In theatrical parlance, an 11 o’clock number is a showstopping tune late in a musical, which usually coincides with the protagonist or other major character having a life-changing realization. An example would be the song “So Long, Dearie” from Hello, Dolly! This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “An 11 O’clock Showbiz Numbers”
Maybe everybody else already knew this one, but I just learned the term 11 o’clock number.
Do you know this term?
It’s ringing a bell.
Ring and a bell.
Yeah.
Vaguely in my aged brain.
Yeah.
The wrinkles are unwrinkling.
Help me.
It’s a theater term.
An 11 o’clock number is a big show-stopping song that occurs late in the second act.
And usually the protagonist has some kind of revelation or resolution.
It’s a turning point.
And it’s called an 11 o’clock number because it used to be that shows on Broadway started at 8:30.
And about 11 o’clock, that’s when the big song would be before the finale usually.
Gotcha. Perfect. 11 o’clock number.
Yeah.
So the number referring to the song is a number, right?
The song, like in Hello, Dolly, the 11 o’clock number would be so long, dearie.
So long, dearie.
Gotcha.
Okay.
That’s nice.
And now shows start earlier.
Exactly.
Yeah.
Thank goodness.
So the 11 o’clock number is like a 10.
Yeah.
Something like that.
Yeah.
And our number is 877-929-9673.
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