Favorite Act I Finales?

[charlesjguiteau]

Posted: 10/13/11 at 12:23pm

Since we're covering favorite openings and finales, what about perhaps the most important slot in the evening for a show to get right? Namely the Act I Curtain number?

And sorry to disappoint the fans of A Chorus Line, 1776, Passion, or (technically) Follies, but intermissionless musicals can't play this game. I suppose if someone wants to nominate "Simple" from Anyone Can Whistle, that still counts as an Act I finale, doesn't it?

Sure, there are lots of shows with great songs in that slot: Sweeney's "A Little Priest", or Dolly's "Before the Parade Passes By". But I'm talking goose-bumply oh-my-god-I-didn't-know-the-show-would-take-me THERE kinds of numbers.

My two favorites:
"A Weekend in the Country" from A Little Night Music: the convergence of glorious choral counterpoint, character arcs all lining up, and a magical set change to reveal the Armfeldt Chateau (in the OBC, at least) always leave me giddy with excitement.

and of course,
"Sunday" from Sunday in the Park with George: for me Sondheim has never written more beautiful music, and it has never supported such a perfectly constructed scene as the moment when all chaos is banished and the world within the picture frame is made whole.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 10/13/11 at 12:29pm

A New Argentina from Evita. I love the contrast of Peron having a retiring attitude and Eva whipping up support. And when the chorus raises their signs and torches singing "can not be and will not be and must not be denied" it's exhilirating. Definitely worth an Act 1 standing ovation and creates enough suspense to bring us back for Act 2.

[carolinaguy]

Posted: 10/13/11 at 12:29pm

For goosebumps, nothing tops "One Day More" for me.

Also a big fan of "Epiphany"/"A Little Priest" for great wordplay and plot turns and "Defying Gravity" for sheer spectacle.

The reprise of "Some Enchanted Evening" gets to me and I love the tension and sudden ending of "Say It Somehow".

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 10/13/11 at 1:19pm

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
The Book of Mormon
Wonderland
Priscilla
Anything Goes
Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark

[uncageg]

Posted: 10/13/11 at 1:41pm

"And I am Telling you..." from Dreamgirls
"Defying Gravity" from Wicked
Phantom of the Opera Act I ending

Also agree with:

"A Little Priest" from Sweeny Todd
"A New Argentina" from Evita

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 10/13/11 at 2:23pm

"And I am Telling you..." from Dreamgirls

Technically, the few seconds of The Dreams' "Love Love You, Baby" is the song that closes Act 1 of DREAMGIRLS.

[rorschach37]

Posted: 10/13/11 at 2:30pm

I think Dreamgirls should have just ended Act I with "And I Am Telling You..." It's such a powerhouse moment, if not the most powerful number in the show and its final belting note just fades into a short, less-than satisfactory song before the curtain falls.

With that out of the way, I think my favorite Act I finales would have to be:

La Cage aux Folles
Wicked
RENT
Les Miserables
Phantom of the Opera

[fingerlakessinger]

Posted: 10/13/11 at 2:32pm

"Defying Gravity"

In all honesty...TO ME...that song is perhaps a prime example of a perfect Act One finale.
You have a GREAT song, soaring orchestra with a powerful voice, combined with the rising action leading up to the climax, and then on top of that the lights/special effects...perfection IMO.

But I also like quieter ones too. I find "Next to Normal" to have a great Act One Finale.
and also "Into the Woods"
"Sunday in the Park" too.
And though not a musical...I still find "Angels in America" to have a great Act 1 ending scene.

[supersam1026]

Posted: 10/13/11 at 2:57pm

I always love the Angry Dance in Billy Elliot, very effective and leaves you wanting more!

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 10/13/11 at 3:03pm

"A Little Priest" of course

On second thought, the National Theater of Japan's "Pacific Overtures" with the American Flag unraveling over the audience's heads all the way from the back of Alice Tully house to the foot of the stage at the end of the Lion Dance.
Updated On: 10/13/11 at 03:03 PM

[charlesjguiteau]

Posted: 10/13/11 at 3:13pm

How could I forget "Everything's Coming Up Roses"? Sets the template for the knock-your-socks-off Act I ender.

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 10/13/11 at 3:55pm

Billy Elliot's "Angry Dance" is a phenomenal Act I finale and easily the highlight of the show. I also am a huge Sweeney fan so of course I love "A Little Priest." "Defying Gravity" is also pretty incredible, though I must admit I hate Wicked.

[Matt3358]

Posted: 10/13/11 at 3:59pm

Into the Woods - Ever After
In The Heights - Blackout

[PianoMann]

Posted: 10/13/11 at 4:12pm

• A Weekend in the Country - A Little Night Music
• Everything's Coming Up Roses - Gypsy
• The Gods Love Nubia - Aida
• On The Verge - Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

[suttonequalslove]

Posted: 10/13/11 at 5:04pm

Anything Goes

[LesMiz24601]

Posted: 10/13/11 at 6:33pm

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=996041#4082443

[BroadwayBound92]

Posted: 10/13/11 at 7:47pm

Astonishing from Little Women

Anything Goes from Anything Goes


Jimmy from Thoroughly Modern Millie


Ever After from Into The Woods


Comfort and Joy from Bat Boy: The Musical (Okay, it's off-broadway, but I can't help it)


The Lambeth Walk from Me and My Girl


One Day More from Les Miserables


There's A Fine, Fine Line from Avenue Q


Sirens from Jane Eyre

[chewy5000]

Posted: 10/13/11 at 9:16pm

I think Dreamgirls should have just ended Act I with "And I Am Telling You..." It's such a powerhouse moment, if not the most powerful number in the show and its final belting note just fades into a short, less-than satisfactory song before the curtain falls.

This is something I regularly change my mind about. While it seems the act should end with her powerhouse, knockout of a song, following it with the brief bit of trite achieves the effect of showing how Effie is instantly forgotten, denying her her well deserved standing ovation.

Very disconcerting, yet clever and powerful.

[Jon]

Posted: 10/14/11 at 9:52am

I Got Rhythm - CRAZY FOR YOU. Had the audience cheering every time.

[mallardo]

Posted: 10/14/11 at 10:49am

Funny, I saw a revival of Crazy For You last night in London's West End - I've Got Rhythm had the audience literally screaming with excitement.