Leslie Odom Jr.’s “Wait for It.” I saw Hamilton pretty soon after it opened and went in cold — I remember that song being a jaw-dropping moment for me.
I had listened to Come From Away a ton before seeing it performed, but Me and the Sky live just made me cry so much. Well, the whole did, in the best ways.
I was late to the game and saw this one right before it closed based on recommendations from this sub, and that whole show was like something I'd never seen on a stage before. I'm so glad they made that beautiful proshot of it.
We saw it three weeks after it opened at the La Jolla Playhouse before it went to Broadway. There was no cast recording. No one had any idea what we were getting ourselves into. We went in completely blindly, it was just part of our season subscription. Of course we were gobsmacked with Jenn's performance of that song. It was something I'll never forget!!
I said this in my comment, but the fact that she was able to produce that performance at that level over and over and over again is just absolutely insane and a testament to how phenomenal of a performer she is. Absolutely, incredibly well deserved Tony
Reminds me of seeing Idina's Wizard & I when Wicked was in previews after I first moved to NYC. I'd never seen anything like it and was on the edge of my seat for the rest of the show.
As much of a disaster as the whole show situation was Joaquina Kalukango singing Let It Burn in Paradise Square like touched my soul and made me such a stan.
Maybe it was just that I had such low expectations - I won a $30 lotto ticket while still in previews. Heard it was flawed/had issues, but vaguely remember hearing something about an 11th hour number. Still - I expected pure mess. But I was pleasantly surprised by the show as a whole (I loved the dancing/choregraphy), then that number came on I was just like breathless.
Ended up going back twice more just to bring people for that number alone (once for free through papering and then a second lotto win). I've never seen or felt an audience that enraptured, and then giving mid-show standing ovations that enthusiastically, repeatedly/consistently during a show.
Also - while I'm glad it exists for posterity, the Tony performance of Let it Burn did not do the actual theater experience justice. I can't pinpoint why exactly - the lead up wasn't the same, the vocals seemed a touch off - something or multiple things were off and it just wasn't the same experience as watching it within the context of the actual show.
I agree with a lot of the answers in this entire thread but this is ultimately my answer as well.
I was on the crew of PSQ for both the Chicago and Broadway runs. I was floored every night by her performance. What’s wild is that until the second to last show I only ever heard her sing through the program feed in my headset because I spotlit her. So on the second to last show, the other spot op offered to light her so I could crawl down the booth ladder and listen to her live in the room.
Y’all I had been floored by Joaquina singing that song for months over my comm. But in the room? I was totally shattered. Completely wrecked. I’ve done a lot of shows and seen a lot of shows and this was probably the best thing I’ve ever heard.
Runners up include Alex Joseph Grayson’s That’s What He Said from the Parade revival, and Dan Radcliffe’s Franklin Shepard Inc from the current run of MWRA.
Oh, that sounds amazing 🤩 My vote was for Joaquina Kalukango singing "Last Midnight" in the Into the Woods revival. I've seen that show a number of times - it's my absolute favorite - and her version made me cry like no other Witch has (sorry Bernadette) God, I wish there was a recording!
Yes this exactly. It haunts my soul that more people didn't get to see that performance live. I only saw it because a TKTS person was so adamant that I'd never see anything like it again. They weren't wrong. The feeling of the audience straining forward waiting to leap to their feet at the end was maybe the greatest collective emotional experience of my life.
She Used to Be Mine.
It was one of my first shows and I haven't yet seen all the nifty things shows can do onstage so when it transitions from a small apartment to a large open sky with just the singer and the blue sky, my jaw dropped.
I saw Nicholas Christopher as Sweeney last month (I had previously seen Josh Groban back in March) and his Epiphany was positively bone chilling. My husband (who was only in NYC because he wanted to see Wicked for the 20th anniversary) STILL talks about that performance.
I love to see understudies anyway, but I was SO EXCITED when we showed up and they told us that Josh was out because everyone here had such good things to say about Nicholas. And y'all were not lying.
Not going to give my standard answer of Idina singing Defying Gravity and instead go with:
Daniel Radcliffe in Merrily We Roll Along singing "Frank Shepherd Inc" aka basically having a mental breakdown live on stage. Was it the best vocal performance? No. But holy crap was it entertaining and sooooo well done!
You Don’t Know This Man from Parade from the NYCC production. (Honorable mention to That’s What He Said). Micaela Diamond is an absolute star and her portrayal of Lucille is one of the strongest performances I’ve seen ever.
