11 o'clock number is a theatre term for a big, show-stopping song that occurs late in the second act of a two-act musical, in which a major character, often the protagonist, comes to an important realization. Examples include "So Long Dearie" from Hello, Dolly! , "If He Walked Into My Life" from Mame , "Rose's Turn" from Gypsy , "Work the Wound" from Passing Strange , and "Cabaret" from Cabaret . [1] It was so named because in the days when musical performances would start at 8:30 p.m., this song would occur around 11:00 p.m. [2]
Among the theatre community, there is some debate as to the characteristics of an 11 o'clock number. It often signifies a moment of revelation or change of heart of a lead character, although there are exceptions to this. [3] The 11 o'clock number is also differentiated from the finale in that it is not the final number in the show, but even this is not considered a requirement by some commenters. [4] Broadway producer Jack Viertel defines an 11 o'clock number as "a final star turn". [5]
Other notable 11 o'clock numbers include "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat" from Guys and Dolls , [3] "Memory" from Cats , [6] "Brotherhood of Man" from How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying , [7] “No Good Deed” from Wicked , "Gimme Gimme" from Thoroughly Modern Millie , [4] "Another National Anthem" from Assassins , [8] "Confrontation" from Jekyll & Hyde , [9] "The American Dream" from Miss Saigon , "Goodbye" from Catch Me If You Can , "Revolting Children" from Matilda The Musical , "I'm Here" from The Color Purple , [10] “The Boy Falls from the Sky” from Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, “42nd Street” from 42nd Street, “The Power of Love” from Back to the Future: The Musical, and "Always Starting Over" from If/Then . [11]
Director John Carpenter, on his commentary for Halloween , mentions the term as "11 o'clock shuffle" when talking about his soundtrack in the last scene.