Best Opening (Not Overture) Number in a Musical — Page 4

A Chorus Line
Ragtime

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Audition from 42nd Street
Wilkommen from Cabaret
I Hope I Get It from A Chorus Line

Don't shoot me but . . .
Jellicle Songs from you know what

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

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"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

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I am reviving this thread :)

Anyways...

"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".

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Tower of Babble/Prepare Ye....

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I like the Hannibal scene in Phantom.

Also,

No One Mourns The Wicked
All That Jazz

theres too many good ones!

All That Jazz-Chicago
I hope I get It-A Chorus Line
The Ballad of Sweeney Todd-Sweeney Todd

Honorable Mention

Every Story-Aida
No One Mourns The Wicked- Wicked

"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.

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My favorite is the Audition Dance from 42nd Street... I love the way the curtain rises up and all you see is the 'dancing feet' for a few seconds. :)

I also love the Prologue of Into the Woods, and Ragtime's opening.

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"giving them what they want from DRS"

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?

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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.