Top 10 Best Opening Numbers in Classic Musicals

[@MsMojo]

Which of these opening numbers is your personal favorite? Let us know below, and check out our video of the Top 10 Finale Songs from Musicals That Give Us Chills: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4KQcqqaiMyKjtEsi=PT_azY6VEjBdaqSl

[@kevinjewell233]

Grease????? the movie was released in 1978, the play a good 5 years before that...opening number 'Summer Nights'!!!

[@KillerChihuahua]

Little Shop of Horrors, Prologue

[@TheBusywasp]

hi, I love the auction scene from Phantom of the Opera, but I love many others from your list too.

[@FreulerAZ]

I'm probably biased because I did the show in high school (1978), but I liked 'Fugue for Tinhorns' from Guys & Dolls. I liked playing Nicely Nicely Johnson.

[@PeBoVision]

I would have added "Prepare Thee", the opening number from Godspell. Starting with a soft solo acapella that builds to a crescendo of the entire cast and orchestra, sets the tone for this street-smart Jesus musical.

[@marilynleslie472]

Yes!

[@annemchurchwell]

Absolutely this!

[@jamesmoconnell]

"Prepare **Ye**". 'Ye", not 'Thee'.

[@PeBoVision]

@@jamesmoconnell Geriatric Brain Fart. I stand corrected.

[@Peter-z9t]

"Prepare Ye" (not "Thee")

[@MMA-ki3pm]

It’s nice to be reminded that Jerry Orbach was on Broadway as well as screen.

[@danacarpender2287]

When he died he had had more performances on Broadway than any other actor. Don't know if anyone's surpassed him yet, but he's a Broadway legend.

[@slickjack2618]

While Orbach was in several Broadway productions, "The Fantasticks" presented in this compilation was not one of them. This production has always been performed "Off-Broadway" for both its original forty-two year run and subsequent several year revival. Wouldn't have liked to have been an angel investing in that little Off-Broadway" show?

[@mrblanche]

You missed my favorite...the opening number of The Music Man, which sets the stage so perfectly for what is to come.

[@JessRansdellSmith]

Aw man, I came here figuring this would be on here. Now i"m disappointed!

[@DavidHonneus]

"Rock Island" was terrific and sets the stage for the entire show.

[@jacklow9611]

"Science Fiction, Double Feature" from "The Rocky Horror Show" is iconic.

[@lizanna6390]

So iconic Patricia Quinn almost told them to stick their movie because she didn't get ti sing that song.

[@jacklow9611]

@@lizanna6390 : Since Richard O'Brien wrote the song (and the entire thing), it was only right that he sing the song. It would be interesting hearing it sung by Magenta, though.

[@StatRM]

As clichés as this might be, I think that the Work Song (Look Down) from Les Miserables should have been included. It always gives me goosebumps in the best way and perfectly introduces both Valjean and his struggles, as well as his conflict with Javert, while simultaneously giving the audience a strong taste of the heavier themes of the story without holding back. Just a sheer power right from the beginning.

[@Positivekitten]

This was for pre-1980 shows, so Les Mis couldn’t have made this list. (it is one of my favorites though.)

[@idrilaldarion8088]

I agree this should have definitely been included.

[@tessat338]

It'll be in the post-1980s list.

[@BernardProfitendieu]

those bloated Cameron Mackintosh numbers didn't stand a chance (or the test of time)🤢🤢🤮

[@StatRM]

@@Positivekitten Oops! I forgot about that. Well, here's hoping that it will be included if they ever do a part 2 of this list that focuses on post-1980 musicals.

[@RickvanVeldhuizen]

In principle West Side Story's Prologue is an orchestral overture ;-)

[@marthacalkins8054]

Every step, every move in West Side Story is choreographed. The entire movie is a ballet.

[@joyunicycle]

"Rock Island/Iowa Stubborn" is still my favorite intro and what got me excited for The Music Man.

[@Anjuli50]

Yes, a perfect opener for this show!

[@mrblanche]

Yes, that's my favorite, too. In fact, it's just about perfect.

[@xarophti]

I was fortunate enough to see Joel Gray in one of his last live performances as Emcee. Although he'd lost his voice, he insisted on pantomiming his performance while his understudy sang from backstage. It was so perfectly performed you couldn't tell.

[@danacarpender2287]

The first Broadway show I saw was George M! starring a then-newbie Joel Grey.

[@danielpauly9865]

I thought the opening song from Camelot sung by King Arthur would have made the list. It certainly sets the stage for the whole show.

[@Betty-qz5zd]

Wishing I were in Scotland, fishing tonight!

[@olleselin]

Who could forget that iconic opening of "A Sound of Music"

[@tessat338]

My son was in the pit orchestra for his high school's latest production of "A Sound of Music." The stage show opens with the nuns singing in Latin. They were spot on! I'm RC and have sung choral and liturgical music, both in school and at mass. This production's nuns sounded absolutely beautiful and authentically religious. This public school has a great music program. It is one of the only all-student pit orchestras in the area. The choral program is just about as good. They sound totally professional. One of the few positives of remote learning during COVID, was that I got to hear my son playing alone, not with a jazz band or an orchestra around him. It was lovely!

[@Monty_BeGoodToEachOther]

As much as I like all these other offerings.. it's Sound of Music that engulfed the audience with those stunning images and entwined with such a captiaving tune.

[@daniellebrothers3688]

Opening number of The Music Man. It sets you up for Harold Hill and his salesmanship to sell music wherever he goes.