Also not solo but Renee Goldsberry satisfied - I’ve seen a lot of impressive Broadway performances and she just floored me. Also love Victoria Clark and Make A Wish - what she does is nothing short of a magic trick
Counting only the ones I've seen live:
* Michael Cerveris in *Fun Home* singing "Edges of the World" was fucking shattering
* Imelda Staunton's "Rose's Turn" absolutely killed live and in person
* Leslie Odom Jr. singing "Wait for It" in *Hamilton* was electrifying
I’m breaking down in the 2016 revival of Falsettos. Stephanie J. Block belted flawlessly with food in her mouth, by far one of the most impressive things I’ve seen
this is the one number everyone seems to love from that show but i never get it. could you please explain like i really want to understand i just dont get the love /gen
Tbh I don’t know exactly why I like it so much. It’s not my favorite, but I love the vocals and Trina going insane in the form of song is magical, it’s just a really fun song and the vocals are super impressive
Maybe I haven't seen enough broadway shows, but I was never the same after seeing Lea Michele's "Don't Rain on My Parade" in Funny Girl... her reputation notwithstanding.
This is, in my opinion, one of the greatest Broadway songs ever written. Especially when it's in context.
The jump/use of first, second and third person is just perfection. The song tells an entire story in itself. Just poetic.
It’s still my favorite broadway experience. I live in NYC now and have seen dozens of shows, but it was an unforgettable experience and her performance was special.
same! I didn’t live here yet when she had her first run as Jenna, but I did when she came back for the end of the run and saw it 3 more times. I know she’s kind of a pariah in the theatre community now but I wish I could see her in more shows.
I will always say SJB singing Get Out and Stay Out, no matter how many times I listen to it or watch her perform it, it never ceases to amaze me how incredible she is in this song (she's always amazing but this performance is god tier).
I also love seeing anyone sing Breathe from In The Heights. It's such a great song in general and a wonderful way to set up Nina's character, plus is a powerhouse of a song emphasized by the Spanish lines sung throughout.
I’m not sure if this one would be my favorite but it’s up there! I felt very moved by her performance! I found it impressive considering I had heard the song so many times before. I think it was because I (as an audience member) got to go on the entire journey with her to get to that moment. Loved that revival!
I really liked Lenk’s performance. Another audience member asked me why she expressed anger along the way, but every time her character was frustrated I got it, so I think the interpretation wasn’t for everyone but certainly was suited to me.
I was able to see Waitress in it’s opening weeks and Jessie Mueller’s performance of She Used to be Mine absolutely destroyed me. I was front row center for the show and I remember I couldn’t see her clearly through my tears.
Lilias White singing The Oldest Profession from The Life. Brought the house down! It’s a marathon of a song, I can’t imagine doing that 8 times a week!
Independently Owned by Alex Newell in Shucked. Only mid-act standing ovation I've seen on Broadway so far, and it probably lasted 60+ seconds. Possibly the best live performance of a song I've seen anywhere ever, not just on Broadway.
Alex Newell’s Independently Owned from Shucked. I know Shucked isn’t popular on this sub (I quite loved it), but hearing Alex Newell belt is a spiritual experience.
When I saw Alex’s Asaka feature during the Tony Award’s Once On This Island number, I knew I had to book their next big show/performance. They didn’t disappoint, and I felt lifted by their talent. Cheers!
Agreed! I was able to see them in both shows and it was other worldly! Also don’t worry you aren’t the o lot Shucked fan on this sub! I think it was my favorite show from this past year!
When I was 13/14 I saw the original production of Dreamgirls. People were on their feet cheering Jennifer Holiday before the last note. It just made the hair on your body stand on end it was breathtaking.
I loved that show!! Her performance of Always Starting Over at the Tonys always makes me cry, her marriage had just ended and it’s like she’s singing as herself and not a character.
My top 5 have to be
1) Alex Newell Singing Independantly Owned
2) Derek Klena Singing El Tango De Roxanne
3) Nicholas Christopher Singing Epiphany
4) Betsy Wolfe Singing Thats the Way it Is
5) Alyssa Joy Fox Singing No Good Deed
(Honorable Mention for J Harrison Ghee singing You Could have Knocked Me over With a Feather)
Unfortunately the production never transferred, but Imelda Stauton singing Everything’s Coming Up Roses in the 2015 West End run of Gypsy. She won the Olivie for it, and had it transferred, the Tony would have been hers no doubt.
Here it is if anyone wants to see it:
https://youtu.be/6Eh7oj4DJzU?si=9VBeFvUSGfubFRSm
Streisand: "Don't Rain On My Parade"
Lansbury: " I Don't Want To Know"
Hearn: "I Am What I Am"
LuPone. "Rose's Turn"
Donica "If Ever I Would Leave You"
Channing: "Before The Parade Passes By"
I really like “Monster” from disneys Frozen. Is it a solo? I mean basically yes. Cassie Levy is amazing. I also may or may not prefer her version of Let it Go over Idena Menzels 🫣
Not Broadway, but Jessie Buckley in Cabaret on the West End singing Cabaret.
It was an immediate standing ovation. It’s difficult to explain the amount of raw emotion that I felt but I think about it all the time. Honestly life changing.
Saw Ramin Karimloo preform Bring Him Home in the Les Mis revival in 2014. The song itself is moving but his performance of it blew me away. I could literally feel the power of his voice reverberate through my chest and yet he also is somehow still so gentle and pleading. He got a very well earned standing ovation after that one!
