In the old days of American theater, the 1950s and before, even megastars like Ethel Merman did not regularly get standing ovations. Standing ovations meant a performance was truly extraordinary. Some have attributed the trend to the tourists who fill many of the seats at Broadway shows; they may be less familiar with theater and therefore especially enthusiastic. But standing ovations are the default even at shows and plays that attract few tourists, and besides, tourists have been flocking to New York since long before the 1990s. I think that made theater, by contrast, feel more special — “live performance,” as we now refer to it.

---

Persons: you’ve, Clinton, I’ll, Ethel Merman, Ethan Mordden, ovations Organizations: Broadway Locations: New York