#76
Posted: 10/10/04 at 11:16am
Fair Lady - your name reminds me of another of my favorites - Eliza appearing at the top of the stairs, and coming down to go to the ball in My Fair Lady.
What do you think is the most effective Act One CLOSING for a musical? — Page 4
#77
Posted: 10/10/04 at 11:23am
Actually, in the stage script of My Fair Lady, at least in original form, Act One continues through Eliza going to the ball through "The Embassy Waltz". Act Two opens with "You Did It". But, the movie puts the intermission at Eliza coming down the stairs in that knockout Cecil Beaton gown, and I know some stage productions of My Fair Lady have moved up the intermission to that point.
"Gif me the cobra jool!"
#78
Posted: 10/10/04 at 11:25am
Magruder - I had no idea - I've seen it three times in three different places, and each one of them did that - how funny! The power of cinema, I guess 
#79
Posted: 10/10/04 at 11:28am
Well, Act One going through the ball makes for a wildly long sit, so I certainly understand following the movie's lead on that front.
"Gif me the cobra jool!"
#80
Posted: 10/10/04 at 11:32am
In the original Broadway production of MY FAIR LADY, the Act I ending was all done NONVERBALLY:
During "Embassy Waltz", Zoltan Karpathy (language expert hired to get the real dope on Eliza) "cuts in" on Eliza's partner and starts to dance with her.
Pickering immediately notices, gets alarmed and gestures to Higgins what is going on. Higgins gestures "Don't Worry About It."
The Curtain Drops.
During "Embassy Waltz", Zoltan Karpathy (language expert hired to get the real dope on Eliza) "cuts in" on Eliza's partner and starts to dance with her.
Pickering immediately notices, gets alarmed and gestures to Higgins what is going on. Higgins gestures "Don't Worry About It."
The Curtain Drops.
"I say YOU'RE the CUTEST one. No, I say YOU'RE the CUTEST One. And we go on like that from dawn to three."
#81
Posted: 10/10/04 at 1:14pm
I don't remember if it was the first act or not The falling chandlier from Phantom.
MAKE SOMEONE LAUGH!!!!!*******************
#82
Posted: 10/10/04 at 1:38pm
Hey Magruder, :)
I always thought the Act I ending of PROMISES, PROMISES was NON-MUSICAL.
After "Turkey Long" Song, Chuck and Fran go into his new office. Chuck tries on bowler hat he just purchased to look "more like an executive."
He needs a mirror. Fran hands him her compact. He sees that it is the same broken compact that he retrieved from his apartment last night when his boss Sheldrake had a "fling" there.
Chuck realizes Fran (woman he is deeply attracted to) is really his boss' mistress.
Curtain drops.
I always thought the Act I ending of PROMISES, PROMISES was NON-MUSICAL.
After "Turkey Long" Song, Chuck and Fran go into his new office. Chuck tries on bowler hat he just purchased to look "more like an executive."
He needs a mirror. Fran hands him her compact. He sees that it is the same broken compact that he retrieved from his apartment last night when his boss Sheldrake had a "fling" there.
Chuck realizes Fran (woman he is deeply attracted to) is really his boss' mistress.
Curtain drops.
"I say YOU'RE the CUTEST one. No, I say YOU'RE the CUTEST One. And we go on like that from dawn to three."
#83
Posted: 10/10/04 at 2:58pm
Fairly repetitive, I know. I wanted to give reasons though. Couldn't stick to just one. All are worthy of mention. A truly effective act one closer (imo) will draw you in and sets up the second act without leaving you hanging.
One Day More from Les Miz is up there - As a song, it's beautifully crafted and I adore it. Amazing. I thought it could've been staged more creatively, but still very effective. I did like that Valjean/Cosette were separate from the group because they were caught up in their own conflict. Very sweeping orchestrations and harmonies of epic proportions.
Everything's Coming Up Roses from Gypsy - Intense. Definitely one of the most effective act one closings. Watching Rose's ambition change as she starts to crack, so powerful. It's a very personal, emotionally revealing song.
Tomorrow Belongs to Me (Reprise) from Cabaret - Bone chilling. The menacing undertones were truly frightening. It hits you right in the core of your humanity. Perfectly done. Stands out in my mind.
Defying Gravity from Wicked - I must say that this is a glorious act one closer. The technical aspect has a lot to do with it - the way Elphaba flies forward and then upwards, but especially the lighting. This song soars. I like the buildup a lot, from softer to more aggressively defiant. The show may be flawed as a whole, but when intermission starts you feel exhilarated. Anthemic? Yes. But gloriously so.
Props to a non-Broadway show:
Union Square from Subway Train - One of the strongest parts of the show. Gorgeous harmonies. Jericho's passionate search for his girlfriend is heartbreaking. It is a tight song and simply staged. Absolutely beautiful. Intimate.
One Day More from Les Miz is up there - As a song, it's beautifully crafted and I adore it. Amazing. I thought it could've been staged more creatively, but still very effective. I did like that Valjean/Cosette were separate from the group because they were caught up in their own conflict. Very sweeping orchestrations and harmonies of epic proportions.
Everything's Coming Up Roses from Gypsy - Intense. Definitely one of the most effective act one closings. Watching Rose's ambition change as she starts to crack, so powerful. It's a very personal, emotionally revealing song.
Tomorrow Belongs to Me (Reprise) from Cabaret - Bone chilling. The menacing undertones were truly frightening. It hits you right in the core of your humanity. Perfectly done. Stands out in my mind.
