BEST MUSICAL OPENING NUMBER — Page 2

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

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

god i love a great opening number for a bway musical....

hello-bom

alexander hamilton ham

anotther day-ntn

Oh what a beautiful morning oklahomA

Surprised no one's said Rent - that's right up there for me. In no order, at least for right now:

Rent - Rent

Prologue - Great Comet

Circle of Life - Lion King

In the Heights - In the Heights

Welcome to the Rock - Come from Away (haven't seen it, but love it from just listening)

“If You Knew My Story” from Brightstar with Carmen Cusack.

Kudos to all of you who listed my #1 - RAGTIME! What a glorious opening... esp. at the climax of the piece once everyone's been introduced - truly stunning, stirring music and staging.

And also kudos to the poster who mentioned Circle of Life, and that it was the reason to see Lion King alone - I personally agree. Nothing after it was nearly as interesting - and as wonderful as the opening was, I was so disappointed in the rest of it that I'm still bitter it beat out Ragtime for the Tony... (and this is from a big Disney fan).

Thanks for the amusement. Any lists that included no shows over a decade old are amusing and even if those lists include a show that IS over a decade old it's only because it was recently revived.

So, let me be the older person who mentions what has always been one of the greatest opening numbers in the history of musicals - four minutes of absolute perfection - setting the world of the show and introducing almost every major character in the show, along with what we're in store for. It is and will always be my favorite opening number ever written - It's a Typical Day from Li'l Abner. Now quick, go look it up :)

Even though "St. Bridgette" opens "Mame," it's more of a prologue.........I would have to say "It's Today" is a fantastic opening number!

The Old Red Hills of Home from PARADE is perfect. I still don't understand how a song could make me sympathize with the Jim Crow south, but it does.

Similarly, The New World Opening from SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD is so well written and stands alone as just a fantastic piece of music.

Four Jews... from FALSETTOS is a pretty brilliant opening.

The Prologues from WEST SIDE STORY and RAGTIME.

Tradition from FIDDLER.