Best Act I Finales

We've all heard them. They are the dramatic ballods/soliloquies that get us to come back to our seats after we go to the bathroom during intermission. From songs that bring the entire cast on stage (Such as Rent's La Vie Boheme), to the small scale-but equally dramatic-Reprise of Some Enchanted Evening from South Pacific...all are trul memorable. So let's hear your favorites! For simplicity sake please start each of your posts like this

Show : Act I Finale Song/Quote

Than your explanation


Please feel free to repeat/agree with other posts

I'll Start if off
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Les Miserables : One Day More

First of all this happens to be a tremendous song. I mean who doesn't tear up a little when you see the iconic image of the entire cast in a wedge with a red flag flying above them. Each of them is ready to die, fighting for the cause they believe in. The trumpets are sounding, the drums are beating, the people are singing (pun intended), and the stage is rotating. This image-not only makes up the majority of promotional material- is the image that comes to mind when most people think Les Miz. The tremendous harmony of the song is unbelievable!!

Updated On: 11/3/10 at 07:24 PM

Gypsy - Everything's Coming Up Roses
Sunday in the Park With George - Sunday

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Crazy for You -I Got Rhythm

Best Act I Finale's what?

Thi's new poster think's that all word's use apostrophe's.

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I thought the be-in towards the end of Hair's first act was brilliant. When the men burned their draft cards while the women pounded on the floor and screamed, it was definitely the most intense moment I've ever experienced in the theatre.

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"
"You will curse the day you did not do all that the Phantom asked of you!" ... the chords ... the cackling ... the chandelier! Truly iconic. "

It's one of my favourite moments in the show but I think 'iconic' might be stretching it a bit far :P.

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Transylvania Mania from Young Frankenstein
Along Came Bialy from The Producers is also a really good one.

Updated On: 5/4/09 at 08:24 PM

Sunday in the Park with George. My God. It's magical.

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"A Weekend in the Country" from A Little Night Music is another favorite of mine.

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Miss Saigon: "I'd Give My Life for You" - Kim sings this heartwrenching song about her love for her son, and then she, Tam, and the Engineer join the boat people, who are singing "No place, no home, no life, no hope, no chance, no change, no regret, no return, no goodbye, one day, one night, one day" In the productions I saw, there was fog onstage, and then the curtain fell.

Aida: Say what you will about this musical, but "The God Loves Nubia" is a very powerful scene, IMO.

The Light in the Piazza - Not only is "Say it Somehow" a gorgeous song, there's that sudden shock when Margaret opens the door. Very dramatic.

Ragtime - "'Til We Reach That Day" is just an awesome song.

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Does any Act I finale send audiences to intermission more "wowed" that WICKED's DEFYING GRAVITY?

The list is so long it wouldn't fit here.

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I was less than impressed with Defying Gravity. Here's this (over written, frequently over "sung" (screamed)) song about flying and showing of power. Then the climax comes and she lifts.... and then sits there waving a broom while pretty lights come up. In WITCHES OF EASTWICK THREE women flew AROUND the auditorium! THAT's impressive. Don't tell me that it wouldn't have been possible for Elphie to buzz the audience with her broom. Lame.

The end of the first act of CARRIE is kind of fun, with the fire bursting from the stage and her hands on fire.

I'm also a BIG fan of the staging for the end of the first act of Lord of the Rings, with the wind blowing into the audience's faces. Intense.

"Does any Act I finale send audiences to intermission more "wowed" that WICKED's DEFYING GRAVITY?"


Yes, most in fact do.

My favorite - "A Little Priest" from Sweeney Todd

Updated On: 5/3/09 at 09:50 PM