The first time I saw Forbidden Broadway and my Father turned to me and said "This will be the show we will see together twice a year. It will be our thing." My Dad loved Forbidden Broadway and since his death I continue going for both of us.
The singing and orchestral music in 'Big River' stopped and there was 100% signing on stage. I sobbed. To see a cast of some black, some white, some deaf, some not bond the way they did, to have this incredible amount of friendship and love for one another defined the word "Ensemble." Nobody could've shown you what that was better than the Deaf West revival production.
"I know now that theatre saved my life." - Susan Stroman
I never imagined how emotional I could get when Rod said to Christmas Eve "I miss Nicky", in Avenue Q.
Also, in "Without You" from Rent, I was crying hysterically because of Angel dying...Those are the only two shows that *really* made me cry. La Cage made me sad, but I knew how it was going to be before I went into the theatre, but the other two, I really underestimated their emotional power.
And the other thing about the Phantom Lady was, Bert, she realized, in the city that never sleeps...
What did she realize, Kitten?
That all the songs she'd listened to, all the love songs, that they were only songs.
What's wrong with that?
Nothing, if you don't believe in them. But she did, you see. She believed in enchanted evenings, and she believed that a small cloud passed overhead and cried down on a flower bed, and she even believed there was breakfast to be had...
Where?
On Pluto. The mysterious, icy wastes of Pluto.
I started listening to the POTA soundtrack (on vinyl) right after it opened. I listened to it for years, and finally when it came to Cincinnati in 1994 I got to see it. That was the first show that I ever saw and it was an incredible experience.
When I saw Man of La Mancha with my 8th grade class. Both because it was very moving and because it was the last time I would be with my class in a big group before we graduated and we'd all known each other since kindergarten and it was the last night of our trip. So it was all a very nice experience because we ended the night with us all taking a huge group photo in Time Square at midnight with all the lights behind us.
I wanted to get something that an "ex"-junkie like him would really appreciate and cherish....it's a brick of heroin shaped like a heart.
-Scrubs
I hate hate hate to admit this, but Eden's Defying Gravity. Eep. I really don't like her, but the woman can sing. Acting, not so much. I think I was shocked at the power of the woman's belt. But I still think Brooklyn is trash.
Sutton's Gimme, Gimme. I, when- if.. what? I was dumbfounded by her. Wow. So much passion, so much HONESTY, it was electrifying.
Tonya Pinkins in Caroline, or Change. Her whole performance was sheer brilliance. Despites vocal problems. It actually kind of added to her hardness. Lot's Wife. WOW. And when she said, "And hell's where Jews go when they die". What a moment. I think I stopped breathing for a couple of seconds.
Cabaret's Tomorrow Belongs to Me. I ALWAYS cry during that song. Movie, live, sometimes listening to it. But I was so shaken during intermission seeing it live. Kudos to Kander/Ebb.
Honorable Mention: Brian Stokes Mitchell in Man of la Mancha. I sat there during the show thinking, "I will get to meet my idol after the show", and I was SO giddy. A bit too giddy, actually. The show was good too.
When I saw the tour of Cats, I knew for the first time I wanted to be on stage... so that has to be memorable.
But I Am My Own Wife...was utterly amazing. We arrived in New York about 10 minutes before curtain, had just enough time to jet up to the hotel room, run back down to TKTS, and arrive at the theatre on time, and for one of the greatest plays ever.
"what have we learned? Don't smoke... don't do drugs and don't sing 'Defying Gravity'." -CATSNYRevival
Most emotional was dozens of moments during John's last performance in Ave Q. When John's sitting along on stage as Princeton right before "There is Life Outside Your Apartment" as soon as the lights went up the audience applause went on forever. And when Rod tells Christmas Eve "I Miss Nicky."
Also, during Idina's "last" Wicked performance when she first walked out in the red trtack suit. After the applause finally went down, Joey said to her "I thought you'd never get here" (which is supposed to be Elphaba's line). And then Jennifer Laura Thompson says "fellow ozians...I love Idina Menzel." Fiyero said to Elphaba "We can never return to oz" and half the audience screamed out "YES YOU CAN"
Those 2 shows were the most emotional last shows I have ever seen, I dont think I'll ever forget what it felt like to be there
1) The finale of RENT 2) The entire production of THE NORMAL HEART 3) Raul Esparza singing "Why" in ttB. 4) The end of "Defy Gravity" in WICKED 5) "One Day More" from LES MIS 6) "How Many Devil's?" from THE CIVIL WAR
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away."
1.) Seeing Johnny in his second to last show of Avenue Q...no, it wasn't his last, but it was still very emotional, especially hearing him sing, "Everything in life is only for now" at the very end. Oh and when Rod comes out to everyone at the end...the looks on Johnny's face during that scene were hysterical.
2.)I'll Cover You(Reprise) from Rent, I couldn't stop crying.
3.)Seeing the number "The Phantom of the Opera" performed...it was my first show I remember seeing, and watching the boat drifting through the water was just spell bounding.
4.)Idina singing "Defying Gravity"...left me in tears.
"It's the smile you smile that counts, happy thoughts in large amounts, any problem you can trounce, you can bounce right back."--Donald O'Connor
I takes a lot for me to cry. When I saw Phantom for the 1st time with Michael Crawford (the LA cast) it blew my mind. I had never attend professional theater before so Phantom was one of the best experiences of my life. During Music of the Night I realised I was at the right show. And of course the end: OMG. I had never been so moved before in such a public place.
About 5 years ago in San Francisco I saw Rent. The I'll Cover You reprise also had me moved to tears. In fact I was very aware of all those around me who were touched to the point of crying. And of course the Finale of the show...incredible!
I saw a local production of Cabaret in which the choreographer of the shows my school puts on was the Emcee. Everyone loves this man in our drama program, he is unbelievably talented and kind (and kicks our ass with his choreography). Either way, he came out for the last scene, and never having seen Cabaret or even knowing the story before, i just lost it - bawling like a baby in the middle of the theater. It was incredibly moving.
my most memorable and funniest would be in 7th grade Annie Get Your Gun...the girl next to me (my best friend at the time) loved Reba and screams when she walks out "I LOVE YOU REBA" and Reba replied "why thank you" it was funny at the time.
Watching my Mom cry as Hugh Panaro sang the last notes of "Phantom." It was her first time seeing a big Broadway show, and she had that wide-eyed look we all know so well.
Personally, Darcie Roberts singing "Gimme Gimme" on the Millie tour. FAN-TASTIC! And Trey Ellet, on as Johnathan in TTB, singing "Why."
Oh yeah, and a little thing called Spamalot...but I won't even start that.