Worst Opening Number

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Worst Opening Number

Posted: 2/25/07 at 8:26pm

In your opinion what would you say is the worst and best opening number of a show? I am sure this has been discussed before.

Best Opening: And All That Jazz from Chicago
Worst Opening: A Cockeyed Optimist from South Pacific

re: Worst Opening Number

Posted: 2/25/07 at 8:31pm

omg that scared me. I read the title, then saw "All That Jazz." I screamed.

You should change the title to Worst/Best Opening Number

I hate Jekyll and Hyde's opening.

"Hey, you! You're the worst thing to happen to musical theatre since Andrew Lloyd Webber!" -Family Guy

re: Worst Opening Number

Posted: 2/25/07 at 8:37pm

Not a big fan of A Chorus Line Revival's Opening of I Hope I get It...it goes a little slow i think, imo. I did not see the original production, but judging by the cast recording of the original A Chorus Line's I Hope It Get It, it seems to be better.

Best opening i would have to say is probably between Wicked and Phantom of the Opera.

Also, NOT to say this is the best/worst opening, but if you have heard the Jersey Boys opening(Ces Soirees La) it throws you off a little bit, as to what type of a show you are going to be seeing, but the song is good after the first time of seeing the show.

Come on babe we're gonna paint the town...and all that jazz...

re: Worst Opening Number

Posted: 2/25/07 at 8:45pm

Perhaps I'm an idiot, but wasn't the opening of ACL sped up for the OBCR, but was actually the same speed as it is on the Revival CR?

re: Worst Opening Number

Posted: 2/25/07 at 8:50pm

Jersey Boys' opening number is pretty bad.
I love The Wedding Singer's opening number, although Act 2 is supposed to start that way.

re: Worst Opening Number

Posted: 2/25/07 at 8:55pm

"Jersey Boys' opening number is pretty bad. "

I like it.
It shows how the Four Seasons had impact.
I enjoyed it.

Best: Wedding Singer, Hairspray, All Shook Up [Broadway], Wicked
Worst: Have yet to see a bad one.

"Anybody that goes to the theater, I think we’re all misfits, so we ended up on stage or in the audience.” --- Patti LuPone.

Updated On: 2/25/07 at 08:55 PM

re: Worst Opening Number

Posted: 2/25/07 at 9:05pm

Umm, Cock-Eyed Optimist isn't the opening song of South Pacific; Dites-Moi is. I did the show last year as our spring musical, so I know that for sure. But I will agree that is a very weak opening. I like Cock-Eyed Optimist for some reason though. It's catchy.

And I must say the first chords of WICKED, as cliche as this is, are very thrilling and a great beginning to a show. The only other Broadway show I've seen is Spelling Bee and that opening with everyone coming in various entrances while singing the song is very enjoyable as well.

re: Worst Opening Number

Posted: 2/25/07 at 9:09pm

And I must say the first chords of WICKED, as cliche as this is, are very thrilling and a great beginning to a show.

- ...and then you hear the opening chords of FOLLIES..

Updated On: 2/25/07 at 09:09 PM

re: Worst Opening Number

Posted: 2/25/07 at 9:33pm

I unfortunately have not seen Follies... There are so many shows which I wish I could see!

#10

re: Worst Opening Number

Posted: 2/25/07 at 9:37pm

"Perhaps I'm an idiot, but wasn't the opening of ACL sped up for the OBCR, but was actually the same speed as it is on the Revival CR?"

No this is such a mis conception. Go watch the original cast at the archives at Lincoln Center. You can't see anything but you can hear that the opening was taken at the tempo preserved on the OCR.

#11

re: Worst Opening Number

Posted: 2/25/07 at 9:37pm

i love long openings like Into the Woods and A Chorus Line....even though i was not a wedding singer fan, i thought the opening was good, but then the rest of the show was blahhhhhh

but the best best best opening was the opening to drowsy chaperone. I HATE THEATER...yes, i realize it wasn't an opening NUMBER persay

not sure about worst opening numbers because i definitely try to forget about them hehehe.....