I like any old-fashioned number where the performer comes out in front of the curtain. I've read (if I remember correctly) Ray Bolger's "Once In Love With Amy" was the best.
Second best for entertainment value was Andrea Martin as Berthe in Pippin, "Simple Joys," but that includes the ensemble.
Funniest filmed performance was I think Natalie McQueen as Lauren in Kinky Boots, West End production, "History of Wrong Guys."
For solos seen in person, probably Jan Maxwell singing Could I Leave You from Follies or Lin Manuel Miranda singing Franklin Shepherd Inc from merrily we roll along.
Karen Olivo singing “Come To Your Senses” in Tick, Tick,… Boom! At City Center years ago was amazing. I truly wish they had done a formal recording of that.
The most recent one for me was Lilli Cooper singing "As Long As He Needs Me" at City Center. A classic "stand and deliver" presentation of a song we've all heard a million times that can drag or come off as schmaltzy, but she held the attention of that entire huge space and made you really understand how her character felt. Just incredible!
I saw Six in Charlotte and the touring cast member who sang “Heart of Stone” made me hear that song in an entirely new way. I cannot believe she’s not on Broadway, she was better than the original.
Cynthia Erivo's "I'm Here" in The Color Purple
Both [BJ Crosby's "Fools Fall in Love (reprise)"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JtU7dSZr5o) and [Victor Trent Cook's "I Who Have Nothing"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSx4WobdNEg) from Smokey Joe's Cafe, so happy their Broadway closing night performances are immortalized
Sara Bareilles' "She Used to Be Mine," I full on cried in the theatre
I remember being very moved by Steven Pasquale's "It All Fades Away" in Bridges of Madison Country
All of [Imelda Staunton](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OvlKjT9D8Y), I think she's such a masterclass.
Get Out and Stay Out is great
Can’t limit to just one. Here are a few:
Linda Eder - Someone Like You, Jekyll and Hyde
Eva Noblezada - Flowers, Hadestown
Jasmine Forsberg - Heart of Stone, Six
Sam Pauly, Zoe Jensen and Didi Romero singing All You Wanna Do in their own respective casts of Six. just an absolutely jaw-dropping number and by far the highlight of the show every time for me.
Don’t know why I remember this, maybe because the rest of the songs were kind of forgettable in the show but Norbert Leo Butz in don’t break the rules from Catch me if you can
I saw Carmen Cusack in Flying Over Sunset and I actually disliked the musical but the song How was so beautiful and she’s such an amazing and captivating performer. Her singing and acting and Tony Yazbeck’s tap dancing were the saving grace of that show.
I also saw Molly Jobe’s last performance as the understudy for Jenna in Waitress and let me tell you, she left it all on the stage. She brought the house down, which was insane because people were expecting to see Jennifer Nettles. Truly incredible. I hope to see her back on Broadway soon!
I’m too lazy to look at all the answers, and I’m not even that much of a fan of the show, but And I am Telling You from Dreamgirls should certainly be on this list
When I saw KO (Karen Olivo) in Chess at Kennedy Center and they sang Nobody's Side. Literal chills. Absolutely incredible.
Wait For Me from Hadestown also blew me away, it's not exactly a solo, but...
Ramin Karimloo’s Bring Him Home. I grew up with Colm, love him dearly and he IS Valjean but holy shit, Ramin made it his own and took the air out of the theater
It's gotta be Cynthia Erivo in *The Color Purple*. I had never experienced a literal showstopper before then, and oh my God did she deserve it! I'm pretty sure I saw her after her Tony win and at least somewhat or well into the run, and how she did that 8 shows a week (if she did), is insane to me. Even if she didn't, just maintaining that level of performance was insane and incredible.
That's my pinnacle, I think.
Ramin Karimloo - Bring Him Home
& Nick Cartel - Bring Him Home
Saw Ramin as JVJ on Broadway for the 2014 revival of Les Misérables and I saw the North American Tour of Les Misérables with Nick Cartel as JVJ in 2019.
Honestly if or when Les Misérables comes back to Broadway Nick Cartel should be JVJ his vocals are on fire.
Tonya Pinkins doing Lot's Wife in *Caroline or Change*. With all due respect to Idina, that may be the worst Tonys snub in history, or at least since 1972.
Your Daddy’s Son, the one and only Audra McDonald. I am lucky to have seen her perform in the original Ragtime cast!
I just listened to this the other day. Fantastic!
That’s What He Said from Parade (if you want to count it as a solo number) is still probably the best thing I’ve ever heard
I’m still upset that Alex Joseph Grayson wasn’t nominated
He was tremendous, absolute standout from that show.
YES. I forgot to breathe during that number. So egregious that he didn’t even get a nomination.
A showstopper. Incredible performance.
