BEST MUSICAL OPENING NUMBER

[broadwaybabywannabe2]

Posted: 10/7/17 at 12:45pm

Best Overture gave me this idea...what would you rank as THE BEST OPENING MUSICAL NUMBERS in a Broadway Show?...

here are mine:

A Little Night Music..."Overture/Night Waltz"...OBC...sets the tone perfectly for what is to come

Book Of Mormon..."Hello"

Sweeney Todd...'Prelude/The Ballad of Sweeney Todd"

 

 

Updated On: 10/7/17 at 12:45 PM

[BroadwayRox3588]

Posted: 10/7/17 at 12:47pm

My top 3 (in no particular order):

"Tradition" Fiddler on the Roof

"Alexander Hamilton" Hamilton

"Prologue" The Great Comet

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 10/7/17 at 12:48pm

BroadwayRox3588... I was literally about to write all three of those. Like, exactly those three. LOL.

[broadwaybabywannabe2]

Posted: 10/7/17 at 12:50pm

BroadwayRox3588 said: "My top 3 (in no particular order):

"Tradition"Fiddler on the Roof



Oh dear how could i ever forget "TRADITION" from Fiddler...thanks for making me remember...:)

 

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 10/7/17 at 12:54pm

"Hello" - Book of Mormon

"Tradition" - Fiddler on the Roof

"Prologue" - The Great Comet

The Jets and Sharks Dance in WSS

Carousel Waltz in Carousel

"Hamilton" from Hamilton

'Wilkommen" from Cabaret

"Beautiful Girls" from Follies

 

[musikman]

Posted: 10/7/17 at 12:59pm

The openings/prologues to Ragtime, Titanic and Into the Woods own this if only for their epic scope. 

[Itonlytakesajourney]

Posted: 10/7/17 at 1:21pm

Ragtime is my absolute favorite. The way it establishes all of the characters and racial/ethnic groups is so well-done, and the choreography and characterization go so well with the music. 

Who would I be if I didn't include Anastasia somewhere on this list? The Dance of the Romanov's is absolutely gorgeous.

Some other favorites:

No One Mourns The Wicked- Wicked

Prologue- West Side Story

Just Like it Was Before- Bandstand

Hello- Book of Mormon

Picture Show- Bonnie & Clyde

[Cesare2]

Posted: 10/7/17 at 1:42pm

All That Jazz "Chicago"; Comedy Tonight "Forum";  & Rock Island "The Music Man" --

all three effectively and entertainingly set up the plot and tone of the show that is to follow.

[CallMeAl2]

Posted: 10/7/17 at 2:44pm

I thought this would be a hard choice - all of the numbers mentioned start their shows with a bang. But then I remembered "Circle of Life" from The Lion King and realized that there is actually one opening that is head and shoulders (and trunk and hoof) above anything else - in my opinion, of course.

 

 

[CallMeAl2]

Posted: 10/7/17 at 2:57pm

No, I'm wrong.

For me, it's a tie. I forgot about "I Hope I Get It" from A Chorus Line.

 

[ethan231h]

Posted: 10/7/17 at 3:31pm

Prologue from Great Comet

Magic To Do from Pippin 2013

Selling Out from American Psycho

Welcome To The Rock from Come From Away

In The Heights, ITH

[WaffleOnWheels]

Posted: 10/7/17 at 3:49pm

I may be bias because it was the first show I saw on Bway, and I started crying as soon as the curtain rose, but Welcome to the Renaissance  from Something Rotten will always hold a place in my heart. 

[JayG 2]

Posted: 10/8/17 at 7:22am

Original Company. Nothing like it. Startling, original, breathtakingly brilliant. 

[The Other One]

Posted: 10/8/17 at 7:36am

Adding the Prologue and Fugue For Tinhorns from "Guys and Dolls" to the already listed stellar choices.

