What are your favourite opening numbers?

I saw La La Land last week and knew from the opening number that I was going to love the film - and I did. It's the same feeling I get sometimes when seeing a show on Broadway. It's that moment when you know that you're going to absolutely have the best experience, and so you hunker down in your seat - smile on your face - ready to be taken away for next few hours. It's not a given with every show, but certain shows definitely stand out for me.

So I thought it would be a fun exercise to go through and just quickly come up with faves - without putting too much thought into it. What comes to mind for you?

Book of Mormon had me at "Hello"... seriously. It was my first Broadway show experience and the intimacy of the theatre blew me away. I knew instantly I was going to love love love that show.... and I did (and still do).

Hedwig and the Angry Inch - Tear Me Down - right?

Something Rotten - Welcome to the Renaissance - smiles galore

Hamilton - Alexander Hamilton - goes without saying

She Loves Me - Good Morning, Good Day - I still am humming it...

Another Openin' from Kiss Me, Kate

Wilkommen from Cabaret

Magic to Do from Pippin

Mice! from Mice (act 1 of 3hree)

Give Them What They Want from Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Queenie was a Blonde from The Wild Party (Lippa)

Updated On: 1/9/17 at 04:12 PM

Of the shows I have seen, I would agree with Hello from Book of Mormon......

Also maybe Look down (I think that's what its called) from Les Miz, very dark and intense which set the tone for the rest of the show.

"Seasons of Love" wasn't the opening number in "Rent".

The Bells of Notre Dame movie and play. When the bells came down during the final note of the papermill production I couldn't breathe.



Also Sweeney should be here.

Miracle

No One Mourns The Wicked - fits the show so well in terms of tone and spectacle, and sets the plot up really well

Alexander Hamilton - likewise, immediately sets the stage for what the show is going to look like, gorgeous lyrics, the overall tone of being hushed in the face of greatness... I get chills every time the chorus does that slow walk forward at the end to "There's a million things I haven't done..."

The Lion King - God, still probably my favourite opening number ever. Stunning music, lyrics, the costumed actors coming in through the audience. I love it

"Life Is" from Zorba. It immediately sets the tone and sets the show in motion.

More Than Survive - Be More Chill

Willkommen - Cabaret

Security Meltdown - Calvin Berger

Awful/Awesome - Clinton the Musical

Everybody's Got the Right - Assassins

Chorus Line

Carousel Waltz

Oklahoma (Oh What a Beautiful Morning)

Guys and Dolls

"It's Today" from "Mame." It sets the style and tone for the show right from the start.

Granted "St. Bridget" opens the show, sort of a prologue, but "It's Today" is the official start of the show!

Willomania-Will Rodgers Follies....upbeat and fun

All That Jazz-Chicago

Magic to do-Pippin

Opening to Titanic

My all time favorite is "Walk Him Up the Stairs" from PURLIE. Pippin and A Chorus Line's opening numbers are my other favorites.