Best Act I Finales - Page 3

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/3/09 at 3:28pm

How about The Who's Tommy with "Pinball Wizard" and the pinball machine spinning around with all the pyrotechnic effects? That was cool.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 5/3/09 at 3:31pm

the ending of the first act of Fiddler on the Roof is pretty intense, I think. especially since it doesn't end with the demonstration, but Tevye simply telling everyone they ought to clean up.

[seemynameinlights]

Posted: 5/3/09 at 3:49pm

Those posters? I could never be that linear where I could be characterized by a single personality trait. "resent myself" Save the melo-dramatic sarcasm for someone who is actually dim-witted enough to let that belittle them. You say that as if you have some kind of reputation that is worth salvaging outside of a broadway forum.

There is no wrong or right answer to this question. It is completely opinionated. Granted, my opinions may be a little cliche, but that doesnt mean that it shouldn't have that opinion.

And Blaxx, are you bored? It takes time to try and humilate someone and you seem to be very adamant about it. Does it make you feel good? Are you bitter about something? It seems as though you are condeming people for having a younger taste in musicals, but some of us are young, and that's nothing to be ashamed of. It would be stupid to let someone such as the likes of you intimidate people from voicing an opinion.

The fact that so many people can have differences of opinion but cannot agree to disagree is just ignorant. I myself admit that I shouldnt have made the hasty generalization that people who dont agree with "Defying Gravity" being the best are being biased, but that's just the thing I can admit that I am wrong. But putting people down, pathetic.

Updated On: 5/3/09 at 03:49 PM

[B3TA07]

Posted: 5/3/09 at 3:53pm

Really with the apostrophe misuse?

[seemynameinlights]

Posted: 5/3/09 at 4:00pm

"Really with the apostrophe misuse?"

Where?
Updated On: 5/3/09 at 04:00 PM

[laura is broadway]

Posted: 5/3/09 at 5:20pm

Andallthatjazz- thank you for posting that Cabaret video, I just watched the whole show and it seriously made my day :).... Truly, an incredible show.

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/3/09 at 5:24pm

dE fYiNG gRavity

If u DoNTT ThiNK sOSoo. uR AN iDotiot.

[GoodbyeLoveRENT]

Posted: 5/3/09 at 8:57pm

I love Billy Elliot's Act I finale, "Angry Dance". The dancing is SO superb that the audience goes into intermission thinking "Wow!"

[winston89]

Posted: 5/3/09 at 9:25pm

CATSNYrevival, The mirrored, spinning, pyrotechnic pinball machine was not how act one of Tommy ended. Yes, Pinball Wizard was the act one closer but that effect of the song that your talking about was what was going on during act II when they reprised the song in conjunction with I'm Free.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/3/09 at 9:33pm

Thanks. I've only seen clips so I wasn't sure.

[winston89]

Posted: 5/3/09 at 9:39pm

Not a problem. Just trying to clarify.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 5/3/09 at 10:15pm

seemynameinlights - The thread title.

[sanda]

Posted: 5/3/09 at 10:33pm

Chess-Anthem

[Theatrical Landladies]

Posted: 5/4/09 at 6:16am

SUNDAY IN THE PARK - SUNDAY
INTO THE WOODS - EVER AFTER
A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC - WEEKEND IN THE COUNTRY
SWEENEY TODD - A LITTLE PRIEST
FOLLIES - TOO MANY MORNINGS
GYPSY - EVERYTHING'S COMING UP ROSES
(Bit of a Sondheim nut sorry!)

also
CITY OF ANGELS - YOU'RE NOTHING WITHOUT ME
LA CAGE AUX FOLLES - I AM WHAT I AM
THE PRODUCERS - ALONG CAME BIALLY
WITCHES OF EASTWICK - I WISH I MAY

[gvendo2005]

Posted: 5/4/09 at 8:07am

Okay, now I've ever actually seen it done this way, but in the 1997 Lyceum production of JCS, they moved "The Last Supper" and "Gethsemane" to the end of Act 1 pre-intermission break, and with a good vocalist like Ted Neeley, one could really see this as a powerful Act 1 closer.

Think about this for a second, really. One of the show's main themes is choice and the removal of choice by the forces of politics and public opinion. Throughout the show, characters make choices that will greatly affect the outcome of events. And nowhere in the show is a greater choice made, or a choice with more impact, than in this scene. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus has serious doubts about what he's gotten into and he considers whether or not he can choose to stop, to get out while he's still alive. He decides that the choice is not his. And we're not sure if he's right, because the show doesn't categorically throw its opinion in with any established belief system.

One man chooses to die without knowing the outcome. And no one, not even the audience, not even he himself, is sure it's the right choice. Freaking amazing theater.

Updated On: 5/4/09 at 08:07 AM

[manic_magic_n2n2]

Posted: 5/4/09 at 8:42am

I won't lie and say that these are the BEST act one finales, but here are some of my personal favorites, in no particular order:

Sweeney: A Little Priest
Urinetown: Act One Finale (is the song title)
Gypsy: Everything's Coming Up Roses
Side Show: Who Will Love Me As I Am
Wicked: Defying Gravity
Dracula: Life After Life (though I really did NOT like the show--only two memorable songs)

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 5/4/09 at 9:08am

'Cry Baby'
It meant I could leave!

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 5/4/09 at 9:22am

Dreamgirls - And I Am Telling You , jawdropping, easily the best.
Witches Of Eastwick -London Production
Carrie - I Remember How Those Boys Could Dance, powerhouse song with great performances
Rent

[sondhead]

Posted: 5/4/09 at 9:42am

Secret Garden
Piazza
Gypsy
Sweeney Todd

[wickedfan]

Posted: 5/4/09 at 10:28am

One more that hasn't been mentioned yet:
Michael Jordan's Ball-The Full Monty. Fantastic, underrated show that, unfortunately, had to stand in the shadow of The Producers (it was only a massive hit for about four months before The Producers opened, and then it slowly declined to a modest success). It's Act 1 Finale was absolutely infectious. Incredible choreography that was brilliantly executed by its cast members.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 5/4/09 at 12:27pm

I love "Gethsemane," but I also think "Damned for All Time / Blood Money" is a good Act I finale as well.

[gvendo2005]

Posted: 5/4/09 at 12:43pm

It's not that I don't agree with that assertion, I strongly agree, but I would love to see how they made "Gethsemane" work as an Act 1 closer.

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 5/4/09 at 3:20pm

It's hard to surpass either "Sunday" from SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE or "One Day More" from LES MISERABLES.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 5/4/09 at 3:27pm

'Cry Baby'
It meant I could leave!

LMAO!!!! Totally true!!!

[StephenSondheimWHOO]

Posted: 5/4/09 at 4:16pm

Hair- Where Do I Go?