Best Opening (Not Overture) Number in a Musical- Page 2

[Kringas]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 2:41pm

"Requiem for Evita" - Evita

[ALWrules]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 2:46pm

Also, " Heaven on their Minds" from JCS

[Joe Mike2]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 2:52pm

Agree with Pottstown Teacher. The opening of "Titanic" is one of the most amazing I've ever seen. Honerable mentions: "Wilkomen", "Tradition" from Fiddler and "Life Is" from Zorba.

[Joe Mike2]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 2:52pm

Also love the opening of "Company" Updated On: 12/22/05 at 02:52 PM

[LostLeander]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 3:24pm

I watched Ragtime's opening number on the Broadway Lost Treasures, and it gave me chills, and I actually cried.

Beautifully staged, awesomely sung, powerfully written.

Absolutely glorious.

Company, too.. it's a great introduction into the world of the show too.. which is what an opening number should do.

I do like All That Jazz too..

[J.J.]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 3:25pm

Titanic - so amazing
Nine
Grand Hotel
Aida, mediocre show, great opening
Falsettoland
Pacific Overtures

[justme2]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 3:32pm

I've got a soft spot for the opening number "Will a Mania" in Will Rogers Follies.

[sweeneyfan]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 3:32pm

I might have said Ragtime, myself, except that I can't get past the Boy...perhaps the single most annoying child actor/voice to ever grace a Broadway stage....

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 3:33pm

I don't think there's many opening numbers that can compare w/ "Prologue" in West Side Story. All of the background information you need to know is told to the audience w/o one word spoken--you just get lost in the music and movement and it's really a sight to see. Aside from the fact that it gives so much info, the music and movement are amazing to hear/see.

But I do agree I would put Ragtime up there.

Also love Wilkommen in Cabaret and Prologue of Into the Woods.

[Kitzarina]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 3:35pm

"The Old Red Hills of Home" --PARADE
"Prologue" --RAGTIME
"Willkomen" --CABARET
"Prologue" --INTO THE WOODS
"The Ballad of Sweeney Todd" --SWEENEY TODD...it's that damn whistle, I tell ya!

[carymetorent2]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 3:39pm

I am a fan of "Good Morning Baltimore" from Hairspray ...

[thez914]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 4:01pm

TOP CHOICE: "Queenie was a Blonde" from Lippa's The Wild Party. Looked great. Sounds great.

Also: "Facade" from Jekyll and Hyde. I can't stand the show, but the opening was pretty engaging.

[Copeman63]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 4:24pm

-All That Jazz
-Ragtime
-Every Story Is A Love Story
-Willkomenn

Posted: 12/22/05 at 4:25pm

"The Ballad of Sweeney Todd" ~Sweeny Todd
"I hope I get it"~A chorus line
"Every Story Is A Love Story"~Aida

[Rentaholic2]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 5:07pm

so many!!

Tradition, Fiddler
No One Mourns the Wicked, Wicked
Look Down, Les Miz
Prologue of Into the Woods
Circle of Life, Lion King

Not mentioned yet:

The Heat is on in Saigon, Miss Saigon
Scrap, Full Monty
Thoroughly Modern Millie, TMM

[Phantom2]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 5:33pm

GOOD MORNING BALTIMORE ranks up there.

[jo]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 6:00pm

LOVE CHANGES EVERYTHING - this song is the "overture" itself, as it embodies ASPECTS OF LOVE'S theme of love with its many twists and turns. There is no overture in the musical so the songs works very powerfully in introducing the story that is to follow. And Michael Ball did full justice to the song when the show opened in London and on Broadway!

ALL THE LIVES OF ME -- this song embodies Peter Allen's biographical essence and while not written particularly for THE BOY FROM OZ ( as other songs were not written for the show either), it works very well to get us involved in this very entertaining show. The flash of white ( towel) when he moves very fast to the piano in a darkened stage, followed by the piano playing, and this song by Hugh Jackman is such a great opener that I can still remember exactly those memorable moments!
Updated On: 12/22/05 at 06:00 PM

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 6:09pm

24 Hours A Day - Golden Rainbow
Movies Were Movies - Mack & Mabel
Will A Mania - Will Rogers Follies
Let The Devil Take Us - Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public

[RustyRocketteBoy]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 6:14pm

I forgot about the female overture to Nine, and Little Shop of Horrors, LOOOOOOOOOVE that song! Tottal mirror and hairbrush for me(hehe)!

[stageishome]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 6:15pm

"The New World (Opening)" from Songs for a New World.

[Kristen_0509]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 6:17pm

Chicago, Beauty and the Beast, and if done well enough, Footloose

[blaxx]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 6:19pm

That's funny
I always thought of "No one Mourns the Wicked" to be one of the most uninspired opening numbers, and one of the weakest in the whole score.

[blaxx]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 6:19pm

That's funny
I always thought of "No one Mourns the Wicked" to be one of the most uninspired opening numbers, and one of the weakest in the whole score.

[MarkCohen]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 6:27pm

I can't believe this hasn't been mention yet.

Too Much Exposition/Urinetown - Urinetown.

With the whole cast belting out the song and when they start to wake up, gave me chills the whole time. And when the opening is repeated at the end. I get chills every time I listen to it.

Honourable mentions -
Sweeney Todd, Rent is absolutely electric live, it's not quite as amazing on CD or movie.

I too think that the openings of Wicked and Les Mis are weak in comparison to the rest of the show. But to each its own.

[Horton]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 6:32pm

The Ballad of Sweeney Todd - Sweeney Todd
The entire Opening Sequence - Grand Hotel
Too Much Exposition/Urinetown - Urinetown
All That Jazz- Chicago
Everybody's Got the Right- Assassins
These are just mine, but there are so many.