Let's hear them!
1. Gypsy
2. South Pacific
3. Hello Dolly!
You can also include 1st song, if the show has no overture
1. Lion King
2. HAIR
3. Wicked
4. Les Miserables
Stand-by Joined: 5/10/08
Wicked? I'm surpised at that. As a song, i thought it was one of the weakest. Although it has grown on me, i don't particularly like it, but as a introduction to show/story i think it's good.
I must say I like: Les Miserables/Next to Normal's Intro's Musically.
South Pacific
Wicked
A Chorus Line (No overture but Damn the Opening is great!!!)
Oh C'mon nothing is like hearing the Phantom overture live... though it's recorded :/
Understudy Joined: 7/23/09
Candide!!!!!!!
And, the original overture for "Sweeney Todd" (Which was cut) played on the organ was magnificent.
And Hair, if we're including first songs in this.
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/8/08
Chicago
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Young Frankenstein (EVERYTHING else about that score was a mess)
I hate typical ALW as much as the next guy, but I actually really like JCS's overture. Blends the major themes of the score together beautifully, in my opinion, and leads very well into "Heaven on their Minds."
Gypsy's and South Pacific's are classics.
And for openings, for me, you can't top "White, a blank page or canvas. The challenge: bring order to the whole, through design *CHORD*"
Anything by
Jule Styne
Jerry Herman
On The Twentieth Century
Promises Promises
Woman of the Year
Curtains, Young Frankenstein, Gypsy, South Pacific, Oklahoma, Thoroughly Modern Mille, West Side Story, Phantom of the Opera, The Little Mermaid, Light In The Piazza (before it got cut)
Gypsy
Mamma Mia!
Spamalot
Chicago
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/8/08
Oh yes!! Millie had a wonderful overture.
Phantom of the Opera
Gypsy
A Tale of Two Cities
(My favourite music-only is the Entr'Acte to the Scarlet Pimpernel, however!)
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/09
Dear World; Jennie; Darling of the Day; Tenderloin; The Unsinkable Molly Brown
Broadway Star Joined: 4/16/07
Candide
The Light in the Piazza
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Young Frankenstein
Promises, Promises
Subways are for Sleeping
Mack and Mabel
Finian's Rainbow
Can-Can (film version)
Funny Girl (film version)
Star!
Gypsy (1962 film version)
Candide
Oliver! (film version)
Half A Sixpence (film version)
Thoroughly Modern Millie (1966 film version)
Kiss of the Spider Woman: Prologue. What a great way to begin a show and its so creepy and sets the tone for the entire show.
Overtures:
The Light in the Piazza
West Side Story
First Songs:
A Chorus Line
Company
Sunday in the Park with George
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/07
I always loe overtures it always gets me in to the mood of the show heres my favorites.
1. Gypsy
2. The King and I
3. South Pacific
4. The Producers
5.Beauty and the beast
Gypsy, WSS, and South Pacific. I love Next to Normal's opening, but certainly not in comparison to the first three. I must say, I am a huge fan of overtures in general, I even liked Cry-Baby's because it existed! I think it's a huge part of musical theater that should exist for every show!
Videos