The greatest line or lyric ever said/sung on a stage
The greatest line or lyric ever said/sung on a stage
#0The greatest line or lyric ever said/sung on a stage
Posted: 11/3/04 at 10:31pm
???
From any musical or play, whether it has been to broadway of not.
#1re: The greatest line or lyric ever said/sung on a stage
Posted: 11/3/04 at 10:34pm
"Attention must be paid" -Death of a Salesman
BSoBW2: I punched Sondheim in the face after I saw Wicked and said, "Why couldn't you write like that!?"
jmaclover
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/04
#2re: The greatest line or lyric ever said/sung on a stage
Posted: 11/3/04 at 10:35pm
"I am what I am"
La Cage
"I've often said I should put sweets in my chair - they'd spend less time on my a** that way....." ~F.W.B.
Chrysanthemum62001
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/14/04
#3re: The greatest line or lyric ever said/sung on a stage
Posted: 11/3/04 at 10:40pm
I couldn't really pick one line, but I think the greatest song in the WORLD is Louder Than Words from tick, tick, BOOM!
"What does it take to wake up a generation? How can you make someone take off and fly? If we don't wake up and shake up the nation, we'll eat the dust of the world, wond'ring why."
and
"Why do we follow leaders who never lead? Why does it take catastrophe to start a revolution? If we're so free, tell me why. Some one tell me why so many people bleed."
"What a mystery this world. One day you love them and the next day you want to kill them a thousand times over." The Masked Bandit in THE FALL
Updated On: 11/3/04 at 10:40 PM
#4re: The greatest line or lyric ever said/sung on a stage
Posted: 11/3/04 at 10:43pm
Well, this is a pretty difficult question, isn't it? I guess it's all a matter of personal preference, but I also have to vie for "Death of a Salesman" in many of its quotable quotes. In addition to the famous "Attention must be paid" line, there's that great line in Charley's speech, "A salesman's got to dream, boy." I also like Willy's line about eating an orange and then throwing away the peel--"a man is not a piece of fruit!" What a great play. It really is famous for a reason!
As for musicals, Sondheim is definitely the most quotable. "And we have some shepherd's pie peppered with actual shepherd on top!"
#5re: The greatest line or lyric ever said/sung on a stage
Posted: 11/3/04 at 10:45pm"Shut up! I'm having a rhetorical conversation" -Max Bialystock (okay maybe not one of the GREATEST but I just love that line)
BSoBW2: I punched Sondheim in the face after I saw Wicked and said, "Why couldn't you write like that!?"
#6re: The greatest line or lyric ever said/sung on a stage
Posted: 11/3/04 at 10:45pm
"White. A blank page of canvas. His favorite. So many possibilities..."
jmaclover
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/04
#7re: The greatest line or lyric ever said/sung on a stage
Posted: 11/3/04 at 10:46pm
There's one from Hairspray I am blanking on - at the end of the show said by tracy. I'll let you know this weekend!
:)
Sorry to say this, "I can't harbor a fugitive, I'm an unelected official."
"I've often said I should put sweets in my chair - they'd spend less time on my a** that way....." ~F.W.B.
#8re: The greatest line or lyric ever said/sung on a stage
Posted: 11/3/04 at 10:47pm"This is such a Midol moment" -Edna Turnblad
BSoBW2: I punched Sondheim in the face after I saw Wicked and said, "Why couldn't you write like that!?"
ShbrtAlley44
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/1/03
#9re: The greatest line or lyric ever said/sung on a stage
Posted: 11/3/04 at 10:51pm"You're too young to understand now, Little Sally, but nothing can kill a show like too much exposition." - Urinetown
#10re: The greatest line or lyric ever said/sung on a stage
Posted: 11/3/04 at 10:56pm
I know its difficult...personally i have hundreds of favourite lines/lyrics.
Just to be different im going to say
"Is that a Unicorn? No, I'll wear the purple shoe...Who painted the kitten?" in Avenue Q
or
"here's the politician so oily it's served with a doily, not one?" "Put it on a bun...well, you never know if it's going to run." in Sweeney Todd
ah! sondheims words become so much more relevant in these times.
momtobwwannabee
Understudy Joined: 9/10/04
#11re: The greatest line or lyric ever said/sung on a stage
Posted: 11/3/04 at 10:58pmThere is a great line in Cinderella that I have tried to think of for a couple of years. Even tried to obtain script. It is spoken by fairygodmother (Eartha Kitt when i saw it) and it has to do with being yourself....anyone fill in my memory loss???
BwayLeadman
Broadway Star Joined: 9/29/04
#12re: The greatest line or lyric ever said/sung on a stage
Posted: 11/3/04 at 11:07pm
This is one that everyone says is a good one
"Dwarfs are very upsetting" INTO THE WOODS
I dont know why they find it so appealing.
the funny thing is that im in the show and thats my lyric.
