Favorite Opening Numbers- Page 2
Favorite Opening Numbers
GovernorSlaton
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/14/04
#25re: Favorite Opening Numbers
Posted: 8/17/05 at 12:48pm
Opening Numbers:
-Ballad of Sweeney Todd (Sweeney Todd)
-I Hope I Get It (A Chorus Line)
-The first thirteen minutes of Dreamgirls
-Basement Scene (Caroline or Change)
-The Old Red Hills of Home (Parade)
-Just Go to the Movies (A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine)
-Summertime (Porgy and Bess)
Act One Finales:
-It's All Over/And I Am Telling You...(Dreamgirls)
-Act One Finale (Urinetown)
-Mame (Mame)
-Sunday (Sunday)
-A Weekend in the Country (A Little Night Music)
-Roosevelt Petrucius Coleslaw (Caroline or Change)
-Comfort and Joy (Bat Boy)
Act Two Opening Numbers:
-It's Hot Up Here (Sunday in the Park with George)
-Side by Side by Side/What Would We Do Without You? (Company)
-God That's Good (Sweeney Todd)
-Too Darn Hot (Kiss Me, Kate)
#26re: Favorite Opening Numbers
Posted: 8/17/05 at 12:56pm
Opening numbers:
"Opening Night"(The Producers)
"Footloose/On Any Sunday"(Footloose)
"The Circle Of Life"(The Lion King) (I'm surprised nobody's mentioned this)
"Belle"(Beauty and the Beast)
Act I Finales:
"I'm Free/Heaven Help Me"(Footloose)
"Pinball Wizard"(Tommy)
"Ever After"(Into the Woods)
"Along Came Bialy"(The Producers)
Act II Openings:
"Let's Hear It For the Boy"(Footloose)
"Seasons of Love" (Rent)
"The opposite of war isn't peace, it's creation."
#27re: Favorite Opening Numbers
Posted: 8/17/05 at 1:01pm
All That Jazz-Chicago
Belle-Beauty and the Beast
The opening scene-West Side Story
Grand Parade/Some Have Some Have Not/As It Should Be-Grand Hotel
Prologue-Into the Woods
The Ballad of Sweeney Todd-Sweeney Todd
I Hope I get it-A Chorus Line
and put down a major vote for me for Wilkommen from Cabaret.
"Sing the words, Patti!!!!" Stephen Sondheim to Patti LuPone.
bwayondabrain
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/05
#28re: Favorite Opening Numbers
Posted: 8/17/05 at 1:13pm
Opening Numbers:
ALL THAT JAZZ (chicago!)
TRADITION (fiddler)
CHRISTOPHER STREET (wonderful town)
Act 1 Finales:
DEFYING GRAVITY (wicked)
ASTONISHING (little women)
CANT HELP FALLING IN LOVE WITH YOU (all shook up)
MY OWN BEST FRIEND (chicago)
Act 2 Openers:
SEASONS OF LOVE (rent)
ALL SHOOK UP (all shook up)
MASQUERADE (phantom of the opera)
I KNOW A GIRL (chicago)
and thats all i can think of now...
Sant
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/12/04
#29re: Favorite Opening Numbers
Posted: 8/17/05 at 1:29pm
Act I closing numbers:
Til We Reach That Day - RAGTIME
Defying Gravity - WICKED
My Own Best Friend - CHICAGO
If I Can't Love Her - BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Act II opening numbers:
Rüffhousin' Mit Shüffhausen - DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS
Dressed In Your Pyjamas... - TITANIC
Why Do I Love You? - SHOW BOAT (1994 Hal Prince Revival)
Masquerade - THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
#30re: Favorite Opening Numbers
Posted: 8/17/05 at 1:38pm
For Act I Finales:
Til We Reach That Day (Ragtime) is soo amazing!
Defying Gravity is also good.
Avatar (C) Gregory Jbara, used with permission. Visit his web site at www.gregoryjbara.com!
Click here!
#31re: Favorite Opening Numbers
Posted: 8/17/05 at 1:50pmI too vote for "Comedy Tonight"---sets the tone for the show in a brilliant manner!
"NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!"
#32re: Favorite Opening Numbers
Posted: 8/17/05 at 2:01pm
You guys can list your favorite ACT 1 FINALES here..
https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?thread=862509#1304230
jam_man
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/25/05
#33re: Favorite Opening Numbers
Posted: 8/17/05 at 2:04pmThank you, Hypertruffle and Magdalene! "Comedy, Tonight" not only is THE BEST opening ever written, but it was the first one to be seperate from the rest of the show, or not introduce any plot, just characters. Others that have followed suite (and are really good, too): "All That Jazz," "Ballad of Sweeney Todd," "Willkommen," "Tradition," and "Prologue: Ragtime."
