dislike is when everyone bows together with no individual or group bows. I understand why some shows do that but I always feel a little cheated because there are always some cast members I want to show more enthusiasm towards than others.

[Jarethan]

I agree with Mame and would add the original curtain call for Hello Dolly to that.  They are admittedly essentially the same curtain call, but they are delightful in the extreme.

If one included 'One' from A Chorus Line, that would certainly be a candidate...the way the sole bows are worked into the number is brilliant.

Then there is 'Over Here' from 1974; after the traditional curtain call, the Andrews Sisters proceeded to perform a mini-greatest hits concert that the audience loved.  I saw the show 5 times, and both sisters appeared in each performance, so I don't know what they did when one was absent.  As enjoyable as the show was, that mini-concert was definitely the icing on the cake.

I did not see the revival of Lend Me A Tenor, so I don't know if they repeated the curtain call from the original production, in which the cast essentially performed a Cliff Notes version of the entire show in about 3 - 4 minutes.

Finally, I believe that -- regardless of what audiences ultimately think about the show -- Moulin Rouge is going to proceed close to the top of the list;  The curtain call, which goes on forever, is deliriously joyous and as over the top as one would hope for.

[SweetLips22]

One thing I HATE is when the audience claps along to the 'bow music' and there is no increased level of applause when a featured performer appears. My pathetic little clap is lost amongst the 'sea of claps' until the roar for the Star happens.

I just feel for the hardworking performer who misses out on hearing their usually well deserved applause.

Must learn to be a happy little clapper[along].

[singalongsong2]

The Hair revival curtain call was fun. The cast did a group bow, and then they had a dance party. The cast invited the audience to come onstage and dance with them. It was so joyous. It is not often that you get to go on a Broadway stage. At one point, they filmed the dance parties and posted them on their website. 

[singalongsong2]

Double post

[taylortrensch]

dearalanaaaa said: "Spongebob! In my second they had a bubble blaster, orchestra has streamers and beach balls and the balcony got bubbles too! I loved it, it was so much fun and not only that but everybody did a bow and had a dance party. Slater did a worm, and everybody just looked like they had so much fun and were having a blast."

I came here to say this! I love Spongebob's curtain call. I also really like Head Over Heels'! 

[Eastwickian]

SweetLips22 said: "One thing I HATE is when the audience claps along to the 'bow music' and there is no increased level of applause when a featured performer appears. My pathetic little clap is lost amongst the 'sea of claps' until the roar for the Star happens.

I just feel for the hardworking performer who misses out on hearing their usually well deserved applause.

Must learn to be a happy little clapper[along]."

I agree, though it’s the fault of the director and Musical arranger as I assume such moments are constructed and driven by the staging and bows music. I really liked the Donmar revival of Guys and Dolls in that respect - the bows music was the title number, but slowed down to such an extent it was impossible to clap along and forced the audience to applaud properly. It only sped up (‘kick-line’ style) when the principals came out at which point everyone gave full applause as expected. 

The curtain calls for the original London production of Our House were good fun - the final bows gave way to a rendition of One Step Beyond (which being almost lyricless hadn’t actually appeared the show properly) which allowed all the cast a featured dance moment and sent the audience out of a massive high. It was filmed by the BBC and released on DVD so I’m sure clips are out there somewhere...

[jessepp]

2000 revival of THE MUSIC MAN.  

[RaisedOnMusicals]

Several of the above but the one from a while ago i really remember is Matilda done on roller skates  

 

[ClumsyDude15]

I loved the Legally Blonde [Remix] mini reprise that the company would sing at curtain call. 

[geoffreyC]

Not especially creative, but Ginger Rogers' wonderful deep curtsy at the end of her performance in Mame was memorable.  

[mailhandler777]

Hair, Rock of Ages, Head Over Heels and Jagged Little Pill are a few of my favorite curtain calls.

[ChairinMain]

Every Element of Great Comet's, from the staging to how the music shifted for each character's bow to the quick moment of dueling accordians. Loved it. 

[EvanstonDad]

Not sure if it technically counts as a curtain call since it happens before the cast bows, but loved the little dance number in "Urinetown" immediately following "I See a River," after we're told everyone dies of drought. It was a great way for the show to make a serious point but still send everyone out on a high.

[Ravenclaw]

I've always loved how in Fosse's shows, every dancer gets their own bow. It happens in quick succession so it doesn't drag on forever. I think it's a really nice gesture that shows how much he valued each individual in his ensembles. If I remember correctly, they still do this in the current revival of Chicago, and the conductor announces everyone's name as they bow.

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

I love what they did with the scooters with Matilda.