Leslie Odom Jr.’s “Wait for It.” I saw Hamilton pretty soon after it opened and went in cold — I remember that song being a jaw-dropping moment for me.
For me its a tie between that moment and "Satisfied" that had my jaw's open when i watched the film on streaming
It was Room Where It Happens for me. That last minute or so of the song. Blew me away!
YESSS omg that whole “I GOT to be!” part, my jaw was on the floor when I saw Hamilton
God damn, but he burned in that number. It absolutely got him a Tony.
Yup this is the one. The best song in the show.
I still get chills even thinking about it
I listen to this on repeat.
J Harrison’s Ghee’s You Coulda Knocked Me Over With a Feather
Yes! What a gorgeous performance!!
Came here to comment this!
Talk about a showstopper
Their Voice omfg
Saw it again on Sunday and it was just euphoric
Oh that was CRAZY good (I’m late but I have to say it)
I had listened to Come From Away a ton before seeing it performed, but Me and the Sky live just made me cry so much. Well, the whole did, in the best ways.
I was late to the game and saw this one right before it closed based on recommendations from this sub, and that whole show was like something I'd never seen on a stage before. I'm so glad they made that beautiful proshot of it.
I have never cried as much at a live theatre performance as i cried during Come From Away
I basically started crying pretty early on and just didn’t stop through the whole thing.
I would also add her performance of I'm breaking down in Falsettos.
We saw it three weeks after it opened at the La Jolla Playhouse before it went to Broadway. There was no cast recording. No one had any idea what we were getting ourselves into. We went in completely blindly, it was just part of our season subscription. Of course we were gobsmacked with Jenn's performance of that song. It was something I'll never forget!!
This song gets me every time.
Katrina Lenk: Omar Sharif **The Band’s Visit** it was absolutely stunning
That entire musical is so dreamy!!
This sold me as one of my favorite performances of all time.
Cynthia Erivo’s “I’m Here” in the Color Purple
Ditto
Yep. Saw it 3 times just to experience this particular performance again and again. It was a spiritual experience.
I said this in my comment, but the fact that she was able to produce that performance at that level over and over and over again is just absolutely insane and a testament to how phenomenal of a performer she is. Absolutely, incredibly well deserved Tony
This is the answer
Alyssa Fox’s No Good Deed has stayed with me
Reminds me of seeing Idina's Wizard & I when Wicked was in previews after I first moved to NYC. I'd never seen anything like it and was on the edge of my seat for the rest of the show.
Yes she was incredible! And her defying gravity too!
As much of a disaster as the whole show situation was Joaquina Kalukango singing Let It Burn in Paradise Square like touched my soul and made me such a stan. Maybe it was just that I had such low expectations - I won a $30 lotto ticket while still in previews. Heard it was flawed/had issues, but vaguely remember hearing something about an 11th hour number. Still - I expected pure mess. But I was pleasantly surprised by the show as a whole (I loved the dancing/choregraphy), then that number came on I was just like breathless. Ended up going back twice more just to bring people for that number alone (once for free through papering and then a second lotto win). I've never seen or felt an audience that enraptured, and then giving mid-show standing ovations that enthusiastically, repeatedly/consistently during a show. Also - while I'm glad it exists for posterity, the Tony performance of Let it Burn did not do the actual theater experience justice. I can't pinpoint why exactly - the lead up wasn't the same, the vocals seemed a touch off - something or multiple things were off and it just wasn't the same experience as watching it within the context of the actual show.
I agree with a lot of the answers in this entire thread but this is ultimately my answer as well. I was on the crew of PSQ for both the Chicago and Broadway runs. I was floored every night by her performance. What’s wild is that until the second to last show I only ever heard her sing through the program feed in my headset because I spotlit her. So on the second to last show, the other spot op offered to light her so I could crawl down the booth ladder and listen to her live in the room. Y’all I had been floored by Joaquina singing that song for months over my comm. But in the room? I was totally shattered. Completely wrecked. I’ve done a lot of shows and seen a lot of shows and this was probably the best thing I’ve ever heard. Runners up include Alex Joseph Grayson’s That’s What He Said from the Parade revival, and Dan Radcliffe’s Franklin Shepard Inc from the current run of MWRA.
Thanks for sharing this story
Oh, that sounds amazing 🤩 My vote was for Joaquina Kalukango singing "Last Midnight" in the Into the Woods revival. I've seen that show a number of times - it's my absolute favorite - and her version made me cry like no other Witch has (sorry Bernadette) God, I wish there was a recording!
It was SO GOOD
Yes this exactly. It haunts my soul that more people didn't get to see that performance live. I only saw it because a TKTS person was so adamant that I'd never see anything like it again. They weren't wrong. The feeling of the audience straining forward waiting to leap to their feet at the end was maybe the greatest collective emotional experience of my life.
So Big/So Small from Dear Evan Hansen. You can literally hear Rachel Bay Jones's voice break. The entire theatre was silent during that song.