"Who is Stephen Sondheim?" -roninjoey
"The man who wishes he had written Phantom of the Opera!" - SueleenGay
GO CARDINALS!!!
"The man who wishes he had written Phantom of the Opera!" - SueleenGay
GO CARDINALS!!!
#34re: Favorite Opening Numbers
Posted: 8/17/05 at 2:09pm"Wake Up! Wake Up!" was the Act II opener to Titanic. And it was brilliant. And it's a shame it was never recorded.
"Mutate or perish."
#35re: Favorite Opening Numbers
Posted: 8/17/05 at 2:10pm
No One Mourns the Wicked - Wicked.
It creates so much energy and life.
"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird
Updated On: 8/17/05 at 02:10 PM
To Kill A Mockingbird
#36re: Favorite Opening Numbers
Posted: 8/17/05 at 2:33pmOkay, so I know technically "If A Girl Isn't Pretty" is the first song in Funny Girl BUT I feel that the show really opens when "I'm the Greatest Star" is sung. So, I'm going to reccomend that.
"It's the little things; the details, that distinguish the Barbra Streisands from the Rosalyn Kinds."~Gilmore Girls~
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#37re: Favorite Opening Numbers
Posted: 8/17/05 at 8:22pm
Will A Mania - Will Rogers Follies
Let The Devil Take Us - Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public
Doing Good - Superman
It's So Simple - Baker Street
Movies Were Movies - Mack & Mabel
24 Hours A Day - Golden Rainbow
Poster Emeritus
#38re: Favorite Opening Numbers
Posted: 8/21/05 at 8:19pmRagtime, in my opinion, has the best and one of the most original opening numbers in musical theatre.
theaterlover45
Broadway Star Joined: 8/21/05
#39re: Favorite Opening Numbers
Posted: 8/21/05 at 8:24pmHairspray~ Good Morning Baltimore! Wicked~ Defying Gravity (for act 1 finales) Updated On: 8/21/05 at 08:24 PM
gumbo2
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/21/05
#40re: Favorite Opening Numbers
Posted: 8/21/05 at 8:44pmhow about A New World from SFANW. ive opened with that for a cabaret before. and you can do it with more than just 4 people.
#41re: Favorite Opening Numbers
Posted: 8/21/05 at 8:48pmDefinetly Light in the Piazza and Chicago.
notabb
Broadway Star Joined: 5/12/03
#42re: Favorite Opening Numbers
Posted: 8/21/05 at 8:50pmI loved the early preview of FLOYD COLLINS when the show began with "The Call" It was amazing , there you were in the dark with Floyd. I was sorry when they added "The Ballad Of Floyd Collins" .
tagiunagi
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/27/05
#43re: Favorite Opening Numbers
Posted: 8/21/05 at 9:36pmDoes "Before the Parade Passes By" from Hello, Dolly! close Act 1? I don't remember, but if it does, that makes my list!
Question: Will Esparza win for The Homecoming?
BobbyBubby: I hope so. If only for the mental health of many people on this board.
CarolMorganJones
Swing Joined: 5/18/05
#44re: Favorite Opening Numbers
Posted: 8/21/05 at 9:40pm"Its a Grand Night For Singing" from State Fair and "Another Op'in Another Show" from Kiss Me, Kate and "All That Jazz" from Chicago
"Real dancers don't wear panties underneath their leotards!" -Brittany Miles
theaterlover45
Broadway Star Joined: 8/21/05
#45re: Favorite Opening Numbers
Posted: 8/21/05 at 9:52pm
Doesn't anyone think Good Morning Baltimore! For an opening it's defintely one of my favorites!
Updated On: 8/21/05 at 09:52 PM
#46re: Favorite Opening Numbers
Posted: 8/21/05 at 10:11pm
Opening: Oh, the Thinks You Can Think (Seussical)
Man of La Mancha (Man of La Mancha)
Tradition (Fiddler on the Roof)
Do Ya Wanna Go to Heaven? (Big River)
Give Them What They Want (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels)
Statues & Stories (The Light in the Piazza)
The Ballad of Sweeney Todd (Sweeney Todd)
Comedy Tonight (A Funny Thing...Forum)
The Advantages of Floating in the Middle of the Sea (Pacific Overtures)
Instructions to the Audience (The Frogs)
We Are What We Are (La Cage aux Folles)
Act One Closers: Along Came Bialy (The Producers)
Ever After (Into the Woods)
Everything's Coming Up Roses (Gypsy)
Not the Boy Next Door (The Boy From Oz)
Defying Gravity (Wicked)
Say it Somehow (The Light in the Piazza)
A Little Priest (Sweeney Todd)
The Frogs (The Frogs)
I Am What I Am (La Cage aux Folles)
Act Two Openers: That Face (The Producers)
What is Urinetown? (Urinetown)
The Farmer and the Cowman (Oklahoma!)
