Beth Leavel - The Lady's Improving (Closing Night)

Beth Leavel performing her solo The Lady's Improving in The Prom's final Broadway performance, plus a one-minute long standing ovation.

[@bexyPTX]

The contrast between her and Meryl Streep's performances of this song is truly interesting. Both are very good, just super different.

[@EvaSofie]

@hsuaganaga gwqcanagshs that’s not necessarily her fault though but whoever mixed the songs.

[@dalia1795]

Yeahh I love them both very much

[@ethankoehler6103]

She deserved that standing ovation

[@genevievelabieniec8218]

She sure did!

[@yelanates]

Damn straight.

[@alohaisland9999]

You can truly see her trying to keep herself together. She's been with this show for so long and she loved it and it's heartbreaking to see it go.

[@mariajosefenton3728]

This show deserved a much longer run omg

[@alvinmedina7121]

it c certainly did

[@emmapanzica8333]

How long was the run for?

[@alvinmedina7121]

@@emmapanzica8333 less than a year . with no Tony wins ,there was no path forward . they did know Ryan would be doing screen version , some comfort . it was a great show.

[@emmapanzica8333]

@@alvinmedina7121 Thank you so much for the reply!! Yeah this is an amazing show!! It didn’t deserve to go!!

[@eekaboo8012]

You gotta love Michael Potts at the end there. That's not Mr. Hawkins going wild over Dee Dee, that's Michael going wild over Beth.

[@rjaffe464]

Also, that’s not Michael Potts, FYI. That’s his replacement. He had already left the show. Just letting you know.

[@eekaboo8012]

@@rjaffe464 Oh dang, thought that was him this entire time lmao thank you for clarifying

[@gracekeddy]

we are SO lucky to have such clear footage of this. what an absolute legend

[@melodic21]

Just watched Meryl Streep in the Prom on Netflix. I had to see her version.

[@camronfairmon9435]

same

[@kyleneopperman6186]

What’d you think of the movie?

[@melodic21]

@@kyleneopperman6186 I loved the movie. Meryl did a great job

[@falseheteros9102]

@@melodic21 Yeah I agree

[@isaquesantos6756]

Both are great

[@mollycblaeser]

I wish the original Broadway cast had reprised their roles for the movie!

[@tl003]

I will never understand why it left broadway so quickly, still heartbroken 😔

[@isaquesantos6756]

Beth and Meryl are just perfection!

[@meredithchandler73]

I was lucky enough to see this amazing show many, many times (including final show) and Beth’s performance was always hilarious and thrilling and touching. When she hangs her head down and really starts crying during the standing ovation - that’s over a thousand people pouring out their love to Beth and she could feel it. I was lucky to be there.

[@sarahrobson9566]

I love the look of sheer happiness on his face watching her hit that last note

[@durellgriffin3399]

I was there that night, and I just remember the energy in that theatre especially during this song! Thank you for posting this, I love reliving this moment!

[@AddamsrUs13]

I saw this ON Pride and the standing ovation went on foREVER and she deserved every second

[@dylansmith1833]

While I wasn’t at closing night. I saw this during award season and I remember sitting front row and was blown out of my seat during this performance. Unfortunately there wasn’t a standing ovation (even though she deserved one each time she performed that song) when I was there! I would just love to go back in time and see this again!!

[@asolomone]

That last note is the longest 20 seconds ever oh my GOD

[@CCKey92]

Stage and Movie are two different things and are totally different! Meryl did an awesome job as Dede and so did the rest of the Movie Cast. The Broadway Cast is also damn awesome... and this song is one of my favorites ♥ I love Beths acting XD the door-smash always gets me

[@musicalmattress1053]

A legendary moment in Broadway history preserved for eternity!

[@markwaltz3307]

Unfortunately the Broadway audiences today want a big movie star, and "The Prom" settled on talent over famous people. I've seen many of the cast members in other shows, and I have been a Beth fan since she took over for Christine Ebersole in "42nd Street" and kept an eyeball on the highball in her hand. The first two times I saw this were in the balcony, and the third time I got TKTS, I prayed it would be front orchestra and it was. For this scene (just a month before closing), I had chills and tears in my eyes and could barely applaud I was wiping them away so much. Beth may have not gotten the film role (although I read Meryl consulted with her), but she got the audience's love, and if her reaction to that love here is any indication, she got the prize which no movie or Tony Award can replace.

[@glenn212now]

I'm sure you prefer Beth because you saw her in the role first. I feel the same way about stage performers I've seen who were later passed over for a more famous name in the film version. However, this time I have to say I think Meryl Streep really pulled it off. She's a rare movie star who consistently improves on stage performances. Sorry, I know this will piss you off.

[@anirudharun6546]

@@glenn212now But wasn't Meryl too hammy in the part? And they had manufactured emotional moments for her character. Beth's comedy timing is much more authentic and funny. I didn't find Streep funny at all.

[@EvaSofie]

@@anirudharun6546 Dee Dee is a diva, so no.

[@anirudharun6546]

@@EvaSofie I understand Dee Dee is a diva but Beth was so much better. I just want Beth Leavel to get more credit. People who have watched the Netflix movie won't even know and that's unfair. Streep just built on what Beth did. I mean it's indisputable that Streep is an all time legend but in this role it's clear Beth is better.

[@EvaSofie]

@@anirudharun6546 That’s not true there are a lot of people searching the show after watching the movie. And you don’t need to claim Beth is so much better to raise her, they can both be amazing. It doesn’t need to be a competition and I’m sure Beth is thrilled with Meryl’s performance.