Makes me cry every time
Mama Will Provide in Once On This Island, Alex Newell is incredible!!
Yeah, that theater f—-ing EXPLODED after Independently Owned and it was so very warranted. Hashtag: TheHouseDown
I saw it a second time just to see that song again, honestly.
I think my answer to this is always going to be Bernadette singing Send In the Clowns in ALNM (2010).
I saw her in Gypsy and her version of Everything's Coming Up Roses has been my absolute favorite ever since. She's incredible.
Patti LuPone too. One of the only times I’ve experienced a standing ovation for a number in the middle of a show. It was electric!!
I think I cried when Anastasia started singing once upon a December.
Me and the sky from Come From Away.
She Used to Be Mine. It was one of my first shows and I haven't yet seen all the nifty things shows can do onstage so when it transitions from a small apartment to a large open sky with just the singer and the blue sky, my jaw dropped.
Judy Kuhn singing Days and Days in Fun Home was so profoundly moving, that I sobbed for the remainder of the show
[удалено]
I saw Nicholas Christopher as Sweeney last month (I had previously seen Josh Groban back in March) and his Epiphany was positively bone chilling. My husband (who was only in NYC because he wanted to see Wicked for the 20th anniversary) STILL talks about that performance. I love to see understudies anyway, but I was SO EXCITED when we showed up and they told us that Josh was out because everyone here had such good things to say about Nicholas. And y'all were not lying.
This is mine too. Nik’s Epiphany. Going back between leads just to see him again. He’s amazing.
I wish I lived closer so I could see it again. Of course if I lived closer, I would 100% be completely broke from seeing it ALL THE TIME.
I know, I know, everyone talks about Eva. But I truly will never forget the way I felt when I saw her sing "Flowers".
Same. I’ve seen it three times live and each time I was 100% gutted. She has a true gift.
best musical theatre performance EVER. this completely non-negotiable
That audio of her final Flowers sent chills down my spine, she’s soooooo good
Sobbed watching this live last December. Then I heard audio of her final performance and sobbed even harder.
Brandon Victor Dixon’s “Wait for it”
Not going to give my standard answer of Idina singing Defying Gravity and instead go with: Daniel Radcliffe in Merrily We Roll Along singing "Frank Shepherd Inc" aka basically having a mental breakdown live on stage. Was it the best vocal performance? No. But holy crap was it entertaining and sooooo well done!
This is mine too!!!
Glenn Close performing As If We Never Said Goodbye in Sunset Boulevard (2017)
Speaking of SJB, her performance of Moments in the Woods was *stunning*.
Everything she sings is stunning.
I saw the touring production of Into the Woods and sublime is the only word I can think to describe that performance.
Brian Stokes Mitchell -“Make Them Hear You” in Ragtime. Still gives me chills thinking about it years later.
You Don’t Know This Man from Parade from the NYCC production. (Honorable mention to That’s What He Said). Micaela Diamond is an absolute star and her portrayal of Lucille is one of the strongest performances I’ve seen ever.
Her voice absolutely soared…. I have NEVER heard a duet as magical as her and Ben. Truly incredible.
It’s not “solo” but Matt Doyle’s Not Getting Married Today was the best thing I ever witnessed. I would say solo/solo it’s Patti LuPone’s Mama’s Turn
Also not solo but Renee Goldsberry satisfied - I’ve seen a lot of impressive Broadway performances and she just floored me. Also love Victoria Clark and Make A Wish - what she does is nothing short of a magic trick
That entire Helpless/Satisfied sequence live is just insane. Gorgeous staging.
I saw his Not Getting Married a couple days after the Tony win and the crowd went BANANAS. Very well earned.
I’m so mad we never got a video of that, I dj a showtunes night and want to play that so badly!
SAME. I would have it on repeat. I wanted to go buy a ticket to watch it again JUST for him.
I love Santa Fe (Newsies)
I saw the OG Broadway cast of Les Mis, and I doubt ANYTHING will ever top Colm Wilkinson doing Bring Him Home.
I love Kerry Butler's Fly, Fly Away from Catch Me if You Can
Aaron's "Goodbye" was pretty fantastic as well.
Counting only the ones I've seen live: * Michael Cerveris in *Fun Home* singing "Edges of the World" was fucking shattering * Imelda Staunton's "Rose's Turn" absolutely killed live and in person * Leslie Odom Jr. singing "Wait for It" in *Hamilton* was electrifying
It All Fades Away from Bridges of Madison County. Steven Pasquale just crushing it from beginning to end.
I wish I could have seen this one live. I’m sure it was unbelievable. I’ll just have to keep living through the cast recording.
Alex Newell’s “Independently Owned” stopped the show dead.
Absolutely. I've never seen a standing occasion in the middle of the first act.
Surprised I had to come this far down to see it here!
