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Best Opening (Not Overture) Number in a Musical

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#1

Best Opening (Not Overture) Number in a Musical

Posted: 12/22/05 at 12:17pm

The 3 songs in a row thread really got me thinking...I love opening numbers!

Best Opening Number to See:
The Circle of Life - The Lion King
I Hope I Get It: A Chorus Line (The final beats are amazing)

Best Opening Numbers on CD: (not in any order)

There You Are- The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Come Look at the Freaks - Side Show
The Ballad of Sweeney Todd - Sweeney Todd
The entire Opening Sequence - Grand Hotel:The Musical
"Cor! me bones is weary!" -Mrs. Lovett
#4

re: Best Opening (Not Overture) Number in a Musical

Posted: 12/22/05 at 12:26pm

Umm... I love statues and stories on the CD. Also, you have to love 25th Annual opening.

Um... All that jazz, opening night... I love all openings kind of.

Rent sadly loses this contest.

TRADITION! (Top of my list) along with Comedy Tonight!

Good morning baltimore is up there, but not the top.

Into the Woods' opening is pretty good too. but soooo looooong.

The old red hills of home and the new world!

sorry, i did that entirely in fragments, but i think you get the drift.
#6

re: Best Opening (Not Overture) Number in a Musical

Posted: 12/22/05 at 12:28pm

You can basically leave The Lion King after "Circle of Life" (and I kinda recommend you do). But wow that number was very powerful for me.

Phantom when the chandelier goes up and the theatre reverts to the way it was is awesome. I know its during the overture sort of, but it isn't your typical overture since it comes after the auction scene.

Les Mis, The Work Song (Look Down)always gets me.
#7

re: Best Opening (Not Overture) Number in a Musical

Posted: 12/22/05 at 12:30pm

all that jazz
"Grease," the fourth revival of the season, is the worst show in the history of theater and represents an unparalleled assault on Western civilization and its values. - Michael Reidel
#8

re: Best Opening (Not Overture) Number in a Musical

Posted: 12/22/05 at 12:32pm

I don't know if this counts because its a movie but I guess I'll throw it in there. Sound of Music w/ Julie Andrews coming over the ridge of the hill always gets me. It's so cool when you watch the docs and find out how hard it was for them to get those shots.
#9

re: Best Opening (Not Overture) Number in a Musical

Posted: 12/22/05 at 12:40pm

Yes "Circle of Life" was quite something. Unfortunately it set up the rest of the show because once that number was over it pretty much went downhill from there but a great opening nonetheless.
"Smart! And into all those exotic mystiques -- The Kama Sutra and Chinese techniques. I hear she knows more than seventy-five. Call me tomorrow if you're still alive!"
#10

re: Best Opening (Not Overture) Number in a Musical

Posted: 12/22/05 at 12:45pm

wilkommen from Cabaret
and
giving them what they want from DRS

to name a couple...
you may know what you need but to get what you want better see that you keep what you have
#11

re: Best Opening (Not Overture) Number in a Musical

Posted: 12/22/05 at 12:46pm

The opening sequence for TITANIC gave me absolute chills when I saw it in the theatre. We had tickets to a Saturday matinee within 2 weeks of it's opening in April of 1997. As all you know probably know, the reviews were mixed, nothing to rave about. So, there we were in a theatre that was 3/4 filled at best and this show begins. Fast forward to 12 minutes later when the "Godspeed Titanic" finale begins and the Ensemble hits that glorious C major chord at the end of the number. I just remember going, "Wow!" I am currently in a production of the show now, and it still gives me goosebumps.
#14

re: Best Opening (Not Overture) Number in a Musical

Posted: 12/22/05 at 12:51pm

This is a bit obscure, but I like the beginning of Pirates of Penzance.

To name some "newer" shows...Give them what they want-DRS and the Ballad of Sweeney Todd.
It was 6 hours, I don't even like to have sex and eat bacon for 6 hours.
Freddy Benson- Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
#16

re: Best Opening (Not Overture) Number in a Musical

Posted: 12/22/05 at 1:21pm

I love "All That Jazz".

And I think "There's No Business Like Show Business," no matter how ubiquitous it is, sets a really good mood for the rest of Annie Get Your Gun. It's fun and so TRUE.

"Madame Guillotine" from The Scarlet Pimpernel is really intense and cool.

I also love "The Work Song". Who doesn't?
#17

re: Best Opening (Not Overture) Number in a Musical

Posted: 12/22/05 at 1:23pm

Ragtime is good, and Kiss Me Kate, and 42nd St hands down.
Stop worrying if your vision is new. Let others make that decision- They usually do. You keep moving on. Anything you do, Let it come from you. Then it will be new. Give us more to see... ~Sunday In the Park with George
#19

re: Best Opening (Not Overture) Number in a Musical

Posted: 12/22/05 at 1:25pm

All That Jazz
Before the Morning from "Marie Christine"

(justagirl2, that person in your avatr looks very familiar. Who is that?)
http://www.beintheheights.com/katnicole1 (Please click and help me win!) I chose, and my world was shaken- So what?
The choice may have been mistaken, The choosing was not... "Every day has the potential to be the greatest day of your life." - Lin-Manuel Miranda
"And when Idina Menzel is singing, I'm always slightly worried that her teeth are going to jump out of her mouth and chase me." - Schmerg_the_Impaler
#21

re: Best Opening (Not Overture) Number in a Musical

Posted: 12/22/05 at 1:40pm

Phantom is really cool wih the Chandelir going up.

Statues and Stories from PIAZZA was great as well.

No one mourns the wicked from W*cked is pretty well done on stage.
MARGARET: "Clara, stop that. That's illegal." - The Light in the Piazza

"I'm not in Bambi and I'm not blonde!" - Idina Menzel
#23

re: Best Opening (Not Overture) Number in a Musical

Posted: 12/22/05 at 2:28pm

I love the Ragtime opening as well.
I also love Madame Guillotine, that being said, I love Kgshrauder's avatar.
If Percy Blakeney were in Les Mis....

Percy: Sink me! If it isn't Javvurt!
Javert: Zsah-vair, it's pronounced Zsah-vair.
Pecry: But it's spelled J-A-V-E-R-T Javvurt.
Javert: Repeat after me Zsah...Zsah....
Percy: Oh! Zsa-Zsa! Like the Gabor sister! Well I personally have always prefered Eva.
Javert: (Looks for gun)
#24

re: Best Opening (Not Overture) Number in a Musical

Posted: 12/22/05 at 2:34pm

Sunday in the Park... - SITPWG
All That Jazz - Chicago
New York, New York - On the Town
Love Changes Everything - Aspects of Love
Colored Lights - The Rink
Back to School - Grease 2 (not a musical, but a helluva swell flick)


Don't f*ck with me fellas. This ain't my first time at the rodeo.

Updated On: 12/22/05 at 02:34 PM

#25

re: Best Opening (Not Overture) Number in a Musical

Posted: 12/22/05 at 2:37pm

Everybody's Got the Right- Assassins
Let's Have Lunch- Sunset Boulevard
I Hope I Get It- A Chorus Line
Love Changes Everything- Aspects of Love
Company- Company
Keep your morals, I don't have time. Keep your lovers, I'm changing mine! -The Likes of Us

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