Best opening numbers!- Page 2

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 2:43pm

Elphie, I was going to say the same thing about Footloose. I love how they did the whole take down the green "sheet" thing. It was different and they did not just use a regular show curtain. It was a very cool visual.

Updated On: 1/28/04 at 02:43 PM

[magruder]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 2:55pm

How about really fun opening numbers from tacky musicals?

"Coney Island U.S.A." from I HAD A BALL
"Academic Fugue" from HENRY, SWEET HENRY
"24 Hours a Day" from GOLDEN RAINBOW
"David Kolowitz, The Actor" from SO LONG, 174th STREET
"We Love an Old Story" from OH, BROTHER!
"Let the Devil Take Us" from THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE GOES PUBLIC

[Broadwaynut81]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 3:55pm

Good Morning Baltimore - HAIRSPRAY
It's Still Rock and Roll to Me - MOVIN OUT
Audition - 42nd STREET
Prologue - INTO THE WOODS

[Menken Fan]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 3:59pm

robbiej,

I'm not sure that the musical Titanic sunk as badly as the ship. I mean, nobody died from the show, as far as I know. But, yes, the opening sequence did set a standard that the rest of the show had trouble matching.

Posted: 1/28/04 at 4:07pm

Magruder....
I love listening to "Let The Devil Take Us" from "Whorehouse II"

and to me the best overture that I have ever seen is hands down....

RAGTIME.

[LouW95]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 4:12pm

Fiddler and Ragtime share many common and wonderful characteristics as far as their opening numbers. They both set the stage for 2 great shows!

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 4:24pm

I loved Nine (revival)'s opening, it was simple yet awesome and energetic with all the great voices. Lion king's is very pleasing to the sences.

Posted: 1/28/04 at 4:35pm

Hairspray... the beginning is always my favorite.
Rocky Horror... gets the crowd into it.
Jesus Christ Superstar... sets up the perspective on the story.
Footloose... Works the same way Rocky Horror's opening does.

-Christina

[BrdwyThtr]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 5:14pm

Hairspray, Cabaret, The Lion King, Footloose, and Cats.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 5:58pm

I'm very partial to the opening numbers of Ragtime and Titanic because the way it set the scene for the rest of the show. Both those openings gave me chills.

I thought the opening to 42nd Street and Hairspray were very entertaining.

Updated On: 1/28/04 at 05:58 PM

[PJ]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 6:01pm

I'm doing Footloose right now at school. We're in rehearsals and I'm playing Wes Warnicker. The opening number is actually pretty good, unlike some of the rest of the score.
-Cabaret and Chicago have great opening numbers.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 6:27pm

The opening for AIDA sets up the closure. I liked how that was done, but I must admit, when you see it for the first time, it is rather boring. At the end, it makes sense, and is forgiveable.

42nd STREET's opening is EXCELLENT! So is LION KING, PRODUCERS and RAGTIME.

[DefyingGravity2]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 7:25pm

These are GREAT!!! I def. agree w/ Grand Hotel, i would like to add Blood Brothers. i've got more... but ill let others keep goin....

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 7:34pm

"Into the Woods" is my favorite, by far.

But, it's not my favorite, but I also love "No One Mourns the Wicked." Many find it weak, but I love it.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 7:35pm

I happen to love Kander and Ebb's "Life Is" from ZORBA. It's a Bazuki circle, everyone in the company in chairs, and it was both classic Broadway, and a decent approximation of a distinctively Greek ritual. When Lorraine Serabian stepped forward and said "Wait, I will tell you!" And then the six note motif sounds, and she starts in, "Life is what you do ... while you're waiting to die..." A downer of a lyric that was exhiliarating! (later changed to "Life is what you do ... until it's time for you to die," which isn't as sharp.)

While we're reaching back, I also love "Twenty Fans" from WHOREHOUSE (I).

And I agree with Robbie and all about the opening of TITANIC. It's thrilling. But I am a fan of that entire score.

[Deena Jones2]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 7:40pm

How about "There you are!" from Mystery of Edwin Drood. What a great opening to a truly fantastic show.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 7:58pm

Those of us who saw the original production of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR will probably agree that the opening number of that show was magnificent. When the audience came in, we THOUGHT there were panels hanging in place like a show curtain. The overture started and we could see actors crawling on the very tops of those panels...then the panels began to slowly fall backwards and the actors were rolling down them toward the audience. At that point we realized that these weren't panels at all, but were 3 sections of the stage floor! Ben Vereen appeared out of nowhere and began singing "Heaven On Their Minds". The rest of the performance was equally spectaular.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 8:17pm

Many of those mentioned previously

Some others not mentioned:

Movies were Movies - Mack & Mabel
When I Get My Name In Lights - Legs Diamond
Freedom's Child _ Civil War
Doing Good - It's A Bird, It's A Plane, It's Superman
It's So Simple - Baker Street

Updated On: 1/28/04 at 08:17 PM

[Bway_Mill_Fan]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 8:18pm

I must agree on Aida, though other shows close similar to the way they started. Like in Millie, a modern appears and turns around and the story begins all over again.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 8:23pm

Quibbler, why would anyone disagree with you about the Wicked opening? It kind of lags on, but still it has some great visuals and kristin has one of the greatest entrances.

[MaryPoppins]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 8:25pm

The best opening on Broadway goes to:

Both THE LION KING (You can't touch that experience, though everyone has seen it on TV) ... and ... THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE (The dancing is incredible and the music and crazy upbeat ... very infectious)

A close second goes to ... WICKED (I actually LOVE No One Mourns the Wicked) ... also, sorry, but I am in love with the AIDA opening ... it's too cool!

[Bway_Mill_Fan]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 8:27pm

oh! i forgot about the Lion King! and the animals going thru was takes you by surprise. so i agree with you fully on both Millie and lion king.

[MyNameInLights]

Posted: 1/28/04 at 8:45pm

Into the Woods, Sweeney Todd, LSOH, Chicago!