#12

re: Worst Opening Number

Posted: 2/25/07 at 9:41pm

I definitely agree It's Your Wedding Day is an amazing song! I only saw it performed on the Tony Awards, but I really wanted to see the show and I was disheartened when I found out it was closing. And I really like Fancy Dress from Drowsy too. Good choices!

#13

re: Worst Opening Number

Posted: 2/25/07 at 9:43pm

"but the best best best opening was the opening to drowsy chaperone. I HATE THEATER...yes, i realize it wasn't an opening NUMBER persay "

Love DROWSY. :-]

"Anybody that goes to the theater, I think we’re all misfits, so we ended up on stage or in the audience.” --- Patti LuPone.

#14

re: Worst Opening Number

Posted: 2/25/07 at 10:02pm

DEF. jersey boys as worst along with Chicago and RENT

BEST= Wicked ACL and Les mis

#15

re: Worst Opening Number

Posted: 2/25/07 at 10:07pm

No this is such a mis conception. Go watch the original cast at the archives at Lincoln Center. You can't see anything but you can hear that the opening was taken at the tempo preserved on the OCR.

Well, I guess I am an idiot then. *shrug* It's just what I saw someone else say on here.

That's cool though. I like it so much more when it's faster.

#16

re: Worst Opening Number

Posted: 2/25/07 at 10:23pm

I love Drowsy's as well. =)

#17

re: Worst Opening Number

Posted: 2/25/07 at 10:42pm

I think the best number has to be INTO THE WOODS. It's the ultimate prologue, quite frankly.

The worst? Well, MAMMA MIA! has a pretty crappy opening... there's not much to it at all. Also, I've never quite liked "Rock Island" from MUSIC MAN.

#18

re: Worst Opening Number

Posted: 2/25/07 at 10:51pm

best- godspell, hairspray
worst- the civil war, you might not have heard of it, but then really your lucky

Can, can I have it?

#19

re: Worst Opening Number

Posted: 2/25/07 at 10:52pm

"Rock Island" is fairly weak, however I'll always have a soft spot for it from playing one of the salesmen in middle school...
I would say best are Drowsy and Urinetown

#20

re: Worst Opening Number

Posted: 2/25/07 at 10:56pm

WORST:
Jekyll and Hyde
Dance of the Vampires

"I'm tellin' you, the only times I really feel the presence of God are when I'm having sex and during a great Broadway musical." - Nathan Lane - Jeffrey

#21

re: Worst Opening Number

Posted: 2/25/07 at 10:57pm

"Not a big fan of A Chorus Line Revival's Opening of I Hope I get It..."

It's been the same opening since 1975.

#22

re: Worst Opening Number

Posted: 2/25/07 at 11:01pm

worst opening: Mamma Mia

best opening: Les Mis. I don't know why I love it so much, but I do.

Updated On: 2/25/07 at 11:01 PM

#23

re: Worst Opening Number

Posted: 2/25/07 at 11:37pm

"It's been the same opening since 1975."

I know the song has been the same, but the way it is sung and the versions of it are different between the revival and then is what I meant.

And Pants2, I agree with you on Godspell..that has a really good opening also.

Come on babe we're gonna paint the town...and all that jazz...

#24

re: Worst Opening Number

Posted: 2/26/07 at 12:47am

some categories, snce it's Oscars time.

Best up-tempo vaudeville song: Comedy Tonight from A Funny Thing Happened

Best up-tempo dance/ensemble number: Magic to Do from Pippin

Best use of curtains in a opening number: 42nd Street

Most exciting staging for an opening number: Lion King.

Best overture: now that would be a whole different ball game and there is only one candidate anyway: Mack and Mabel

I can think of so many bad shows and openings that left me feeling , 'is it going to improve or was that their best shot already? How many people will I have to annoy to get out of my seat and go?

A few candidates: Martin Guerre in London (folk digging potatoes).
Woman in White (bad opera doesnt make a good musical)
Carrie ( I thought I had died and gone to Hell)

#25

re: Worst Opening Number

Posted: 2/26/07 at 1:14am

Funny, I thought the opening for Wicked was the weakest of the whole show. Especially staging-wise, it really seemed that performers were moving at random, and I was really hoping the rest of show would be more exciting than that.

Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE

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