Best opening numbers!

[DefyingGravity2]

Posted: 1/27/04 at 10:53pm

I'm just wondering what everyone thinks is the best opening (or some of the best openingS) on Broadway Past/Present.
EXAMPLE:
Evita, in the movie theater straight in to the "requiem evita" of "oh, what a circus" and i can think of lots more that i'll post after you all do!!!

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 1/27/04 at 10:57pm

Thoroughly Modern Millie and Avenue Q :)

[Alix]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 12:07am

Definetly CABARET!

[mebice]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 12:14am

I must admit....if you miss 5 mins of cabaret...you miss the best part of the show. The opening number is the best. Well, of the ones I have seen. I like Millie a lot too. I know I am forgeting some.

[Mattio98]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 12:15am

Cabaret and Chicago have always stood out in my mind. I guess Kander and Ebb really know how to start a show. I'm also fond of the beginning of Sweeney Todd. The greek chorus thing just works so well for that show.

Posted: 1/28/04 at 12:24am

"Four Jews in a Room B*tching" from Falsetttos
"Summer You'll Always Remember" from SUmmer of ''42
"Company" from Company
"Scrap" from Full Monty
"We Dance" from Once of this Island
"A Man of No Importance" from A Man of No Importance"
The Heat is on in Saigon from Miss Saigon

[Crazy4MattMorrison52]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 12:29am

hairspray and lsoh

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 12:32am

I also LOVE Millie's opening- that opening with Millie full back to the audience staring at the wonder of New York City, can't, in my opinion be compared to many other things on Broadway.

I also like Hairspray's- "Good Morning, Baltimore" with her in her bed waking up.


Fiddler and Into The Woods have introductions that REALLY set up the story, and let you know everything in the first scene. I love those two openings, as well as Nine's "Overture dell donne".

[StateOfJade]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 12:38am

'Rent' from RENT. I love how the stage just sort of explodes with movement and excitement.

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 5:49am

Definetely " All That Jazz" from Chicago! I also like RENT and "Good Morning Baltimore" and of course "The Circle of Life" from Lion King. I know i like more, but I just can't remember them right now.

Take care

[magruder]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 6:03am

A really well written or well staged opening number can jolt a show to life... A few that come to mind...

"Cotton Blossom" from SHOW BOAT
"He Had Twins" from THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE
"This Time of the Year" from FINIAN'S RAINBOW
"Runyonland/Fugue for Tinhorns" from GUYS AND DOLLS
"A Typical Day" from LI'L ABNER
"Little Old New York" from TENDERLOIN
"Comedy Tonight" from A FUNNY THING ... FORUM
"How to" from HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING
"Wilkommen" from CABARET
"Company" from COMPANY
"I Hope I Get It" from A CHORUS LINE
"All That Jazz" from CHICAGO
"20 Million People" from MY FAVORITE YEAR
"Circle of Life" from THE LION KING
"Good Morning Baltimore" from HAIRSPRAY

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 6:42am

I enjoyed 42nd Street's opening.

[Menken Fan]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 7:50am

The opening sequences from Grand Hotel and Titanic were terrific. They were mini-epics, introducing the story and many of the characters.

[rlbgbc]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 8:22am

"Walk Him Up The Stairs" -- PURLIE. Interesting case of the most exciting number in the show happening within the first 15 minutes.

[StrictlyShowtunes]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 9:19am

"Side Show" has a pretty great opening number. Also "Hedwig," LaChuisa's "Wild Party" and my favorite overture of all time, "Nine."

[Elphie]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 9:20am

I agree with lots of these, but here are some others.

Damn Yankees- "Six Months out of Every Year"

Annie Get Your Gun- "There's No Business Like Show Business"

Footloose- "Footloose"- I loved how the ripped down the banner- that was awesome, even though I cant take this show anymore...
I also saw Footloose at a young adult community theatre group and I thought there opening was cute- they had the curtain lift up in certain parts displaying peoples' feet- they had point shoes, high heels, sandels dancing just like in the movie- It was cute

Swing!- "It Don't Mean a Thing"

[NYCbabe3789]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 9:37am

All that Jazz~CHICAGO
The Circle of Life~LION KING
Every Story is a Love Story~AIDA
Rent~RENT
Wilkommen~CABARET
Little Shop of Horrors~LSOH
Good Morning Baltimore~HAIRSPRAY

Posted: 1/28/04 at 9:54am

The Overture to Candide is one of the most exciting four and a half minutes I've ever had in a theatre.

[AugustBurns2]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 11:32am

I would like to add: "Will-a-mania" from the Will Rodgers Follies. I didn't like the show (what was the purpose of Act II), but I loved the opening number. The exciting dancing on the steps, and the sprited music itself. I was humming that song for a few days.

[robbiej]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 12:03pm

MenkenFan,

That TITANIC opening was astonishing. I was in tears by the end of it! Too bad the show proceeded to sink like the ship it's named after.

[Phantom2]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 12:11pm

Hands down, "Good Morning Baltimore". All hell breaks loose!

[jesseeinstein]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 12:13pm

The Producers-Opening Night

[wickedfan]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 12:16pm

Cabaret-Definatley!
Into the Woods
Grand Hotel

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 12:43pm

without a doubt, Willkommen. Mebice, I couldn't have said it better myself. It was easily one of the best numbers in Cabaret. From the second I saw Emcee's eyes, I was hooked. Lion King and Rent too. I love how Roger just comes out, and it takes a while for people to realize the show is starting. and I remember seeing the Lion King and my jaw just dropping when it started. oh, and I can't forget Millie!

Updated On: 1/28/04 at 12:43 PM

[JakeB]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 1:09pm

Both have identical openings -

THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE and WITCHES OF EASTWICK

It starts off with an innocent looking girl singing a solo and then the ensemble bursting onto the stage. Both send shivers down my spine.