A Thespian's Guide to Standing Ovations

Original Post Date: November 9, 2006

There's nothing quite like a standing-o. But you have to know how to read them. They are different. I'll list a few, in no particular order...
1) The applause is good, but the only people standing are the ones heading for the door: Your show still needs some tweeking, and you might want to have a pick-up rehearsal before your next performance.
2) One or two people stand up immediately, followed by most of the crowd: This means you did an okay job. The first people who jumped up are probably parents of cast members. But the rest of the audience was appreciative, so they stood up.
3) Many people stand up within 5 seconds after the close of the show, before the curtain call begins: Your show was wonderful! The audience loved it! They think that you did a marvelous job, and are probably planning to stop by the box office on their way out to buy tickets for another performance.
4) The entire audience is on their feet the instant the show is over: Your show as the best ever seen by these people and probably the best ever done by your school, theatre company, or whatever you are. Not only was the audience transcended by your marvelous acting, but they loved everything about the show from the script to the lighting. Those people not applauding wildly are on their cell phones, calling their friends to tell them to get tickets immediately!!!
5) The audience is silent and unmoving for several seconds before bursting into thunderous applause and jumping to their feet: You have just done the best show ever in the history of theatre. You totally blew the audience away with your absolutely magnificent. You should consider this your Broadway tryout and head straight for New York the morning after you close.

I've had many 3s, some 4s (Yay, Titanic!), and I've witnessed a 5 (not my show, though.)