Forget About the Boy (Thoroughly Modern Millie)
Bi-Coastal (The Boy From Oz)
The Royal Nonesuch (Big River)
Always Look on the Bright Side of Life (Monty Python's Spamalot)
Aiutami (The Light in the Piazza)
God, That's Good! (Sweeney Todd)
Sunset Boulevard (Sunset Boulevard)
My avatar = A screencap from Avatar, arguably the greatest animated show of all
#47re: Favorite Opening Numbers
Posted: 8/21/05 at 10:20pm
Into the Woods
AND
Willkommen from Cabaret
It is ridiculous to set a detective story in New York City. New York City is itself a detective story...
AGATHA CHRISTIE, Life magazine, May 14, 1956
lvpblues
Broadway Star Joined: 2/18/04
#48re: Favorite Opening Numbers
Posted: 8/22/05 at 12:22am
Opening Numbers:
"Me and My Town" - Anyone Can Whistle
"Chanson" - The Baker's Wife
"Company" - Company
"Six Months Out of Every Year" - Damn Yankees
"Tradition" - Fiddler on the Roof
"Into the Woods" - Into the Woods
"We Are What We Are" - La Cage Aux Folles
"Statues and Stories" - The Light in the Piazza
"Hurry! It's Lovely Up Here!" - On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
"Walk Him Up the Stairs" - Purlie
"Ragtime" - Ragtime
"Sunday in the Park With George" - Sunday in the Park With George
Titanic opening sequence - the only thing I like about that show
"The Ballad of Sweeney Todd" - Sweeney Todd
Act One Finales:
"You're Nothing Without Me" - City of Angels
"I Got Rhythm" - Crazy For You
"Everything's Coming Up Roses" - Gypsy
"Before the Parade Passes By" - Hello, Dolly!
"Faster than Sound" - High Spirits
"Kiss Me, Kate" - Kiss Me, Kate
"I Am What I Am" - La Cage Aux Folles
"Say it Somehow" - The Light in the Piazza
"A Weekend in the Country" - A Little Night Music
"Mame" - Mame
"Old Maid" - 110 in the Shade
"Dear Friend" - She Loves Me
"Climb Ev'ry Mountain" - The Sound of Music
"Sunday" - Sunday in the Park With George
"A Little Priest" - Sweeney Todd
"I'll Buy You a Star" - A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Act II openers:
"Come Follow the Band" - Barnum
"Side By Side By Side" - Company
"The Contract" - Gigi
"Night of My Nights" - Kismet
"Unusual Way" - Nine
"Everything Beautiful Happens at Night" - 110 in the Shade
"It's Hot Up Here" - Sunday in the Park With George
"God, That's Good!" - Sweeney Todd
#49re: Favorite Opening Numbers
Posted: 8/22/05 at 12:43am
Opening numbers:
-Tradition
-All the Jazz
-Wilkommen
-Hold Me Bat Boy
-The Old red Hills of Home (PARADE)
-Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats
-The Opening of Evita
-West Side Story Prologue
-Ballad of Sweeney Todd
-Avenue Q
-Rock Island (Music Man)
-Circle Of Life
Act One Finales-
-Defying Gravity
-Say It Somehow (Piazza)
-The Rumble (West Side)
-Fiddler's end of Act I with Tevye looking to God.
-Tomorrow Belongs to Me (Cabaret)
-I Am What I Am (La Cage)
-Don't Rain On My Parade
-Everything's Coming Up Roses
-Be Italian
-It's A Maze (End of Secret Garden Act I)
Anyone have any fave 11:00 numbers? (Or songs that stick out in otherwise slower Act IIs?)
-Do You Love Me? (Not that Fiddler's Act II is slow-I just love this song)
-Whatever Happened to My Part? (Spamalot)
-Blow Gabriel Blow
-Opening Doors (Merrily)
-Ain't It Good? (CHildren of Eden)
I'm sure there are others but I am brain dead at the moment.
Videos