Favorite Opening Numbers- Page 3

[TabooPhan1]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 1:12am

Worell said it all:

Act one opening:
We Are What we Are: La Cage
Finland, Finland, Finland: Spamalot
Give Me a Freak: Taboo

Act One Finale:
Defying Gravity: Wicked
I Am What I Am: La Cage
Along Came Bialy: The Producers
Run Away: Spamalot

Act Two Openers:
Everything Taboo: Guess...
Always Look on the Bright Side of Life: Spamalot
The Big Doll House: Hairspray

[BertCCRI2]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 1:40am

The originator of this thread stated that the question was posed in connection with putting together a musical revue. While many good opening numbers have been cited, a good percentage would not work outside of the context of the show from which they come. As students are often advised to do while taking an exam, read the question carefully before you write the answer.

One of my favorite opening numbers that I have used in a couple of revues is "The Kid Inside" from "Is There Life After High School?" It has lots of solo lines, wonderful harmonies, a great build-up -- and it's really fun to sing as well.

[jam_man]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 1:48am

Bert - I've used "The Kid Inside" for a few auditions. Great song!

PerforMeg brought up 11:00 numbers, so here are my picks there:
"Rose's Turn" (duh)
"Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat"
"Betrayed!"
"Back to Before"
"Make Them Hear You" (they BOTH count!)
"Cabaret"
"What I Did For Love"
"Gee, Officer Krupke!"
"The Ladies Who Lunch"
"Brush Up Your Shakespeare"
"Bring Him Home"

[Pinguin]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 1:54am

I'll have to vote for The Old Red Hills of Home (I always thought that was the most amazing way to open a show), along with Lippa's Wild Party, Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens, and Songs for a New World.

[thejcm]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 2:03am

I've recently re-fallen in love with "A Step Too Far" from Aida, so that takes one of my votes for Act II openers.

I also like:
"Seasons of Love" from RENT
"Good Morning Baltimore" from Hairspray
"Little Shop of Horrors" (Especially with the three fabulous girls on tour right now...they left me breathless after the opening number)
"Science Fiction Double Feature" from Rocky Horror
"The Heat is on in Saigon"/ "Bui-Doi" from Miss Saigon

[JudasIscariot]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 3:11am

The best opening is Heaven on Their Minds from JCS, the best Act One Finale is Act One Finale from Urinetown.

[James885]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 8:30am

For opening numbers, my favorites are:

"The Heat is on in Saigon" - Miss Saigon
"Good Morning Baltimore" - Hairspray
"Opening Night" - The Producers

My favorite Act 1 finales are:

"Along Came Bialy" - The Producers
"Act 1 Finale" - Urinetown
"If I can't love her " - Beauty and The Beast

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 8:41am

I adore the opening number from "42nd St."...all that tapping as the curtain rises gives me goose bumps.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 11:34am

Boobs, I'm with you about the "42nd Street" opening. It actually had me choked up!

Good Morning Baltimore (Hairspray)

Ragtime

The opening number(s) of Titanic.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 11:35am

"In" from Carrie!

[Jwei123]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 11:50am

My two favorite openers are those of A Chorus Line and 42nd Street

[peach]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 12:20pm

MAGIC TO DO from Pippin -- it's one of the best opening numbers ever. Great for opening a musical revue too.

[Theaterlover2]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 3:11pm

I love the beginning of Les Mis, it's haunting. um and I agree for Into the Woods, The light in the Piazza, and I LOVE the opening for A Chorus Line-it's brilliant. Hmm, I really like the Tune up for RENT..not much of a song, but I think it's fun.
And I Am What I Am from La Cage, it made me tear up the first time I heard it.

[kate2]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 3:23pm

i loved the opening of AIDA

and i love the ending of act one in ASU (cant help falling in love) also the opening of act two (all shook up)

[justme2]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 3:23pm

For opening numbers:
Will a Mania from Will Rogers Follies (thank god I'm not the only one who remembers this show!)

For Act One closures:
I'm going with "Blue Skies" from Irving Berlin's White Christmas.

[Broadway_Bound_Star]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 3:24pm

"Magic to do" Pippin It could work for ANYTHING!

[idinarocksmysocks!510]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 3:26pm

Favorite openings:
"No One Mourns The Wicked"~wicked
"Every Story"~aida
"Rent"(including the first tune-ups!~rent
"Give Them What They Want"~ drs
"Good Morning Baltimore"~hairspray
"Ballad of Sweeney Todd"~sweeney todd
"Hold me Bat Boy"~ bat boy the musical
"All that Jazz"~chicago

Favorite act 1 endings:
"Defy Gravity"~wicked
"Comfort and Joy" ~bat boy the musical
"Before the Parade Passes By"~ hello dolly

Favorite act 2 openers:
"Seasons of Love"~rent
"Forget About the Boy" ~tmm

the list could go on and on if I keep typing!

[Hairspraydoll]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 6:38pm

Magic to Do works really well

I just did a revue and used "Heart and Music" from A New Brain for the opening number.

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 6:53pm

"Good Morning, Baltimore" would have to be my favorite opening number.

For Act I finale and Act II opener, it's All Shook Up. "Can't Help Fallin' in Love" is an AMAZING end to the first act, and "All Shook Up" is a great way to get you right back into the show after intermission.

[DefyingEDCT]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 7:02pm

No one Mourns the Wicked

Its just sooooooooooooooo big!!! The huge notes!! So much excitement!!

[bwaybaby13]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 7:03pm

Favorite Act 1 Open: Sunday in the Park with George.. it's so perfect.
Act 1 Close: 'Ever After' from Into the Woods
Act 2 Open: Seasons of Love, i just love it

[MyDreamsRecurring]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 8:32pm

I agree that the March of the Falsettos opening is great
"I'm neurotic, he's neurotic, we're neurotic, they're neurotic!"

I second Into the Woods
love A Chorus Line opening as well
and can't forget Fiddler on the Roof
ooh! and forum

hmm..act one closers
Wicked
Aida

Updated On: 8/22/05 at 08:32 PM

[AlexL]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 8:54pm

I second--no, third--wait, fourth--fifth "Magic to do". It's a great opening number that would work especially well as the opening to a revue, and I like Steven Schwarts...

And this one is very specific, and wouldn't really work in a revue, but I love 30/90 from Tick, Tick, BOOM, and also Louder than Words from the same.

Updated On: 8/22/05 at 08:54 PM

[JoMarch]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 8:57pm

I'd vote for Tommy. I loved everything about its opening: staging, storytelling, the music. It was great fun. Funny, I don't even care for the musical either except for its opening!

[AlexL]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 9:04pm

The Avenue Q theme? It's short, but sorta nice.