Best(or worst) Act 1 closers? — Page 2

Worst: Aida

Let me explain. With the right cast of singers, it's stunning. If anyone is not up to the vocal challenge, it sounds terrible. If the tempo is just slightly too slow, it's a dirge; too fast, it's silly. The Gods Love Nubia requires such precision that the slightest mistake makes it a hohum affair.

Dreamgirls.

Glad someone agrees about women on the verge not the best show but love how act 1 ends with all the ladies

Passion

My all-time favorites are Sweeney Todd and Urinetown. I was not fond of the act-closer in Follies.

As for plays, I loved the end of act one in One Man, Two Guvnors.

Best
Wicked (Done right, that is basically the Number 1 way to end an act)
Spring Awakening - Beautiful, just beautiful
Shrek- The best song in the show, and another beautiful moment
Gyspy- No explanation needed
The Great American Trailer Park Musical- Perhaps my favorite Act1 ending
Me and My Girl- Just a fun song
Sweet Charity- Simple and yet amazing

Worst-
Brigadoon- It's just really awkward, and I get its supposed to be that way, but I never even know if I should clap
PIPPIN- I have a love/hate relationship with that Act1 ending

The fact that anyone can even remember enough of Wonderland to recall the Act 1 closer stuns me.

Best
Book of Mormon- Makes me smile
Porgy and Bess
Newsies- Oh, the goosebumbs...
Evita- NOT THE REVIVAL.
Wicked- Defying Gravity, as cliché as it is, it is one of Schwartz best's
Anything Goes
Ghost- I enjoy the music
Rent- Love the energy built up in the song
Carrie- The Original with Buckley

Worst
Wonderland
Catch Me If You Can

Love-Hate
Seussical
Pirates of Penzance- If done right, it can be really good.

Ragtime
Les Miserables

The original productions of Pippin and Passion had not intermissions.

Mister Matt, what was so bad about GLOCKNER's Act 1 closer? I rather like "Esmerelda" - is it something lyrical I maybe don't understand (not being fluent in German) or something about the staging?

Les Miz, Billy Elliot, and Wicked are my top 3!

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Sunday in the Park With George and Once both have gorgeous and emotionally impactful Act 1 finales. Both exhibit everything finally coming together in harmony, literally and figuratively. They both have left me breathless.

How can Fiddler be considered one of the worst? The Wedding Dance is thrilling and then that joy is instantly stolen from them by the intruders. The audience feels exactly what our protagonists are feeling. It's incredibly effective.

For such an epic opening, The Lion King's act one closer is a real letdown. Ditto for Hairspray.

Godspell would work better without an intermission, no? That act break is always awkward.

I think the final scene in act 1 of South Pacific is incredible. So many highs and lows, discoveries, emotions, and a great Emile will bring down the house with those last two lines before curtain.

Cabaret is absolutely chilling. Sweeney is hilarious and makes the audience disgusted with what they're laughing at.

One that may be a guilty pleasure of mine but I think totally works is "Can't Help Falling in Love" from All Shook Up.

And of course, the epic One Day More. That just screams ACT ONE CLOSER in your face. Hey, it does its job.