What are your favourite opening numbers?

[A Canadian in NYC]

Posted: 1/9/17 at 4:03pm

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...

 

 

[SueBee06]

Posted: 1/9/17 at 4:09pm

Tradition - Fiddler on the Roof. It gives me goosebumps every time.

[ErinDillyFan]

Posted: 1/9/17 at 4:12pm

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

[Ballad Boy]

Posted: 1/9/17 at 4:21pm

Ragtime

[canadian fan]

Posted: 1/9/17 at 4:31pm

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.

 

[whizzer_wins]

Posted: 1/9/17 at 4:34pm

Four Jews In A Room Bitching - Falsettos

Marvin's Giddy Seizures - In Trousers

Hello - Book of Mormon

Seasons Of Love - RENT

[Blue_Lotus]

Posted: 1/9/17 at 4:42pm

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

[ggersten]

Posted: 1/9/17 at 4:58pm

Fiddler

A Chorus Line

"Hello" is, technically, the opening number for Book of Mormon, but there is a prologue, so the show doesn't open with "Hello".

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

agree with Pippin and Cabaret.

 

 

[bwayobsessed]

Posted: 1/9/17 at 5:21pm

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.

[Valentina3]

Posted: 1/9/17 at 5:29pm

Agreed with A Chorus Line. It's pure adrenaline rush. I really like Wicked and Into The Woods' opening numbers too - really gets you in the mood.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 1/9/17 at 5:50pm

Miracle 

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 1/9/17 at 6:20pm

More Than Survive - Be More Chill

Be The Hero - Big Fish

[Rainah]

Posted: 1/9/17 at 6:48pm

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

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Posted: 1/10/17 at 9:19am

"Tradition" from Fiddler on the Roof

"Comedy Tonight" from A Funny Thing...Forum

"Magic to Do" from Pippin

"Sweet and Lowdown" from Nice Work was fun, especially when they did the big reveal of Matthew Broderick and the crowd went nuts.

I agree with the OP in that I'm crazy about "Another Day of Sun!"

[AC126748]

Posted: 1/10/17 at 9:22am

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

[PerfidiousRaoul]

Posted: 1/10/17 at 10:38am

Prologue from the Great Comet! It's fun, light,  catchy, and genuinely helpful for those who struggle with remembering whos who.

[Fluffy 2]

Posted: 1/10/17 at 10:40am

More Than Survive - Be More Chill

Willkommen - Cabaret

Security Meltdown - Calvin Berger

Awful/Awesome - Clinton the Musical

Everybody's Got the Right  - Assassins

[thirtythirtyninety]

Posted: 1/10/17 at 11:20am

The Grand Parade/Some Have Some Have Not/As It Should Be  from Grand Hotel

Updated On: 1/10/17 at 11:20 AM

[Vectorbabe]

Posted: 1/10/17 at 11:23am

Chorus Line

Carousel Waltz

Oklahoma (Oh What a Beautiful Morning)

Guys and Dolls

[JudyDenmark]

Posted: 1/10/17 at 11:29am

Ragtime for sure. And "The Old Red Hills of Home" from Parade for the same reason... give me a giant chorus with 37-part harmony and a key change and I'm done. 

[nealb1]

Posted: 1/10/17 at 11:42am

"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!

[Demitri2]

Posted: 1/10/17 at 11:51am

"C'est Le Ballet" from LITTLE DANCER

 

"Christopher Street" from WONDERFUL TOWN

[bryan2]

Posted: 1/10/17 at 12:10pm

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

All That Jazz-Chicago

Magic to do-Pippin

Opening to Titanic

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 1/10/17 at 12:24pm

A Rumor in St. Petersburg.

[uncageg]

Posted: 1/10/17 at 1:34pm

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