11 O'Clock number question- Page 2

[mattvcrewse]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 4:45pm

Mythus has had the most true definition of an 11 o' clock number. It doesn't matter if it is a solo, ensemble, torch song, or WHAT kind of song it is. The 11 o' clock number is meant solely to engergize the audience for the last stretch of the show, whether it is to keep them awake, or to keep them interested. It can even be a ballad.

[clarkstallings]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 5:27pm

"A Change in Me" is not in the beginning of the first act. It's prior to "The Mob Song" right near the end of the show.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 5:29pm

Wow. So we have some slightly different opinions of this one, eh?

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 6:44pm

"Brotherhood of Man" is a classic 11:00 number.

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 7:18pm

Yep, that's a great one :)

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 7:35pm

I'm so glad I get to sing it.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 7:39pm

And you can't forget Max Bialystock's own 'Roses' Turn,' 'Betrayed'

It is the classic definition of an 11 O'Clock number.

Updated On: 3/27/05 at 07:39 PM

[Mythus]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 7:50pm

There actually was a "Rose's Turn" homage in "Betrayed", but it was cut out during previews because they couldn't get the rights, or something. I remember reading about it in Jeffry Denman's book.

[apdarcey]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 8:26pm

and the new one of course... 'diva's lament'...

[TheGaIsSilent]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 8:38pm

apdarcey, I think you're confusing a big numbmer with an 11 o'clock number. "Diva's Lament" comes mid-way through Act Two, and has several BIG numbers after it.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 8:43pm

Mythus--It was Arthur Laurent's who made them take out the reference Nathan made to 'Rose's Turn' in 'Betrayed.' Sondheim had actually given them his blessing, but supposedly Laurents heard about it and/or saw it and made sure it was taken out. Something about not wanting to have audiences laugh everytime Gypsy was revived and Rose started in on 'Rose's Turn.' It was taken out halfway through the Chicago run.

Updated On: 3/27/05 at 08:43 PM

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 8:49pm

How did the "Gypsy" bit in Betrayed go?

[CastAlbumFan]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 10:01pm

Someone said the 11'o'clock number from KISS ME, KATE was "Always True to You (In My Fashion)", but I'm quite sure it's "Brush Up Your Shakespeare". Note that it's sung by the two gangsters, not the main characters.

[catstagestud]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 10:07pm

Not sure about the Beauty and the Beast one. I'd probably say the Fight Scene where everythings going on. That'll wake up anyone with all that loud noise. LoL Some of the numbers that were mentioned I'm not sure are. "I Know Where I've Been" is specifically called the 11 o'clock number by the writers and they explained how they thought that Tracy as a person wouldn't want the spot light for it and that's why Motormouth has that number. I thought "Written in the Stars" was the 11 o'clock for Aida though...not 100% sure though I guess...hhhmmmm...Would you all agree "A New Life" would be Jekyll and Hyde's?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 10:17pm

Historically, I think the phrase "11:00 Number" came about in the 1930s/40s and specifically referred to the leading lady's final number -- which was also usually her best of the evening.

"Blow Gabriel Blow" - Ethel, ANYTHING GOES
"The Saga of Jenny" -- Gertrude, LADY IN THE DARK

Would be two early examples of this.

Obviously, that term has kind of opened up -- almost every musical has some kind of big number in the last ten minutes of the show, but I'm not sure they really qualify as "11:00 Numbers" in the traditional sense...

Some of my favorite "11:00 Numbers"

"Rose's Turn" -- GYPSY
"The Music that Makes Me Dance" -- FUNNY GIRL
"Home" -- THE WIZ
"So Long Dearie" -- HELLO DOLLY
"The Bus from Amarillo" -- WHOREHOUSE
"Never Go Back to Before" -- RAGTIME
"Cabaret" -- CABARET






Updated On: 3/27/05 at 10:17 PM

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 10:18pm

I'd say "I know the truth" for AIDA.

[catstagestud]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 10:29pm

Reall "I Know The Truth"? That's one hell of a song but not sure it has the power of what "Written in the Stars" or even "Elaborate Lives (Reprise)" has... "How Could I Ever Know" is that The Secret Garden's? And then there's of course "Til There was You" for Music Man.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 10:42pm

Not EVERY musical has an eleven o'clock number unless you are going by a song being sung literally at 11:00.

I wouldn't consider "Till They Were You" or "How Could I Ever Know" to really be 11:00 numbers, though they are the emotional pinnacle of their respective shows.
Updated On: 3/27/05 at 10:42 PM

[Rentaholic2]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 4:13pm

If the Lion King has an 11:00 number, could it possibly be Shadowland? I know it's pretty early in Act II, but it seem to really fit the description otherwise.

I'm trying to make a CD of the best 11:00 numbers. My favorites so far are Rose's Turn, Betrayed, and Gimme Gimme. All great examples.

[Pippin]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 4:54pm

"it's not how you start, it's how you finish" from Seesaw is one of the best 11 o'clockers ever written.

[tim10086]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 5:18pm

I'm very surprised that no one has mentioned The American Dream. I always thought that was the 11 o clock of 11 o clocks.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 5:59pm

I think Lion King's would be He Lives In You reprise, because it's a big song that also sets up the finale.

[mrkringas]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 6:02pm

Re The Lion King.... surely its Endless Nights?

This is one whole area that is hard to generalise. However i think there is one rule... you know an 11 o'clock number when you see or hear it!

Some picks of mines would be

Your Eyes from Rent
The Legacy from On the 20th Century
Il Adore from Taboo (London)
Title song from Kiss of the Spiderwoman
All the Wasted Time from Parade
Send in the Clowns from A Little Night Music
This Nearly Was Mine from South Pacific

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 6:17pm

Miss Saigon's 11 O'Clock number is that final song Kim sings before she shoots herself I think. I think Lion King's 11 O'Clock number is "He Lives in You". I think the best definition for the 11 O'Clock number as we know it now is that number that comes towards the end of the show where the character has their moment of epiphany. Some shows don't have one (Sweeney Todd doesn't have one, "Not While I'm Around" is definitely not an 11 O'Clock number). I like them better when they are star turns for the main character (or at least about the main character) personally because that is the story I am invested in. Otherwise they kind of stop the show dead. That happens in Hairspray (wait, all of the sudden we're going to be serious?).

Not gonna lie, one of my favorite 11 O'Clock numbers is "Gimme Gimme". Fun song!

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 6:18pm

People really get confused in this aspect, an 11 o'clock number is not an Act I finale or the first song in Act II. I'd say a rule of thumb for an 11 o'clock number is that it's the last song performed before the Finale, there's always some exceptions though.
My picks:
1.Rose's Turn-Gypsy
2.Back To Before-Ragtime
3.Anything You Can Do-Annie Get Your Gun
4.Kiss of the Spider Woman-Kiss of the Spider Woman
5.No One Is Alone-Into the Woods
6.So long Dearie-Hello,Dolly!
7.Spanish Rose-Bye Bye Birdie