Lengthy Opening Numbers from the Golden Age
Lengthy Opening Numbers from the Golden Age
#1Lengthy Opening Numbers from the Golden Age
Posted: 7/27/07 at 6:15pmNo Webber or British Pop please. I'm looking to make a cd of legnthy numbers from Broadway's Golden Age. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
#2re: Lengthy Opening Numbers from the Golden Age
Posted: 7/27/07 at 7:12pmI'm not sure I know what you're looking for and I guess my question is how long is long and what constitutes "the Golden Age"? I'll give it a try. How about Wilkommen from Cabaret? Tradition from Fiddler? All That Jazz from Chicago?
starzilla
Chorus Member Joined: 7/27/07
#3re: Lengthy Opening Numbers from the Golden Age
Posted: 7/27/07 at 7:14pm
May not be exactly the age you looking for but the opening to Into the Woods is a great showcase. And also the opening number from Magic Show "Up to his Old Tricks" a personal favorite.
Updated On: 7/27/07 at 07:14 PM
COOOOLkid
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/15/05
#4re: Lengthy Opening Numbers from the Golden Age
Posted: 7/27/07 at 7:20pm
Webber isn't from the Golden Age.
It's from 1940's (I forgot exact year) to 1968, if I remember correctly.
#5re: Lengthy Opening Numbers from the Golden Age
Posted: 7/27/07 at 7:23pm
Oklahoma through Hair
is the Golden Age.
#6re: Lengthy Opening Numbers from the Golden Age
Posted: 7/27/07 at 7:51pmI'm thinking along the lines of "Simple" from Whistle and "Babylove Miracle Show" from Grass Harp.
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#7re: Lengthy Opening Numbers from the Golden Age
Posted: 7/27/07 at 9:03pm
But Simple is an Act I closing number not opening *confused*
Howabout the grandaddy of them all-_Show Boat's full original LENGTHY sung opening, as captured on the great 1980s recording that recreated the original score. Brilliant great stuff that I think ends up being about 10-15 minutes if you go thru Cap'n Andy's Ballyhoo etc
Does West Side Story's Prologue count? 
COOOOLkid
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/15/05
#8re: Lengthy Opening Numbers from the Golden Age
Posted: 7/27/07 at 9:36pmWhat is this for? Just so you could make a CD of lengthy opening numbers from the Golden Age musicals and listen to it?
#9re: Lengthy Opening Numbers from the Golden Age
Posted: 7/27/07 at 11:13pm
Generally the "Golden Age" refers to shows between OKLAHOMA! in 1943 and FIDDLER ON THE ROOF in 1964.
This was a period when many #1 hit songs acme from Broadway shows and when many cast albums reached #1 on teh Billboard Bestsellers Chart.
Lengthy opening numbers from this era: The Carousel Waltz, Runyonland from GUYS AND DOLLS, the prologue from WEST SIDE STORY and Tradition from FIDDLER. Each comes in around 7 minutes. If you go back to SHOW BOAT in 1927 the Cotton Blossom openings equence is quite lengthy.
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#10re: Lengthy Opening Numbers from the Golden Age
Posted: 7/27/07 at 11:21pm
The Overture up to the end of Fugue for Tinhorns in Guys and Dolls runs a good 10 minutes. Of course, the Overture isn't used anymore since the Runyondland dance arrangement is significantly better.
Jon
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
#11re: Lengthy Opening Numbers from the Golden Age
Posted: 7/27/07 at 11:24pm"A Typical Day" from LIL' ABNER is a great opening number - it introduces most of the main characters and sets the mood nicely.
#12re: Lengthy Opening Numbers from the Golden Age
Posted: 7/27/07 at 11:33pm"A Typical Day" is a great opening number...but it's under 5 minutes. I thought the question was asking for lengthy opening numbers?
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
onceadancer2
Leading Actor Joined: 5/22/03
#13re: Lengthy Opening Numbers from the Golden Age
Posted: 7/28/07 at 9:51am
These go way back, but you might want to look into them:
Girl Crazy opening (1930)
Jumbo opening (1935)
Boys From Syracuse (193
: The overture segueing into the opening dialogus segueing into the I Had Twins number.
By Jupiter (1942) - I can not remeber the number, but it was an extended sequence.
Something For the Boys (1943) - had a lengthy opening in which all three of the cousins get news that the house in Texas has been left to them.
On The Town (1944) - Beginning With "Im'm not out of bed yet" segueing into "New York NY" segueing into "Miss Turnstiles."
Wonderful Town opening
West Side Story opening
Carousel opening
And while these are not opening numbers, they were extended dance sequences (running anywhere from 6 - 15 minutes) which could be mentioned:
Johnny One Note Ballet from Babes In Arms (1937)
Honeymoon Ballet from I Married An Angel (193
Joey Looks Into the Future Ballet from Pal Joey (1940)
Oklahoma Act One Finale (1943)
45 Minutes For Lunch Ballet from One Touch of Venus (1943)
Venus In Ozone Heights Ballet from One Touch of Venus (1943)
On The Town Act I Finale (1944)
Coney Island Ballet from On The Town (1944)
Civil War Ballet from Bloomer Girl (1946)
Charleston from Billion Dollar Baby (1945)
South America, Take It Away from Call Me Mister (1946)
Brigadoon Act 1 Finale (1947)
If This Isn't Love Ballet from Finian's Rainbow (1947)
Allegro Ballet from Allegro (1947)
Small House of Uncle Thomas from King and I (1951)
Garden of Eden Ballet from Can Can (1953)
Wish I could think of more.
Miriam
#14re: Lengthy Opening Numbers from the Golden Age
Posted: 7/28/07 at 11:51am
Yes, frontrowcentre, the Golden age is from Oklahoma! to Fiddler on the Roof.
CHECK OUT RICK MCKAY'S DOCUMENTARY, "THE GOLDEN AGE OF BROADWAY." IT IS WONDERFUL!
To Kill A Mockingbird
#15re: Lengthy Opening Numbers from the Golden Age
Posted: 7/28/07 at 12:04pm
Two "lengthy" opening numbers that come to mind that aren't from the Golden Age:
God, I Hope I Get It
Ragtime
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
#16re: Lengthy Opening Numbers from the Golden Age
Posted: 7/28/07 at 2:39pmWow! Thanks for all the suggestions!
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