Defying Gravity from Wicked - I must say that this is a glorious act one closer. The technical aspect has a lot to do with it - the way Elphaba flies forward and then upwards, but especially the lighting. This song soars. I like the buildup a lot, from softer to more aggressively defiant. The show may be flawed as a whole, but when intermission starts you feel exhilarated. Anthemic? Yes. But gloriously so.
Props to a non-Broadway show:
Union Square from Subway Train - One of the strongest parts of the show. Gorgeous harmonies. Jericho's passionate search for his girlfriend is heartbreaking. It is a tight song and simply staged. Absolutely beautiful. Intimate.
#84
Posted: 10/10/04 at 4:37pm
Not a big fan of it, but I'd have to say...Wicked. Too bad the ending of Act Two wasn't so good.
#85
Posted: 10/10/04 at 5:11pm
I always thought that Sunday in the Park with George had a great act one ender.
And yes the dreamgirls act one closer is a total tear jerking experience.
And yes the dreamgirls act one closer is a total tear jerking experience.
#86
Posted: 10/10/04 at 5:16pm
AAA-AAA-AAA-AAH!!
"Defying Gravity" from "Wicked."
"One Day More" is fabulous.
"Phantom of the Opera".
"Defying Gravity" from "Wicked."
"One Day More" is fabulous.
"Phantom of the Opera".
#87
Posted: 10/10/04 at 5:33pm
Till We Reach That Day is one pretty powerful act one closer
"Did you know that if you take the first two vowels in Olive and rearrange them it spells I-Love?"-Spelling Bee
"It's night like this that hotel bars were specifically made." Light In The Piazza
#88
Posted: 10/10/04 at 6:09pm
Defying Gravity - Wicked (I was just in awe)
I am What I Am - La Cage aux Folles (I cried lol)
etc...etc...etc - The King and I lol
I am What I Am - La Cage aux Folles (I cried lol)
etc...etc...etc - The King and I lol
#89
Posted: 10/10/04 at 6:11pm
Hi Derek, :)
THE KING AND I--great choice.
Do you know that THE KING AND I was the first musical to end with a death scene? :)
THE KING AND I--great choice.
Do you know that THE KING AND I was the first musical to end with a death scene? :)
"I say YOU'RE the CUTEST one. No, I say YOU'RE the CUTEST One. And we go on like that from dawn to three."
#90
Posted: 10/10/04 at 6:30pm
Rose's Turn
#91
Posted: 10/10/04 at 6:36pm
Was it really? I saw a clip of the original show (the ending) on its closing night. when the curtain went down there was about 20 seconds of silence and then suddenly the audience went crazy! (I think they were in awe of the show :))
#92
Posted: 10/10/04 at 6:41pm
Hey Derek, :)
Probably so, man. Probably so. :)
Probably so, man. Probably so. :)
"I say YOU'RE the CUTEST one. No, I say YOU'RE the CUTEST One. And we go on like that from dawn to three."
#93
Posted: 10/10/04 at 7:09pm
Just back from DC (and "On Golden Pond" w/ James Earl Jones) so I have a lot to catch up on.....
My top three:
DREAMGIRLS, DREAMGIRLS & DREAMGIRLS!!!!
Simply extraordinary and I haven't seen anything since that approaches it.
My top three:
DREAMGIRLS, DREAMGIRLS & DREAMGIRLS!!!!
Simply extraordinary and I haven't seen anything since that approaches it.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
#94
Posted: 10/10/04 at 7:23pm
Hi Margo, :)
A LOT agree with you!!! :)
A LOT agree with you!!! :)
"I say YOU'RE the CUTEST one. No, I say YOU'RE the CUTEST One. And we go on like that from dawn to three."
#95
Posted: 10/10/04 at 7:30pm
Understand, I'm comparing DREAMGIRLS with all the shows I've actually seen since my first in 1970. Perhaps I'd have a different opinion had I seen the great Merman in GYPSY back in '59, but I wasn't alive yet. All of my friends who have seen both, pick DREAMGIRLS.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
#96
Posted: 10/10/04 at 8:13pm
i was fortunate enough to see dreamgirls at least 10 times..OBC and 1987 combined! i would have killed to have been old enough to see donna mckechnie, margo sappington and baayork dance their @sses off in "promises, promises".
i would have killed to have been old enough to see donna mckechnie, margo sappington and baayork dance their @sses off in "promises, promises".
#97
Posted: 10/10/04 at 9:18pm
Although it's been mentioned, I love Rent, and the song "La Vie Boheme", it is so inspiring, it feels like the end of the musical. I think that's one of the reasons why Rent also has the best intermission, everyone is so happy during the intermission....but that's another thread.
Phantom with the chandelier falling down is hard to beat too. That's my 2nd choice.
Phantom with the chandelier falling down is hard to beat too. That's my 2nd choice.
#98
Posted: 10/10/04 at 9:53pm
Les Miz
You are young, life has been kind to you. You will learn.
#99
Posted: 10/11/04 at 10:00am
Okay, I may be biased, but it's gotta be Phantom. I mean, come on, it's the chandelier! :)
"No thoughts within her head, but thoughts of joy.....no dreams within her heart but dreams of love."
#100
Posted: 10/11/04 at 10:10am
"And I Am Telling You..." (Dreamgirls)
"'Til We Reach That Day" (Ragtime)
"Cross the Line" (Big)
"All I Ask of You" (Phantom...)
"Everything's Coming Up Roses" (Gypsy)
"'Til We Reach That Day" (Ragtime)
"Cross the Line" (Big)
"All I Ask of You" (Phantom...)
"Everything's Coming Up Roses" (Gypsy)
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