Great First Act Closers- Page 2

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 4:26pm

actually that kind of stuff really doesn't catch on quite like show initials.

ITW= Into the Woods,
SP= Scarlet Pimpernel,
H2$= How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,
JCS= Jesus Christ Superstar
TPOTO = The Phantom of the Opera
TBFO = The Boy From OZ
even Les Miz...

TWGM is just dumb. But hey, from now on OTWSOTFOTEITOW stands for WICKED..... Updated On: 4/6/04 at 04:26 PM

[BroadwayDiva]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 4:51pm

"La Vie Boheme"- RENT (definately one of the best!!!)

"Defying Gravity"- Wicked (amazing!!)

[MyNameInLights]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 5:13pm

I think I agree with everything NYCbabe3789 said.

[NYCbabe3789]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 5:45pm

I'm surprised no one else has said POTO, with the exeption of CatsNYrevival. What a way to end an act! It's one of those moments that makes me yearning for intermission to be over so I can find out what happened.

[~*Triple Star On Broadway*~]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 5:48pm

The Producers.....nuff said.

[little_sally]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 6:28pm

LA VIE BOHEME!

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 6:39pm

"TWGM is just dumb."

You know what? When you've posted for a little while or more important when you've read posts for awhile, you too will know exactly what TWGM, TWHM, or TSMrW stand for. It's part of this message board's culture.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 7:21pm

It's Supernice - From Superman where he is holding up a reviewing stand while City Hall blows up in the background

[VoiceofReason]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 7:42pm

Wicked, Les Mis, and (oddly enough) Martin Guerre

always,
~m~

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 8:26pm

Updated On: 4/9/04 at 08:26 PM

[TheGirlinTheFrock]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 8:47pm

1. RENT
2. POTO
3. Les Mis

I want to see somone else do Defy Gravity before i put that on my list.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 8:56pm

Has everyone completely neglected SWEENY TODD? "A Little Priest" is one of the few songs I like in that show, I may be a hypocrite to the theatre fan generation, but SWEENY TODD isn't my cup of tea, however I do like that song. Also, CARNIVAL "Love Makes the World Go 'Round".

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 9:24pm

AAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! SWEENEY TODD!!!!!!!!!! YES! SWEENEY TODD! Updated On: 4/6/04 at 09:24 PM

[nystateomind04]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 10:59pm

i know who TSWMrW refers to, but not exactly what it means, guess im not bww.com-cultured enough yet, haha.

Posted: 4/6/04 at 11:02pm

DREAMGIRLS

[onceadancer2]

Posted: 4/7/04 at 10:19am

I've answered this before, but here goes again:

The first act finale from Noel Coward's BITTER SWEET, when Sari and Karl run off to start their cafe somewhere in Ruritania.

The I LOVE LOUISA finale from BANDWAGON. The revolving stage moving hither and yond, while the cast raised a toast to the elusive but rambunctious Louisa.

EASTER PARADE from AS THOUSANDS CHEER. The 1890s rotogravure in sepia comes alive behind the scrim, as Clifton Webb serenades Marilyn Miller with the song.

LA PRINCESS ZENOBIA from ON YOUR TOES. A really hilarious take on all the Fokine quasi oriental ballets.

JOHNNY ONE NOTE from BABES IN ARMS. An extended dance in Egyptian garb in very un-Egyptian poses.

WE'RE GOING TO BALANCE THE BUDGET from I'D RATHER BE RIGHT. The cabinet and New Yorkers descend on George M. Cohan as FDR.

LET ANTIPHOLUS IN from BOYS FROM SYRACUSE. A one-line joke that kept building on wildly improbale dance movements. To different beats the girls danced on a la Siren from Balanchine's PRODIGAL SON.

I'M THROWING A BALL TONIGHT from PANAMA HATTIE. Ethel Merman and Cole Porter at their filthiest exhorting the crowd to come to their party. read through the lines to see just what they were proposing.

JOEY LOOKS INTO THE FUTURE from PAL JOEY. A hilarious take on a punk who has no talent. Robert Alton had Gene Kelly flying over chairs, kitchen utensils and Vivienne Segal.

LEADER OFA BIG TIME BAND. Ethel Merman and Cole Porter, even filthier here than in PANAMA HATTIE. Anyone know the references to Gypsy Rose Lee?

SAILOR'S DANCE from ON YOUR TOWN. The sailors scampering about enjoying the sights of Times Square. This dance was lost. The version that Jerome Robbins staged in the late 1980s was totally different from the original production.

CALL ME MISTER. One of my favorites with the cast coming out and exhorting the audience to revel in civilian life.

BRIGADOON. Agnes de Mille's dances for the first act finale were some of her finest. I was not a great fan of de Mille, but I have to admit that what I saw was beautiful!

GREAT COME AND GET IT DAY from FINIAN'S RAINBOW. The last show in which I appeared. The wonderful finale with some of the chorus and dancers on trees. On the final note of the song everyone lifted their hands heavenwards.

I"LL BUY YOU A STAR from TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN. Simplicity itself, and very moving.

CATCH OUR ACT AT THE MET. From the long forgotten TWO ON THE AISLE. Bert Lahr was really funny. Dolorey Gray did not have a chance around him!

EMBASSY WALTZ from MY FAIR LADY.

RUMBLE from WEST SIDE STORY.

The GARMENT TRADE Dance that closed the first act of I CAN GET IT FOR YOU WHOLESALE. All the workers scurrying about while preparing for the fashion show.

DON'T RAIN ON MY PARADE from FUNNY GIRL. How is it that I'm the only woman here who has mentioned this?

The first act finale from TWHM. Could I forget this!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sure that I'm forgetting a few.

Miriam

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/7/04 at 7:28pm

PROOF.

[Techieboi]

Posted: 4/7/04 at 7:41pm

cross the line...BIG

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 4/7/04 at 8:39pm

The ragtime/cakewalk at the end of Parade Act I

[orchajaws]

Posted: 4/7/04 at 8:43pm

Defying Gravity & 1st Act Finale ("Sunday") in Sunday in the Park with George.

*This is the 3005th time we've had this thread on the board.

[MyNameInLights]

Posted: 4/7/04 at 8:53pm

I can't believe I forgot Sweeney. I'm a fool, it's true!

[HunterFosterIsMyGod]

Posted: 4/7/04 at 9:24pm

TOTALLY defying gravity!

and "till we reach that day"

[LouW95]

Posted: 4/7/04 at 9:40pm

Barbra doing Dont Rain On My Parade in Funny Girl and Merman doing a reprise of No Business Like Show Business in the Lincoln Center 1966 revival of Annie Get Your Gun were 2 outstanding first act curtain numbers. Merman's Everything's Coming Up Roses from Gypsy was another first act curtain moment I will never forget.

[broadway86]

Posted: 4/7/04 at 11:15pm

"I'm Free" - FOOTLOOSE. An absolutely exhilerating showstopper.

"'Til We Reach That Day" - RAGTIME. Such a beautiful and powerful song.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 4/7/04 at 11:32pm

Ok, I may be the minority here but what about "The Gods Love Nubia" in Aida?? Even just listening to it on the OBC recording gives me shivers. Seeing it in person, with Heather, the ensemble, the music, etc...Love it.

Too bad the second act doesn't quite match the energy of the first, IMHO.