Another vote for Titanic here. A very breathtaking 15 minutes of music. From the opening chords through "Godspeed Titanic" it is truly wonderful onstage sequence.
A few other suggestions:
The classic opening songs in Kiss Me, Kate ("Another Opening, Another Show") and Annie Get Your Gun ("There's No Business Like Show Business") are two of musical theatres most recognizable show business anthems.
"Runyonland" from Guys and Dolls
"Ragtime" from, well, Ragtime
"You pile up enough tomorrows, and you'll find you are left with nothing but a lot of empty yesterdays. I don't know about you, but I'd like to make today worth remembering." --Harold Hill from The Music Man
Yeah, I must say Titanic is a favorite as well..its a great way to set the scene for the show.
And I'm not sure if anyone said this because I didn't read every post, but I love the opening to "Your a Good Man Charlie Brown", more on the revival recording with the neat added parts. "Into the Woods" also I love and "Sweeney Todd" is so haunting and awesome. Also "I Hope I Get It" I love love and it starts off the show nicely. Umm..I love "25th Annual..." and "Statues and Stories" makes a good opening to Light in the Piazza.
"Colored Lights" - The Rink The opening segment from "Kiss of the Spider Woman" "All that Jazz" - Chicago "Will-a-Mania" - Will Rogers Follies "There you are" - Edwin Drood Opening from "Into the Woods" "Sweeney Todd" - ALL Versions! "Cabaret" - the 98 revival "Urinetwon" "Good Morning Baltimore" - Hairspray "There's no business like show business" - Elaine Stritch-At Liberty
"It is bad enough that people are dying of AIDS, but no one should die of ignorance." -
Elizabeth Taylor
"Circle of Life" - Lion King [best song from the musical (with close second "Shadowland" and "He Lives in You")]
"We Dance" - Once on this Island [amazing]
"Prologue" - Ragtime [Honestly the best opening number in my eyes]
"Opening Night" - The Producers [for some reason I love this number...starts the comedy out right]
"The New World" - Songs for a New World [gives me chills]
"It's Your Wedding Day" - The Wedding Singer [best song from the show...at least it starts out good]
Honorable Mention: "No One Mourns the Wicked" - Wicked "Work Song" - Les Mis "Every Story is a Love Story" - Aida "Prologue - The Enchantress" - Beauty and the Beast [those coords that remind you of the film as a child just cant be beat]
Yeah my list is long...but I felt the need to celebrate all the best ones :)
"There's No Business Like Show Business" isn't REALLY the opening number of Annie Get Your Gun, even though it became so for the revival. The actual opening number is "Colonel Buffalo Bill", which I like, actually, although it's unlikely to make anyone's list of favorite opening numbers.
And by the way, even though not a note is sung, let's not forget the opening to "The Music Man".
Behind the fake tinsel of Broadway is real tinsel.
Sweeneyfan said; I might have said Ragtime, myself, except that I can't get past the Boy...perhaps the single most annoying child actor/voice to ever grace a Broadway stage....
I totaly agree, but has anyone herd the little boy on the Concept CD???? OH my lord this child is 10 times worse. But Alex Strang (OBC Boy) is not that bad actually. If you judge him off of the CR your inpression of him would be wrong, but once you see him in the show, he totally fits the part as a curious little boy, who is living through a time of change, he works very well, except his annoying Mushroom Haircut!
I'll have them clawing at eachother, like drag queens at a wig sale"
"Opening Night/The King of Broadway" from The Producers "The Circle of Life" from The Lion King "It Sucks to Be Me" from Avenue Q "All That Jazz" from Chicago
"I Ain't Down Yet", the opening number from THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN(1960), with Tammy Grimes and her brothers.It was the thrilling highlight of the show which unfortunately went steadily downhill from there.
how many shows have you seen? it's funny but not jaw-dropping. and love that show, it's one of my favorite, but i really don't think it can compare with some of these amazing opening numbers..
-no one mourns the wicked -the opening in west side story [yah it's a prologue, bite me.=)] -the new world -statues & stories -circle of life [unfortunately] -in aida, i love the way the first song goes in fortune favors the brave, though i guess it doesn't really count as an "opening" persay. -the opening number in WORKING is amazing, if done to justice.
but there are some amazing ones. when an opening is especially outstanding, it really gets you into the rest of the show, it's like bait to the audience where they need to be. and besides, who doesn't love a good opening?
hear my song; it was made for the time when you don't know where to go, listen to the song that i sing, you'll be fine..
OK. Let me start off with saying that I'm not a big fan of the show, but I like Tarzan's opening sequence. Watching it in the video preview on here, I was like wtf? but after seeing it, It makes much more sense. True, the perspectives are a little "different" (when tarzan's parents are basically walking/ descending down the backdrop that's supposed to be the shore) but overall I liked the underwater effects and the projections.
I second Circle of Life, but agree that it basically sets a tone for the rest of the show that isn't met.
I also love the opening number of You're a Good Man Charlie Brown. I know it's a simple show, but I've done it and its one of my favorite theatrical experiences to date, so it will always have a special place with me.
I also liked the opening of Jekyll and Hyde. It sets a good tone for the show, and sucked me in right from the beginning. It's not flashy or anything, but it explains why Dr. Jekyll does what he does.