Favourite Act 2 Opening Numbers
Favourite Act 2 Opening Numbers
themadmarchhare
Swing Joined: 5/4/21
#1Favourite Act 2 Opening Numbers
Posted: 9/24/21 at 5:23pm
I know a lot of shows have a fluffy song to open Act 2 as a way of warming up the audience and allowing people to get back to their seats.
And a lot of those songs are considered boring / pointless or songs to skip on the cast album
But what are your favourite Act 2 openers? Either legitimately good songs or guilty pleasures
Personally I love Strike That, Reverse It from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (mainly for its manic Marx Brothers energy). Also Poor Pirates from Spongebob slaps, thank you Sarah Barellis
#2Favourite Act 2 Opening Numbers
Posted: 9/24/21 at 5:27pm
Masquerade from Phantom.
#3Favourite Act 2 Opening Numbers
Posted: 9/24/21 at 5:31pm
'It's Hot Up Here' from Sunday in the Park with George
EvanstonDad
Stand-by Joined: 5/10/16
#4Favourite Act 2 Opening Numbers
Posted: 9/24/21 at 5:33pm
"God That's Good" from Sweeney Todd
"What Is Urinetown" from Urinetown
BwayLB
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/18/17
#5Favourite Act 2 Opening Numbers
Posted: 9/24/21 at 5:33pm
Take Back Your Mink (Guys and Dolls)
I Didn't Plan It (Waitress)
Sunrise (In the Heights)
I Love A Piano (White Christmas)
Western People Funny (The King & I)
King Of New York (Newsies)
Crazy Little Huey (Memphis)
Prince Ali (Aladdin)
Lady Be Good (Nice Work)
Figidity Feet (An American In Paris)
Seasons Of Love (Rent)
Stepsisters Lament (R+H's Cinderella)
Farmer and the Cowmen (Oklahoma!)
Shipoopi (The Music Man)
bway0
Stand-by Joined: 5/8/21
#6Favourite Act 2 Opening Numbers
Posted: 9/24/21 at 5:40pmA tie between Hadestown’s Our Lady of the Underground and Hamilton’s What I’d Miss.
Sutton Ross
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/13
#8Favourite Act 2 Opening Numbers
Posted: 9/24/21 at 5:45pm
Funny, some of the above posters are just reminding me how LOUSY many Act II openers actually are. Just from what's already listed, here are some numbers I feel are the very WORST ones in their shows:
Masquerade
It's Hot Up Here
Western people Funny
Fidgety Feet.
I'll just add my all-time MOST hated Act II opener from LA CAGE AUX FOLLES:
Masculinity!
Dollypop
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#11Favourite Act 2 Opening Numbers
Posted: 9/24/21 at 10:21pm
Definitely Sweeney Todd's God That's Good. You get sent out into intermission with the tease of Try The Priest, where finally, halfway through the show, the main conceit - the thing you came to see - is finally put in play. When you return from intermission, you're immediately presented with an unhinged cannibal orgy that builds to a sensational choral peak, at which point the audience climaxes and is then soothed by the Johanna quartet. It's a flawless use of the intermission format.
themadmarchhare
Swing Joined: 5/4/21
#12Favourite Act 2 Opening Numbers
Posted: 9/25/21 at 4:38pm
Obviously it’s down to personal taste but I rarely find Act 2 openers boring. I know most of them are pure filler (like Hygge from Frozen) but they’re also unapologetically fun
Another few favourites:
- Masquerade (Phantom)
- Oom Pah Pah (Oliver!)
#13Favourite Act 2 Opening Numbers
Posted: 9/25/21 at 4:41pmShocking that no one has mentioned “Side by Side by Side.”
nativenewyorker2
Leading Actor Joined: 8/30/18
#16Favourite Act 2 Opening Numbers
Posted: 9/25/21 at 4:57pm
The Revolutionary Costume for Today...Grey Gardens
#17Favourite Act 2 Opening Numbers
Posted: 9/27/21 at 5:39pmOur Lady of the Underground is definitely at the top for me. (I said that just based on the soundtrack, but now say it even more since seeing Hadestown for the first time on Saturday). I especially love that they acknowledge the band members as part of the song.
saxpower
Featured Actor Joined: 9/14/16
#18Favourite Act 2 Opening Numbers
Posted: 9/27/21 at 6:00pm
stoptheworld38 said: "Our Lady of the Underground is definitely at the top for me. (I said that just based on the soundtrack, but now say it even more since seeing Hadestown for the first time on Saturday). I especially love that they acknowledge the band members as part of the song."
As an (amateur) musician an one time (college production) pit member, I always love it when the musicians are recognized (in addition to the usual gesture towards the pit during curtain call). (Its also why I'm one of those people who applauds at the end of the exit music).
degrassifan
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/23/08
#19Favourite Act 2 Opening Numbers
Posted: 9/27/21 at 7:15pm
I don't have a favorite, but the ones I like --
I Feel Pretty from West Side Story
You Did It from My Fair Lady
Thank Goodness from Wicked
I Never Want to Go Home Again from Gigi
Under Attack from Mamma Mia!
You're Never Fully Dressed from Annie
Paris Holds the Key from Anastasia
#20Favourite Act 2 Opening Numbers
Posted: 9/27/21 at 7:55pm
My favorites not mentioned yet:
Bui Doi (Miss Saigon)
Nobody (Bandstand)
Pharaoh Story (Joseph...)
A Step Too Far (Aida)
Forget About the Boy (Thoroughly Modern Millie)
When I Grow Up (Matilda) - unless you count "Telly" which I also enjoy...
#21Favourite Act 2 Opening Numbers
Posted: 10/2/21 at 9:54am
"Steam Heat".
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