[@jeffnally3127]

Saw it on Broadway in 2018 (and Beth as The Drowsy Chaperone, too!), and screamed and cheered at this number, too! Sure, the Netflix movie was glitzy, but let's be clear - Beth Leavel IS Dee Dee Allen! #BroadwaySangItBetter

[@TemujinScott80]

Meryl did an excellent job

[@morley247]

Beth played it like how a great broadway star would play it. While Meryl played it like how a great screen would play it.

[@dmaster1000]

@@morley247 🙄 Get over yourselves. Stop doing Meryl like that. Her version was catchier to me and vocally better to listen to. Not saying Beth isn't charismatic and killing this performance but I think y'all need to stop downsizing the movie version because that was good too.

[@AM-lp5ux]

Seeing this show was truly the highlight of my 2019 Broadway experience!

[@michaelbrowne4163]

My high school might be doing the prom next year for our musical. Its either the prom, mamma Mia, or Anastasia. I’m hoping for prom the most. I think it’ll be the most fun of the three

[@justanothersherlockian7058]

I was in a production of Mary Poppins (as Jane Banks) and we had our first standing o and I was going to cry! I can only imagine what this was like for her, she's so amazing and talented and to have to see this go...damn!

[@MrTommieadamsphoto]

Such a wonderful show. Saw it twice. Beth Leavel was AMAZING ❤️🤗 Wish the show lasted longer so I could take more friends to see it. It was definitely underrated. Thanks for posting

[@emilyfreeman8720]

sobbing

[@ANightworkerslife]

I REALLY hope they bring back the Prom when theaters can open again. Audience has now seen it on Netflix and that should give the stage musical a good run for several years!

[@lillianward2810]

I saw this exactly a week before it closed and it was stunning.

[@victordunson719]

Saw it twice last January. She was Amazing.

[@arcobalena4950]

I love this!!! Do you have her performing “It’s not about me” during the actual show like this?

[@stephaniekrause8005]

Beth Leavel supremacy

[@ryanmanley7266]

Amazing... I'm so glad to have seen her perform this live. This show deserved a much longer run.

[@solarkitty1849]

i was there closing night- her performance was iconic (also in the 3 other performances i saw her in, of course!) 😭 i miss the prom so much!

[@PhantomDrums917]

My god, was this front row center? My hats off to you for getting such incredible footage! Go Beth!!!

[@DTennantsCompanion]

The shows that deserve long runs never seem to get them

[@jaysonsalomon9578]

Sooo happy i was there to see this performance.

[@patriciakimmel7784]

And this is Broadway

[@chickenmaster007]

💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖 Ahhhhh ... Simply ... Ahhhhhh

[@piecesofme8531]

Chills!!!

[@rdalh2]

Ok Meryl Streep, top that shit 😎

[@sierraHAHA...]

meryl was rlly good tho

[@elijahtaylor1377]

Meryl did great

[@dawnjacobs9224]

She was adequate but couldn't top this. I saw the show multiple times on Broadway including this final performance.

[@michaelhall8586]

Miss Broadway!

[@kevinodwyer7286]

Donna in Mamma Mia vs Dee Dee Allen in the Prom 2020 from Kevin O’Dwyer from Courtmacsherry Co Cork Country Ireland

[@holyspirit938]

I wouldnt be able to give her a standing ovation, because I would disintegrate if I was even in the same room as her

[@victordunson719]

Oh she did that

[@juliasings6131]

Does anyone have a full bootleg of this show?

[@longidude7048]

do you have the full video?

[@torchtorquedreams4348]

Do you have a Google Drive of this?

[@poetmistress2009]

👏👏👏👏💖💖💖💖💖👏👏👏👏

[@julial6189]

FULL SLIME TUTORIAL of this closing night : drive.google.com/file/d/1wMtUIk20z2WWQB_RtZ6FEXfn0ZYM944n/view?usp=sharing

[@shamalikon]

Do you have the full closing night show??? Can you send me please?

[@amandadosreis2894]

I also can't find any bootlegs of this show ,,,waaaa

[@matthewkingwill7711]

Same here!

[@dawnjacobs9224]

There was one posted a few months ago but they removed it

[@singingtofame95]

3:00 felt like it was for the Mezzanine

[@kevinodwyer7286]

Hi the lady’s improving at stage vs the lady’s improving film from Kevin O’Dwyer from Courtmacsherry Co Cork Country Ireland

[@goddamnrice]

Is this crowd high? They laughed and cheered way to loudly for EVERYTHING.

[@meredithchandler73]

Closing night audiences are often a LOT louder than regular audiences. I suppose we were all high from being together for the final show. :)

[@m3nt4lenz21]

Good but I prefer Meryl.

[@ianalvarez8801]

Meryl Streep's version is better!!!

[@astrowiz3544]

Oh shush, theyre both amazing. There's no need to pit the two remarkably talented ladies against eachother.

[@anirudharun6546]

I think it's the other way round! In my opinion not a single performer can outdo what Beth Leavel did. It's a sheer genius of her comedic talent! I mean I love Meryl but Beth Leavel was subtle in being over the top (if that makes any sense!), but Meryl was just too hammy in her performance. She did have her moments but those felt too manufactured. And I'm talking about not just this song, but the entire performances.

[@am-lo1pz]

You really can't compare them. For one thing, acting for stage and screen are two totally different things. They're both talented and, we're lucky to have multiple great performances to watch.

[@glenn212now]

I'm sorry but I have to agree that Meryl's version is more appealing. Part of it is the film vs stage thing. Films just make people look better, and they have the benefit of editing and sound improvements. Still, I think Meryl nailed the narcissistic personality 100%. And she really belts well. And looks more glamorous. And she just comes off funnier.

[@PS-DLMA]

@@glenn212now but doing it live has to be right 8 times a week.....