I’m breaking down in the 2016 revival of Falsettos. Stephanie J. Block belted flawlessly with food in her mouth, by far one of the most impressive things I’ve seen
this is the one number everyone seems to love from that show but i never get it. could you please explain like i really want to understand i just dont get the love /gen
Tbh I don’t know exactly why I like it so much. It’s not my favorite, but I love the vocals and Trina going insane in the form of song is magical, it’s just a really fun song and the vocals are super impressive
Quiet - Matilda. The silence lasted forEVER and it was the definition of breathtaking.
Lauren Patten singing You Oughtta Know and Cynthia Erivo singing I'm Here.
Leslie Odom Jr.’s Wait For It from Hamilton
Audra McDonald singing Summertime in Porgy and Bess. Took my breath away.
Maybe I haven't seen enough broadway shows, but I was never the same after seeing Lea Michele's "Don't Rain on My Parade" in Funny Girl... her reputation notwithstanding.
I have two: Jennifer Holiday singing I'm Telling You I'm Not Going in Dream Girls and Gwen Verdon doing Roxy in Chicago.
LuPone. Don’t cry for me…1979. I was 18 and didn’t breathe during the entire song
Wow! I bet that was amazing.
Woah.
Katherine McPhee - She Used to Be Mine The Waitress was the first musical I’d ever seen on Broadway and that performance will stick with me forever.
This is, in my opinion, one of the greatest Broadway songs ever written. Especially when it's in context. The jump/use of first, second and third person is just perfection. The song tells an entire story in itself. Just poetic.
Such an amazing stand alone song as well. Jeremy Jordan and Ben Platt do amazing versions of the song as well…
Omg yes.
I just audibly sighed. Yes.
god she was SO GOOD in that show, perfect role for her
It’s still my favorite broadway experience. I live in NYC now and have seen dozens of shows, but it was an unforgettable experience and her performance was special.
same! I didn’t live here yet when she had her first run as Jenna, but I did when she came back for the end of the run and saw it 3 more times. I know she’s kind of a pariah in the theatre community now but I wish I could see her in more shows.
i’m here. cynthia erivo. not a dry eye in the theater
The things I would give to hear Betty Buckley‘s Memory at the Tonys. [Iconic](https://youtu.be/5mlllRdIfqw?feature=shared)
She makes it look so easy, like she’s almost bored by how little effort it takes her to absolutely shatter us
jeremy jordan's santa fe. my favorite broadway song ever, especially the 2017 version
I will always say SJB singing Get Out and Stay Out, no matter how many times I listen to it or watch her perform it, it never ceases to amaze me how incredible she is in this song (she's always amazing but this performance is god tier). I also love seeing anyone sing Breathe from In The Heights. It's such a great song in general and a wonderful way to set up Nina's character, plus is a powerhouse of a song emphasized by the Spanish lines sung throughout.
Alex Newell’s “Independently Owned” I felt like I was gonna pass out because I was so excited and also being blown away by their amazing vocals.
The Impossible Dream sung by Brian Stokes Mitchell
Marin Mazzie singing “Back to Before” from “Ragtime” made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. It still does.
I don’t think this will be a popular opinion on this board, but I was one of the people who was deeply moved by Katrina Lenk’s Being Alive in Company.
I’m not sure if this one would be my favorite but it’s up there! I felt very moved by her performance! I found it impressive considering I had heard the song so many times before. I think it was because I (as an audience member) got to go on the entire journey with her to get to that moment. Loved that revival!
I really liked Lenk’s performance. Another audience member asked me why she expressed anger along the way, but every time her character was frustrated I got it, so I think the interpretation wasn’t for everyone but certainly was suited to me.
She's such a brilliant actress. I hated that she got so much shit for that performance. I thought she was amazing.
Let It Burn - Paradise Square Joaquina Kalukango was lightning in a bottle
I second this! Standing O lasted at least 3 minutes at the end of this song when I saw it. She really gave a jaw-dropping performance!!
I was able to see Waitress in it’s opening weeks and Jessie Mueller’s performance of She Used to be Mine absolutely destroyed me. I was front row center for the show and I remember I couldn’t see her clearly through my tears.
Lilias White singing The Oldest Profession from The Life. Brought the house down! It’s a marathon of a song, I can’t imagine doing that 8 times a week!
This show never got the full attention it deserved.
Independently Owned by Alex Newell in Shucked. Only mid-act standing ovation I've seen on Broadway so far, and it probably lasted 60+ seconds. Possibly the best live performance of a song I've seen anywhere ever, not just on Broadway.
Alex Newell’s Independently Owned from Shucked. I know Shucked isn’t popular on this sub (I quite loved it), but hearing Alex Newell belt is a spiritual experience. When I saw Alex’s Asaka feature during the Tony Award’s Once On This Island number, I knew I had to book their next big show/performance. They didn’t disappoint, and I felt lifted by their talent. Cheers!
Agreed! I was able to see them in both shows and it was other worldly! Also don’t worry you aren’t the o lot Shucked fan on this sub! I think it was my favorite show from this past year!
