This is pissing me off. It's called the "Act One Finale" not the number before intermission. You never see a song list in a program with "Number Before Intermission" listed... c'mon.
The Boy Next Door: picturing Hugh shaking his very nice butt and sliding on the piano.
Defying Gravity: I still get chills when I listen to it.
"You can't stop someone who wants to be an artist. If they're going to do it, they're going to do it... Work as hard as you can on the things you can work on. Until it seems like there is no possible chance you're going to succeed, don't give up." ~ANDREW ASNES
avatar: me and jason gillman... in the pouring rain.
I second the vote about Urinetown, it has to be one of my favorites. i also agree with the post about Big Blond and Beautiful. It wasn't the strongest song to end the act with. I saw Wicked in previews and that was the first time I heard defying gravity and I took my breath away. In fact the one problem with that show would be that no number in the second act can top it.
Keep the peace, take care of each other, and may you find your promised land.
-TJST
It's priest. Have a little priest. Is really good? Sir, it's too good At least. Then again they don't come with sins of the flesh So it's pretty fresh.
WickedRocks: Are you thinking "We're in the Money"? There is something else after that, but Dorothy only sings for a minute and then there is dialogue.
"Jimmy" from Thoroughly Modern Millie "Defying Gravity" from Wicked "Act 1 Finale" from Urinetown "Defying Gravity" from Wicked "Along Came Bialy" from The Producers "Be Our Guest" from Beauty and the Beast "All I Ask of You" from Phantom of the Opera (okay, not exactly right before intermission)
"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611
OH NO! I forgot Priest. Best lyrics ever written. It's also a great experience to be in an audience who isn't familiar with the show during that number to hear their gasps. Some of them just didn't know what they were getting into.
Keep the peace, take care of each other, and may you find your promised land.
-TJST
I was in Awe Lovett! And it was only intermission! And I meant to include that "I Got Love" was like the "And I am Telling You" of the 70's. It was one of tose songs you went to the show to hear. For anyone not familiar with the show "Purlie" it was sung by Melba Moore.
I love the interaction with the audience in the Act I finale of 42nd Street. Marsh tells the audience that Dorothy cannot go on with the show (like it is really happening). He yells "HOUSE LIGHTS!" and they come up. Intermission.
Hm, I think "One Day more" has got to take the cake on this one. But "La Vie Boheme" is a defenite runner up, as well as "Defying Gravity", "If I can't love her".
I can't control
my destiny.
I trust my soul
my only goal
is just to be
One day More I Got Rythm La Vie Boheme And though I've never seen Dreamgirls and Wicked I have to agree that Defying Gravity and And I am Telling you... are both fantastic songs !
shneb28, the Wizard of Oz act one finale is a brief reprise of "We're Off to See the Wizard", not "You're Out of the Woods" which is actually titled "Optimistic Voices" in most productions, except the concert version, which was butchered, so don't go there....
Defying Gravity, IMO, is the best there can be. Its both visually and musically amazing. I mean, how many other shows have that kind of an ending to a song, all while the character is high above the stage? The only thing that would make the number better is if Elphie flys over the audience, but I don't think that that'd be too fun for her... lol
Act One Finale from Urinetown is also good, because its a great part of the story to stop at. Plus, the line "cuz we're moving so damn slowly" would leave me cracking up for the entire intermission. The CD does!
One from Bare is also good, it sounds good, however, I don't know what going on onstage... well, I do, but I don't know what it looks like lol. Anyone care to PM me and shed some light? Thanks!
There's a Fine... from Ave Q is a great song, but I don't much like it as the Act 1 finale. I don't know, maybe its just me.
If I Can't Love Her from B&B is also a good one, at least vocally.
Along Came Bialy, altho not the best spot to stop, is a great finale.
For me, the Wedding Scene in Fiddler ranks up there with Defying Gravity. I know its not a number, to say, but its just so powerful. I saw a HS production of Fiddler (which was based on the revival; apparently the director went to see the show a couple of times lol), and you could literally hear a pin drop. It was intense.
"And I'm Telling You..." from Dreamgirls "Everything's Coming Up Roses" from Gypsy "A New Argentina" from Evita "I Am What I Am" from LaCage "Tomorrow Belongs to Me" - the reprise in Cabaret at the wedding party "Too Many Mornings" - for the various productions of Follies that make the break here for two acts! "Defying Gravity" from Wicked
