About 20+ years ago, our Equity subscription theater had booked three old shows with star talent - Debbie Reynolds in THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN, Robert Goulet in SOUTH PACIFIC, and Chita Rivera in CAN-CAN.
Debbie's first encounter with the audience was during a fight with her brothers when they get off her and she sat up to face the audience - HUGE applause.
Goulet's first encounter with the audience was when he strolled in after his "children" finished singing. HUGE applause (and audible sighs in the audience from many a flustered lady, and maybe a gay man or two).
Chita Rivera's first encounter with the audience had her enterng up stage left and walking straight down to the lip of the stage. Not one sound! I was so embarrassed for her. No ONE seemed to know who she was. I was ready to applaud, but when no one else did, I didn't either.