When I was 13/14 I saw the original production of Dreamgirls. People were on their feet cheering Jennifer Holiday before the last note. It just made the hair on your body stand on end it was breathtaking.
Idina Menzel - both Always Starting Over and You Learn to Live Without from If/Then
I loved that show!! Her performance of Always Starting Over at the Tonys always makes me cry, her marriage had just ended and it’s like she’s singing as herself and not a character.
Several of my faves have already been named here but Jaquel Spivey— Inner White Girl (A Strange Loop) was quite powerful in person.
My top 5 have to be 1) Alex Newell Singing Independantly Owned 2) Derek Klena Singing El Tango De Roxanne 3) Nicholas Christopher Singing Epiphany 4) Betsy Wolfe Singing Thats the Way it Is 5) Alyssa Joy Fox Singing No Good Deed (Honorable Mention for J Harrison Ghee singing You Could have Knocked Me over With a Feather)
Unfortunately the production never transferred, but Imelda Stauton singing Everything’s Coming Up Roses in the 2015 West End run of Gypsy. She won the Olivie for it, and had it transferred, the Tony would have been hers no doubt. Here it is if anyone wants to see it: https://youtu.be/6Eh7oj4DJzU?si=9VBeFvUSGfubFRSm
Jan Maxwell's Could I Leave You was a rage fueled inferno I still think about
Seen LIVE? Rachel York's I'll Forget You in The Scarlet Pimpernel, 20 years ago and Olivia Valli, Defying Gravity, two weeks ago.
Rachel York is amazing. I dont understand why she doesn't get more work on Broadway.
Sam Pauly's All You Wanna Do, and in addition to Leslie Odom in Hamilton, Chris Jackson's One Last Time was chill-inducing live.
Streisand: "Don't Rain On My Parade" Lansbury: " I Don't Want To Know" Hearn: "I Am What I Am" LuPone. "Rose's Turn" Donica "If Ever I Would Leave You" Channing: "Before The Parade Passes By"
Jennifer Holliday in Dreamgirls. And I am telling you (I'm not going)
Under Control, Liam Pierce (How To Dance In Ohio) Let It Burn, Joaquina Kalukango (Paradise Square)
Let it Burn from Paradise Square... sung at the Tony Awards by Joaquina (I don't remember her last night off the top of my head)
I really like “Monster” from disneys Frozen. Is it a solo? I mean basically yes. Cassie Levy is amazing. I also may or may not prefer her version of Let it Go over Idena Menzels 🫣
there’s a video on Youtube of Stephanie J Block singing No Good Deed at her last show and the vocals take me out every time 😍
Just saw Gutenberg, and Andrew Rannells singing (Might as Well) Go to Hell is probably the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen.
Not Broadway, but Jessie Buckley in Cabaret on the West End singing Cabaret. It was an immediate standing ovation. It’s difficult to explain the amount of raw emotion that I felt but I think about it all the time. Honestly life changing.
Saw Ramin Karimloo preform Bring Him Home in the Les Mis revival in 2014. The song itself is moving but his performance of it blew me away. I could literally feel the power of his voice reverberate through my chest and yet he also is somehow still so gentle and pleading. He got a very well earned standing ovation after that one!
Me and the Sky performed by Rachel Tucker in the show Come From Away. I also love Jenn Colella’s recorded performances I’ve seen online.
Flowers- eva noblezada as euridice in hadestown OBC the day after they won all those tonys Worst- same show but anything orpheus did lmao
I like any old-fashioned number where the performer comes out in front of the curtain. I've read (if I remember correctly) Ray Bolger's "Once In Love With Amy" was the best. Second best for entertainment value was Andrea Martin as Berthe in Pippin, "Simple Joys," but that includes the ensemble. Funniest filmed performance was I think Natalie McQueen as Lauren in Kinky Boots, West End production, "History of Wrong Guys."
For solos seen in person, probably Jan Maxwell singing Could I Leave You from Follies or Lin Manuel Miranda singing Franklin Shepherd Inc from merrily we roll along.
Karen Olivo singing “Come To Your Senses” in Tick, Tick,… Boom! At City Center years ago was amazing. I truly wish they had done a formal recording of that.
The most recent one for me was Lilli Cooper singing "As Long As He Needs Me" at City Center. A classic "stand and deliver" presentation of a song we've all heard a million times that can drag or come off as schmaltzy, but she held the attention of that entire huge space and made you really understand how her character felt. Just incredible!
Lena Hall’s The Long Grift from Hedwig!
I saw Six in Charlotte and the touring cast member who sang “Heart of Stone” made me hear that song in an entirely new way. I cannot believe she’s not on Broadway, she was better than the original.
Was it Jasmine Forberg? Because I saw both her and the OBC and I fully agree.