[RndmAnswrs4RndmQstns]

Posted: 10/8/17 at 7:55am

I have a soft spot for openings that introduce characters/the plot in a summary or list a la "Tradition" from Fiddler on the Roof (so "Prologue" from Great Comet and Ragtime, "In the Heights" from ITH and "Alexander Hamilton" from Hamilton I suppose all fit the bill).

"Just Another Day" from Next to Normal.

"Prelude/The Ballad of Sweeney Todd" is always a killer.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 10/8/17 at 9:34am

Circle of Life from The Lion King is my favorite. An absolutely stunning 6 minutes of theater. Shame the rest of the show can't live up to it. 

I also love the opening numbers from Ragtime and Titanic because of the way they seamlessly integrate exposition with sensational singing on a large scale. I'm generally not a fan of opening numbers where characters come out and introduce themselves to the audience, but it works perfectly here. 

[carolinaguy]

Posted: 10/8/17 at 9:44am

In terms of establishing characters, relationships, and setting, nothing tops “Good Morning, Good Day” from She Loves Me for me. 

[uncageg]

Posted: 10/8/17 at 9:47am

A few of my favorites have already been mentioned (Mormon, Heathers). But I think my favorite is still "Walk Him Up the Stairs" from PURLIE.

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 10/8/17 at 9:47am

I also want to shout out musicals that do not start with an opening number.

I think the best of those is DEH. Evan's nervous jittery monologue is absolutely perfect for setting up his character, and it leads beautifully into his I Want song "Waving Through a Window."

[ggersten]

Posted: 10/8/17 at 10:21am

Most of my favorites (because "Best" is so subjective) have been mentioned.

I am partial to "I Hope I Get It" (A Chorus Line) and "It's Your Wedding Day" (Wedding Singer) because how they just explode off the stage.  "Fugue for TinHorns" (Guys and Dolls), "Tradition" (Fiddler) (and it's offspring "In The Heights" and  "Comedy Tonight" (Forum), to me, are perfect introductions to shows.  "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd" is eliminated because of that *@#$%^& factory whistle.  And, the off stage beginning of "Oh What A Beautiful Mornin'" (Oklahoma), even today, seems fresh and different.

I guess i can toss in "There You Are" (The Mystery of Edwin Drood).  

So, I guess top Five:

5.  Oh What A Beautiful Mornin'

4. Comedy Tonight

3. It's Your Wedding Day

2. Tradition

1. I Hope I Get It  

[youwillbefound2]

Posted: 10/8/17 at 10:28am

1. Circle of Life from Lion King

2. Beautiful from Heathers

3. Prologue from Great Comet 

4. Belle (does that count as an opening?) from Beauty and the Beast

5. Mama Who Bore Me from Spring Awakening

[broadwaybabywannabe2]

Posted: 10/8/17 at 11:36am

RndmAnswrs4RndmQstns said: 
"Prelude/TheBallad of Sweeney Todd" is always a killer."

HAHAHA i get it...:)

 

[AKarp2013]

Posted: 10/8/17 at 11:46am

In no particular order:

1. "Good Morning Baltimore" from Hairspray

2. "Preludium" into "The Sound of Music" from Sound of Music

3. "Ragtime"

4. The entire "Launching" sequence from Titanic

5. "Circle of Life" from The Lion King

[thirtythirtyninety]

Posted: 10/8/17 at 12:12pm

Certainly LION KING

GRAND HOTEL

TITANIC

PIPPIN

PASSION

RAGTIME

HAIRSPRAY

FANTASTICKS

[BroadwayMan5]

Posted: 10/8/17 at 12:23pm

My 10 Favorites, Not in Order:

Prologue - Ragtime
Circle of Life - The Lion King
Tradition - Fiddler on the Roof
The Carousel Waltz - Carousel
It's Your Wedding Day - The Wedding Singer
Magic to Do - Pippin
Alexander Hamilton - Hamilton
Audition - 42nd Street
Prologue - Into the Woods
Runyonland - Guys & Dolls