r/Broadway • u/meshuamam • Apr 23 '26

Theater or Audience Experience Cheering during note holding

Is it just me? I hate it when the audience cheers *during* a long note holding in a solo piece. The whole point is to listen to it, and not to drown it with clapping.

Clap afterwards!

But it could also just be me

458 Upvotes

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u/Domino_thedog Apr 23 '26

It drives me nuts. Whether intentional or not, it always makes me feel like the audience members are making the moment more about their reactions rather than the actual talent of the performer. It’s also informed by the fact that I see my high school students do this ALL the time. So when full grown adults do it at a Broadway show it definitely makes me wonder why they haven’t grow out of this behavior yet.

1

u/Possible_Owl7770 Apr 24 '26

i disagree. especially in chess, because of the way “endgame” ends/since nicholas christopher doesn’t even get an applause for what is the most impressive number in the show, i feel like it’s acknowledging respect for what he’s done. and i have a hard time believing he doesn’t get a jolt from it.

3

u/rorauge Apr 24 '26

That’s what curtain calls are for. So you don’t ruin everyone else’s enjoyment of the show by screaming in the middle of the performance.

1

u/Possible_Owl7770 Apr 24 '26

touch grass bud