CultureSeptember 2, 2026
showstopper
SHOH-stop-er
Definition
A performance, song, or moment in a show that is so exceptionally impressive or entertaining that it receives prolonged applause, forcing the production to pause.
Etymology
Originating in the late 19th-century American theater, it refers to a performance so brilliant that the audience's applause literally stops the show from continuing.
In the news
The article describes 'Under the Sea' from The Little Mermaid as a 'showstopper' because it is a high-energy, infectious musical highlight that commands the audience's full attention.
The best — and most beloved — Disney songs of all time, ranked
Read the full article ↗Quartz