Best staged number in theatre history? — Page 2

I have no quarrel with anyone's favorite here, but "Who's That Woman?" was probably the number that most excited me. On the other hand, "Shall We Dance?" is the perfect blend of dialogue, song and dance as per the Hammerstein tradition.

But for sheer simplicity (and I don't know whether Prince or Bennett staged it), I have to vote for the original staging of "Too Many Mornings". We know Ben and Sally are singing in each others' arms, but it was staged with Ben embracing a showgirl "ghost" while Sally embraced and caressed empty air.

Absolutely chilling while simultaneously giving us all sorts of information.

The opening and most of the numbers in Nine, Grand Hotel and Will Rogers Follies brilliantly staged by Tommy Tune.
Most memorably, Anita Morris in her breathtaking provocatively staged in "A Call from the Vatican" from Nine.

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Updated On: 3/26/15 at 10:47 PM

Gower Champion's staging of THE HELLO DOLLY number is hands down the most exciting number I ever saw on a Broadway Stage. Just a thrilling, warm-hearted, piece of genius. If you never saw it live I pity you.

I've only recently been in a position to be able to see a lot of professional theatre, so i don't presume to know what the best in theatre history is, but here are some of my favorites that i've seen either on Broadway or a touring production or in regional productions, with most of the examples being quite recent.

Three categories that i tend to love the most - wonderful tap dancing numbers always move me tremendously, and also emotionally-powerful scenes, and i also love quirky/comedic dance numbers.

In the wonderful tap dancing category:

42nd St: Audition, We're in the Money, and Go Into Your Dance (several regional productions)
Newsies: King of New York
Anything Goes: title song (Kathleen Marshall staging)
Aladdin: Friend Like Me
A Christmas Story: You'll Shoot Your Eye Out (tap dancing part)



Quirky/comedic stagings that i love:

A Christmas Story - slow-motion run during Ralphie to the Rescue
Nice Work If You Can Get It - the bathtub scene
Sister Act - I Could Be That Guy - a genius combination of song/costumes/staging for a scene that is both funny and moving - perfection!
Pippin - Magic To Do, No Time At All, and finale scene (2013 revival)

Dramatic/emotional stagings:

Les Miserables - One Day More
Wicked - Defying Gravity

Next to Normal - There's a World and I've Been: Michael Greif's staging during those two songs rips my heart out, throws it on the floor, and stomps all over it (in a good way). It leaves me emotionally devastated. Similarly Aftershocks.

Carousel - If I Loved You (The Goodspeed 2012 production staged this scene better than any other Carousel production i've seen - very effective).

Some of my favourites:
The Bench Scene - Carousel
"Shall We Dance?" - The King and I
"Who's That Woman?" and "Beautiful Girls" - Follies
"Johanna Quartet" - Sweeney Todd
"A Weekend in the Country" - A Little Night Music
"Put On Your Sunday Clothes" - Hello, Dolly!
"The Advantages of Floating in the Middle of the Sea" and "Chrysanthemum Tea" - Pacific Overtures
"Sunday" - Sunday in the Park with George
"Molasses to Rum" - 1776

No Grand Hotel? What have y'all been watching?

Visceral_Fella , aha


The opening and most numbers in Nine, Grand Hotel and Will Rogers Follies brilliantly staged by Tommy Tune.

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Updated On: 3/26/15 at 12:02 AM

Besides the brilliance of much of the original Follies (thanks Gaveston for putting in a word for "Too Many Mornings"!), the Act I Finale of Dreamgirls is pure genius. After ripping her heart out, Effie does not even get the applause she is rightfully due as the Dreams take the stage for the last 30 seconds of act one.

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I would say Defying Gravity. I know that Wicked is a bit of a cliche, but there is a reason for that. The flying portion is incredibly creative and effective. I mean it when I say that no moment in any other show ever makes me feel the way Defying Gravity makes me feel. It petrifies me every time.

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Shall We Dance for the most recent revival was truly breathtaking. Such a vast stage for the dancing.

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I base mine on goosebump factors and production numbers (vs. solos) (and the last 50 years), in preferred order:

Hello Dolly -- Hello Dolly
Mame -- Mame
Who's That Woman -- (the original) Follies
A New Argentina --(the original) Evita
Circle of Life -- The Lion King
A Weekend in the Country -- (the original) A Little Night Music
The last 15 minutes of Nine (original production)
At Charlie's Place -- Over Here
End of Act 1 -- Les Miserables
Ragtime -- Ragtime
(Hate to put it this way) The Helicopter scene from Miss Saigon -- not because a set came down from the rafters, but because of the mix of staging and music / orchestration
Wilkommen -- both versions of Cabaret
The Party's on the House -- Half a Sixpence
Anything Goes -- Lupone Anything Goes
Not on You Nellie -- Darling of the Day
The Lambeth Walk -- Me and My Girl
The entire Lonely Town segment of (the current) On the Town
Two Numbers from the Harold Prince / Susan Stroman Show Boat -- dances reflecting the passage of time

Smaler scale:
The Phantom of the Opera number in the gondola -- the most goosebumps ever when (illogically) the candelabra came up through the underground lake
Shall We Dance -- any King and I that I have seen
Rose's Turn -- Lansbury Gypsy
And I Am Telling You / Dreamgirls -- Dreamgirls
Nowadays / Sweet Honey Rag(?) -- Chicago
The Girls Upstairs -- (Original) Folies
If They Could See Me Now -- (original) Sweet Charity
Follies Bergere - (original) Nine
The Music and the Mirror -- A Chorus Line
Cabaret -- the original production of Cabaret
Steam Heat -- Pajama Game
Sylvia's Death Scene -- Finding Neverland
Bosom Buddies -- Mame
Hallelujah! Baby -- Hallelujah! Baby!
A Little Priest -- Sweeney Todd
Swan Lake -- Billy Elliott
Betrayed -- The Producers


Probably things from West Side Story, but I am sooooooo sick of it.
Also never loved the show Fiddler...one of the only cases ever where I liked the movie more

Another vote for We'll Take A Glass Together from Grand Hotel.

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