#13re: The greatest line or lyric ever said/sung on a stage
Posted: 11/3/04 at 11:13pm"No day but today." :)
There's always room for pathos - and jazz hands.
broadwaystar2b
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/28/04
#14re: The greatest line or lyric ever said/sung on a stage
Posted: 11/3/04 at 11:14pm"George Bush is only for now"
#15re: The greatest line or lyric ever said/sung on a stage
Posted: 11/3/04 at 11:15pm
Alaura's Theme - City Of Angels
"Are you ready? This is Alaura's Theme. Picture this, the Kingsley Mansion, her bedroom. Alaura wearing satin, maybe less. Ten thousand Violins, THERE WON'T BE A DRY SEAT IN THE HOUSE. "
"Smart! And into all those exotic mystiques -- The Kama Sutra and Chinese techniques. I hear she knows more than seventy-five. Call me tomorrow if you're still alive!"
milkengh
Swing Joined: 7/14/04
#16re: The greatest line or lyric ever said/sung on a stage
Posted: 11/3/04 at 11:30pm
Sorry to ruin all the happy fun in this post, but i'm gonna go with the only line that has made me cry every single time i've heard it performed.
"To love another person is to see the face of God..." -Les Mis
*tear*
Te cubrire.
jonartdesigns
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/04
#17re: The greatest line or lyric ever said/sung on a stage
Posted: 11/3/04 at 11:54pm
my 3 faves to deliver
"not to blow my own horn or anything but if jesus christ had lived in chicago and he had $5000 things woulda turned out differently"- billy flynn, chicago
"hello, hell?...its me....waddo you mean who? who else gets to leave"
"you wife loving louse, you two timing false faced swindler!!!"- both Mr. Applegate- damn yankees
"Grease," the fourth revival of the season, is the worst show in the history of theater and represents an unparalleled assault on Western civilization and its values. - Michael Reidel
#18re: The greatest line or lyric ever said/sung on a stage
Posted: 11/4/04 at 12:01am
"Have I mentioned today how lucky I am to be in love with you?" ~'TH5Y'
"Just look at you. How could I not be in love with you. What kind of fool could have taken you for granted for so long?" ~'Parade'
Variations on a Theme blog: http://panekattack.blogspot.com/
kates
Featured Actor Joined: 10/12/04
#19re: The greatest line or lyric ever said/sung on a stage
Posted: 11/4/04 at 12:07am
I have so many...
"How in one night have we come so far"-Miss Saigon
"Forget regret or life is yours to miss"-Rent
"So let's find a bar, so dark we forget who we are, and all the scars of the nevers and maybes die"-Rent (So I have some unhealthy habits, but who's counting)
"When you walk through a storm hold your chin up high, and don't be afraid of the dark."-Carousel
"Now my life is forever yours and you are mine"-Once Upon This Island
"Commit a little mortal sin, its good for the soul"
kates
Featured Actor Joined: 10/12/04
#20re: The greatest line or lyric ever said/sung on a stage
Posted: 11/4/04 at 12:09amand I just realized how sappy I really am
"Commit a little mortal sin, its good for the soul"
#21re: The greatest line or lyric ever said/sung on a stage
Posted: 11/4/04 at 12:22am"If I have to search a thousand lifetimes looking for you...I WILL find you again." -Radames, Aida.
*Krissy*
**Support the use of illegal wood burning stoves. Get your own metal trash can today!**
#22re: The greatest line or lyric ever said/sung on a stage
Posted: 11/4/04 at 12:23am
I have no idea what my answer to this is, but Viva, I need to tell you that you just made me cry! 
touchmeinthemorning
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/3/04
#23re: The greatest line or lyric ever said/sung on a stage
Posted: 11/4/04 at 12:28am
"how do you measure the life of a woman or a man? how about LOVE?" -- Rent
"can't we just persue our lives with our children and our wives? how do you ignore all the witches, all the curses, all the wolves, all the lies, the false hopes, the goodbyes, the reverses, all the wondering what even worse is still in store, all the children, all the giants? No more." -- Into the Woods
"I'm sorry for bringing everyone here down, but...you're all gonna die, too!" -- Mario Cantone "Laugh Whore"
"Fundamentalism means never having to say 'I'm wrong.'"
-- unknown
#24re: The greatest line or lyric ever said/sung on a stage
Posted: 11/4/04 at 12:31am
Some of my favorites:
"Just keep your faith, an' courage, an' you'll come out all right..." -Carousel
"He's only before his time but still too young to know..." -Blood Brothers
"Why is your life in such a mess if you're so damn smart?" -Taboo
"At the shrine of friendship never say die." -Les Miserables
And hang on, when did you win the discus?
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