A Chorus Line The Lion King Titanic Parade Into the Woods (1987) Carousel Tommy Chicago Will Rogers Follies Guys and Dolls (1992) Seussical Book of Mormon Xanadu Legally Blonde Pacific Overtures (1976)
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
"And how about a ballet opening that actually tells a great story?: On the Town "
Not trying to be argumentative, but as I've never seen OTT on stage--but know several recordings of the score, and have read the libretto--doesn't it open with a song? New York New York comes immediately after the overture. But I suppose it does ultimately turn into a song with extended dance segments, if that's what you mean. Or is there a dance opening I don't know of before the song?
Most of the ones I would list have been mentioned--so many Sondheim ones, Chorus Line, Chicago, Pippin, etc. Not mentioned, I don't think, but I do love the whole opening (especially when not cut to make shorter) of Show Boat (N word or not).
If we count Little Shop of Horrors' title songas a sort of overture, I love the whole Downtown opening. (actually Ashman and Menken, and later even just Menken tended to do well with openings--Belle obviously, Bells of Notre Dame for Hunchback--which counts cuz it's done in the stage version too, etc).
I tend to be a sucker for those long song openings that go through bits of dialogue, different sections, introducing different characters, etc (obviously Into the Woods is maybe the greatest example of that)--even when used in the Tales of the City musical.
Among those not mentioned above: Sister Act ("Take Me to Heaven") Wonderland in Tampa ("Worst Day of My Life") A Tale of Two Cities ("The Way It Ought to Be")
@Eric, re "On the Town": Based on both the 1998 Broadway revival and the excerpt included in Jerome Robbins' Broadway, my recollection is that the "New York, New York" number very quickly seguees into a ballet of the sailors meeting wacky types all over Manhattan. For those with sharper memories than I, did I get it wrong?
A couple of other great openings not mentioned yet: The Color Purple (gave us such high hopes for the rest of the evening) American Idiot (as a novice to the music, that opening completely sucked me in) Grand Hotel (should have had a great revival by now)
The openings of "Ragtime" and "A Chorus Line" are good but, for me, the best is the "Carousel Waltz" or as it was called in the 1994 revival of "Carousel" at Lincoln Center "Prologue." It's an amazing piece of music and the scene beautifully sets up the entire story of Billy Bigelow and Julie Jordan et al.
have seen more opening numbers than I care to remember....however back in the Winter of 1965 , I was present for the first public preview of "funny girl". Had heard a lot of things about Barbra and had seen her in a village club a few times, but nothing prepared me for her opening number "I'm the greatest star"...just blew me away. When she sang that number, you knew she was singing about herself....WOW...words can't describe it, you just had to be there
Sweeney Todd Book of Mormon Company (I love both the opening lines and the first number) Avenue Q Follies Drowsy Chaperone (Opening monologue only... "Fancy Dress" was forgettable, but still funny)
Sweeney Todd and West Side Story...both still give me chills and it doesn't matter if it's on Broadway or at the worst community theater in the worlds....just amazing...
West Side Story Seussical Fiddler on the Roof Phantom (ALWAYS) Ragtime A Chorus Line Sweeney Boom of Mormon Into the Woods Wicked Addams Family (DON'T JUDGE) La Cage opening number is always fantastic BBAJ
"Once upon a time..." (INTO THE WOODS)... Gives me major chills
I enjoy A CHORUS LINE's opening, too.
"TO LOVE ANOTHER PERSON IS TO SEE THE FACE OF GOD"- LES MISERABLES---
"THERE'S A SPECIAL KIND OF PEOPLE KNOWN AS SHOW PEOPLE... WE'RE BORN EVERY NIGHT AT HALF HOUR CALL!"--- CURTAINS