Favorite opening number?- Page 2

[Joshuabonnett]

Posted: 12/12/16 at 11:30pm

"Sunday Morning" for The Color Purple gives me goosebumps every time. 

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 12/13/16 at 12:18am

Some of my personal favorites:

"Prologue" from Ragtime

"Ballad of Sweeney Todd"

"Dream A Little Harder" from Twisted

"Just Leave Everything to Me" from Hello Dolly: The Movie Version

"You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown" from the same

"More than Survive" from Be More Chill

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 12/13/16 at 12:29am

Tear Me Down

[Robbyne]

Posted: 12/13/16 at 1:39am

Alexander Hamilton 

[PatrickDC]

Posted: 12/13/16 at 2:07am

I agree with many that have been said, but two of my favorites I don't think I saw in this thread: 

The Old Red Hills of Home - PARADE

Twenty Million People - MY FAVORITE YEAR

 

[DigificWriter]

Posted: 12/13/16 at 6:06am

- "Circle of Life" (The Lion King)

- "Prologue/Any Dream Will Do" (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat)

- "Prologue/Lost in the Darkness" (Jekyll & Hyde original Broadway production)

- "Prologue: Into the Woods" (Into the Woods)

- "Prologue/Belle" (Beauty and the Beast)

- "Seasons of Love" (RENT film adaptation)

- "Tender Shepherd" (Peter Pan Live! arrangement)

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 12/13/16 at 7:25am

"Miracle" - Matilda

"No One Mourns the Wicked" - Wicked

"Prologue: Into the Woods" - Into the Woods

"Circle of Life" - Lion King

"Wilkomen" - Cabaret

"Queen of the Night" - The Bodyguard

"Magic to Do" - Pippin

 

 

[Melissa25]

Posted: 12/13/16 at 7:31am

I think the Prologue to West Side Story is a masterpiece.

 

[Auggie27]

Posted: 12/13/16 at 8:07am

I have to reach back to one of the most thrilling numbers ever presented on the Tonys (and remains to this day better than the whole show that contains it:) "Life Is" from ZORBA, the original Hal Prince production. It was simply remarkable, led by the great Lorraine Serabian, with verisimilitude and ambiance that promised a way into the story that was accessible, genuinely Greek, and emotionally full.  When the bazouki circle premise was jettisoned for a traditional opening (see Encores! edition) with a Greek Muse (or whatever she was), the show lost something gritty and fresh.  But if you've never seen it, it's among the best clips from the Tonys. 

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Posted: 12/13/16 at 11:00am

Top 5...in no particular order...

"Tradition" from FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

"Comedy Tonight" from FORUM

"Magic to Do" from PIPPIN

"Circle of Life" from THE LION KING

"Alexander Hamilton" from HAMILTON

And, even though it's not on Broadway...yet...I do love "Let Me Be Your Star" in the context of BOMBSHELL. Call it a guilty pleasure.

[MackTheKnife2]

Posted: 12/13/16 at 1:03pm

So many to choose from, I guess my favorite are

The Ballad of Sweeney Todd - SWEENEY TODD

Prologue - INTO THE WOODS

The Carousel Waltz - CAROUSEL

Four Jews in a Room Bitching - MARCH OF THE FALSETTOS / FALSETTOS

Life Is - ZORBA

The Advantages of Floating in the Middle of the Sea - PACIFIC OVERTURES

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 12/13/16 at 4:44pm

I think the opening number from Ragtime - especially with the original Bway cast is probably one of the best and one that comes to mind immediately.

However, I have a sentimental favorite from way back when. I saw a production of Here's Love, which is the Meredith Wilson musical version of the Miracle on 34th Street. As in the films, the opening number centers on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade and I still have a wonderful visual memory of all these large feet floating by.... as that was all we could see on the stage of the large parade balloons floating by. Years later, I always smile when I think of those feet...

[whatdoesntkillme]

Posted: 12/13/16 at 5:46pm

"Come Look at the Freaks" from Side Show! 

"The One I Remember" from The Fortress of Solitude

"Magic to Do" from Pippin

"Ragtime" from Ragtime

 

[PatrickDC]

Posted: 12/13/16 at 6:16pm

I still remember the first time I saw Phantom at the 5th Avenue Theater in Seattle. My sister got us front row center seats. Normally I don’t care for those, but for this production it was great, as we felt the “whoosh” of the chandelier as it swung out seemingly just inches over our heads, and then craned our necks up to see the tarps whisked away. All while that organ overture is blasting. Really a very memorable experience.

Lots of folks have mentioned “Magic to Do.” When I saw the Paulus version I was in the second row of the Music Box and again felt a little “whoosh” as that curtain fell and was similarly whisked away. I saw it in July and I’d watched their Tonys number a zillion times so was prepared for it, but the big reveal of the actors and acrobats was still fabulous.

I guess I have a think for “whooshes.” Wonder what that says about me.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 12/13/16 at 6:23pm

Totally forgot to mention Phantom's overture! As dated as the Broadway production itself might become as the years go by, the overture's swelling orchestrations as the chandelier rises above the audience will always induce goosebumps and make me weep. It's silly of me, but it just emblematizes theatrical magic.

[akmiller_98]

Posted: 12/13/16 at 6:24pm

Rent

Tear Me Down

I Hope I Get It

[BroadwayRox3588]

Posted: 12/13/16 at 6:46pm

"If You Knew My Story" from Bright Star

"Tradition" from Fiddler on the Roof

"Alexander Hamilton" from Hamilton

"Epiphany" from Bare: A Pop Opera

??????

[rodrigo_ca]

Posted: 12/13/16 at 11:09pm

Circle of Life is SO great it makes the rest of the show seem bland.

The 2014 Brazilian production of Man of la Mancha had a really great opening as well. I got chills everytime I saw Aldonza there.

[malteseh]

Posted: 12/14/16 at 11:06am

The Ballad Of Mack The Knife (Die Moritat), from Threepenny Opera

[malteseh]

Posted: 12/14/16 at 11:08am

Totally Effed: YES! Love Hedwig!
Updated On: 12/14/16 at 11:08 AM

[Famebroadway2]

Posted: 12/14/16 at 1:46pm

Hands down.... 

20 Million People from My Favorite Year 

[Dollypop]

Posted: 12/14/16 at 9:35pm

"Call on Dolly!"

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 12/14/16 at 9:51pm

The entire 20 minute opening sequence before the board the ship in TITANIC is absolutely stunning. 

[5377brian]

Posted: 12/15/16 at 7:02am

Beautiful from Heathers.

Old Red Hills of Home from Parade

Tear Me Down from Hedwig

 

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 12/15/16 at 8:50am

The songs I thought of right away have been mentioned before but will add them anyway "Good Morning Baltimore" and "Hello".