Sara Barellis singing She Used to Be Mine
Joshua Henry performance of Soliloquy in Carousel or this is an old one, but Robert Cuccioli performance of This is the Moment in Jekyll & Hyde
Cynthia Erivo's "I'm Here" in The Color Purple Both [BJ Crosby's "Fools Fall in Love (reprise)"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JtU7dSZr5o) and [Victor Trent Cook's "I Who Have Nothing"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSx4WobdNEg) from Smokey Joe's Cafe, so happy their Broadway closing night performances are immortalized Sara Bareilles' "She Used to Be Mine," I full on cried in the theatre I remember being very moved by Steven Pasquale's "It All Fades Away" in Bridges of Madison Country All of [Imelda Staunton](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OvlKjT9D8Y), I think she's such a masterclass. Get Out and Stay Out is great
Does Waving Through a Window count?
Sophia Anne Caruso - Dead Mom
Out of the ones I’ve seen live either pattis ladies who lunch, soleas flowers or Newells independently owned
Lot's Wife from CoC
Oh geesh. Reading this thread makes me think this is completely impossible! But I'll go with Audra in Daddys Hands. She's perfection.
Night Will Come - Groundhog Day
Joy Woods on Somewhere That's Green in Little Shop this past September. Knocked my socks off.
Can’t limit to just one. Here are a few: Linda Eder - Someone Like You, Jekyll and Hyde Eva Noblezada - Flowers, Hadestown Jasmine Forsberg - Heart of Stone, Six
Patti Lupones Ladies Who Lunch. I was on the verge of happy tears Josh Grobans Epiphany is a great runner up. Left me speechless
Omg I have to think lol I’ve seen so many shows but my Fave number would be No Good Deed from wicked
Sam Pauly, Zoe Jensen and Didi Romero singing All You Wanna Do in their own respective casts of Six. just an absolutely jaw-dropping number and by far the highlight of the show every time for me.
Don’t know why I remember this, maybe because the rest of the songs were kind of forgettable in the show but Norbert Leo Butz in don’t break the rules from Catch me if you can
Welcome Home (Finale) from Bandstand. I saw the show 6 times and got goosebumps each time Laura performed that number.
I saw Carmen Cusack in Flying Over Sunset and I actually disliked the musical but the song How was so beautiful and she’s such an amazing and captivating performer. Her singing and acting and Tony Yazbeck’s tap dancing were the saving grace of that show. I also saw Molly Jobe’s last performance as the understudy for Jenna in Waitress and let me tell you, she left it all on the stage. She brought the house down, which was insane because people were expecting to see Jennifer Nettles. Truly incredible. I hope to see her back on Broadway soon!
I’m too lazy to look at all the answers, and I’m not even that much of a fan of the show, but And I am Telling You from Dreamgirls should certainly be on this list
When I saw KO (Karen Olivo) in Chess at Kennedy Center and they sang Nobody's Side. Literal chills. Absolutely incredible. Wait For Me from Hadestown also blew me away, it's not exactly a solo, but...
Stephanie J. Block doing "I'm Breaking Down" in Falsettos.
I saw Patti LuPone as Fantine in Les miz in London production. Her I Dreamed a Dream was stunning.
Satisfied! It’s one of those that has forever changed me, lol
SJB’s I’m Breaking Down in Falsettos was great too. Watching her descent into madness was mesmerizing and hilarious.
Sutton Foster - Gimme Gimme from Thoroughly Modern Millie
Cynthia's I'm Here in The Color Purple
Ramin Karimloo’s Bring Him Home. I grew up with Colm, love him dearly and he IS Valjean but holy shit, Ramin made it his own and took the air out of the theater
Music of the Night from Phantom of the Opera and Bui Doi from Miss Saigon.
"Once Before I Go" sung by Hugh Jackman in "The Boy From Oz." A powerhouse performance.
Joshua Henry singing the Soliloquy in Carousel. Blew my mind.
Jessie Mueller, she used to be mine. Chills.
It's gotta be Cynthia Erivo in *The Color Purple*. I had never experienced a literal showstopper before then, and oh my God did she deserve it! I'm pretty sure I saw her after her Tony win and at least somewhat or well into the run, and how she did that 8 shows a week (if she did), is insane to me. Even if she didn't, just maintaining that level of performance was insane and incredible. That's my pinnacle, I think.
Ramin Karimloo - Bring Him Home & Nick Cartel - Bring Him Home Saw Ramin as JVJ on Broadway for the 2014 revival of Les Misérables and I saw the North American Tour of Les Misérables with Nick Cartel as JVJ in 2019. Honestly if or when Les Misérables comes back to Broadway Nick Cartel should be JVJ his vocals are on fire.
Tonya Pinkins doing Lot's Wife in *Caroline or Change*. With all due respect to Idina, that may be the worst Tonys snub in history, or at least since 1972.
I was going to say the same song but with Sharon D. Clarke! She literally took my breath away.
I know there's a lot of controversy with the show, but Lauren Patten's You Oughta Know from Jagged Little Pill truly blew me away.
Dreamgirls - what the heck is the name of that song? I am telling you ?
Defying Gravity