[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="The original Rose, Ethel Merman"][/caption]
Perhaps the mother of all 11 o'clock numbers (pun intended) is "Rose's Turn" from Gypsy. All the greats, from Ethel to Patti to Bernadette to Bette to Kirk on "Glee," have conquered it.

Through the years (and ever changing curtain times), the placement of the 11 o’clock number has changed.  Some people now redefine the 11 o'clock song as simply meaning "a big number."

But no matter the hour, or the definition, if you’ve got one of these songs, be prepared to bring it!

On this WEBway Wednesday, we tip our hats to the best of the 11 o'clock show-stoppers.  Here are some selections from your pals at Playbill:

Playbill.com senior editor Andrew Gans: "If 'Rose's Turn' is already taken, then I will choose 'As If We Never Said Goodbye' from Sunset Boulevard."  Here's the version sung by the first lady of the British stage, Elaine Page.

Playbill.com managing editor Kenneth Jones chooses: "Back to Before" from Ragtime

Playbill.com staff writer Adam Hetrick chooses: "Another Winter in a Summer Town" from Grey Gardens

And my selection?  "And I Am Telling You I Am Not Going" by Jennifer Holliday. The result? A Tony Award, and a crying audience.

Sure, I'm technically breaking the rules. This number closes the first act of Dreamgirls, so I guess you could call it a 9:30 number.  But to me, this performance can close any show at any time!