[@croupie8]

Surely Wouldn’t It Be Loverly from any Fair lady should be in there !! It’s amazing !!

[@Peter-z9t]

I am so glad "Try to Remember" from "The Fantasticks" (longest running musical in history) is included. I was afraid that a soft ballad with only piano and harp accompaniment from an off-Broadway show would be overlooked among all these other powerhouse numbers.

[@nbenefiel]

When I was a kid, I first saw Fantastiks with Jerry Orbach.

[@ellynmacgregor8210]

@@nbenefiel You were so lucky!

[@mbrow]

These musicals lists that you do always bring a lump to my throat. My father was active in the theater and played in most of the iconic musicals of the 40s through the 60s. Our home was always filled with his beautiful voice, so all of these are precious to me. Wish I could hear him sing once more. I love them all, but my favorite is The Sound of Music.

[@PrincessMeggala0913]

I’m so happy “Magic to Do” is included. Pippin is one of my favorite shows ❤

[@briankulbaba]

Thank you for including King And I!! Such an amazing musical.

[@trinaq]

Even if you've never seen "Fiddler on the Roof", you'll instantly be able to bellow "Tradition" at the tops of your lungs. It's basically the theme of the entire musical.

[@rubygracemoseley8144]

My mom every once in a while bellows out “TRADITOOOOOON!” 😂 My older siblings were in their drama club’s Fiddler On The Roof production around 12-13 years ago. I was very little and I have no memory of the actual performance except that my older brother was wearing a fake beard and gray hair that stuck out a lot 😂

[@terrilee6984]

Guys&Dolls

[@jillianmyerly1818]

With the arm shimmy. Don't forget the arm shimmy!!!

[@DavidRay_40]

That's my dad's favorite movie. I always found it...strange. Not a movie I'll ever watch again if I can avoid it.

[@tessat338]

@@jillianmyerly1818 The conditions for getting the rights to the show are that the production has to use the original choreography, including the bottle dance and the Russian kick dance. The arm shimmy is de-rigueur. It literally cannot be left out!

[@ArnellaMaturin]

Thank you for a little extra Jerry Orbach at the end.

[@seantlewis376]

"I hope I get it" is the embodiment of auditions. I have been in hundreds of auditions, and got about 60% of them. It's always bad to be told to go home, but making it to the next stage is always exhilarating.

[@MichaelJohnson-vi6eh]

I envy performers- believing in yourself after all that rejection.

[@KatherineXIX]

I would have added Rock Island from The Music Man. Basically the 1912 equivalent of rap to the beat of train sounds.

[@warrenabrahams8852]

I would include: Would it" nt be Loverly? My Fair Lady, No One Mourns the Wicked - Wicked, Hello - The Book of Mormon; At the End of the Day - Les Miserables

[@worrywart1311]

Good songs but this in a compendium of OPENING songs.

[@elsie900]

@@worrywart1311 "Hello" is definitely a good modern addition to this list. Should definitely be included in a post-1980 compendium!

[@NickofMusic]

Superstar and Sweeney being honorable mentions but kiss me Kate making the list is straight up criminal activity

[@BernardProfitendieu]

lol Andrew Lloyd NoTalent ain't ever gonna make any Top 10 lists

[@NickofMusic]

@@BernardProfitendieu I may not defend other Webber projects as much, but Superstar is on a different plain. Forget MT, the JCS record is one of the all time best records ever.

[@cedgson91]

💯

[@keithmcmanus2406]

The real crime is the JCS honorable mention wasn't even Carl Anderson.

[@cedgson91]

@@keithmcmanus2406 💯 He was the perfect Judas

[@tswanson7354]

Guys and Dolls is a classic and personal favorite would also be Godspell.

[@DanYHKim2]

The start with the shofar being blown

[@pipepotter]

The opening number of "Company" should be included in this list. One of the top 3, without a doubt! And "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd" is my number ONE of all times, those harmonies, those soprano parts, those bass, the arrangement, the fact that it's telling the whole story, and you want to hear more... and you can hear the motiv throughout the entire show... it's perfection!

[@henrikechers9995]

So many greats. Sound of Music, and "Oh what a beautiful Morning" are my favorite

[@danaxtell2367]

Only 4 of these opening songs made it to the Top Ten on the pop charts--Aquarius (as a cover), Oh What a Beautiful Morning, Sound of Music, and Try to Remember. I think the openings of modern musicals try to be so fancy that it's hard to succeed as a plain old pop song. And I love that you put Fiddler and Oklahoma side by side, since the true events were the same period, 1905-1907. I like to imagine that, when Tevye's youngest daughters left for America, they ended up in Oklahoma just before statehood and they're in the cast somewhere. Oy, What a Beautiful Morning! (I know, they probably ended up in New York's Lower East Side, but it's fun to imagine.)

[@dickfalkenbury1106]

Very few musical stage numbers make it to the top forty. Interestingly, one of the last to do so was 'Send In the Clowns" by Judy Collins. Sondheim had written it as a 'throwaway' song for Glynis Johns who had about a five-note range (from 'A Little Night Music').

[@marionbayley1351]

Has anyone else noticed that, in this Top Ten, there are THREE Rodgers & Hammerstein musicals (4 if you include the also-rans) - proving them to be THE greatest ever!

[@WraythSkitzofrenik]

I still remember finding the Hugh Jackman version of Oklahoma in a Hastings at college and flipping out. "Wolverine can SING?"

[@MightyMoCat]

Pre 1980s..

[@charlesveg]

so true!

[@MaryAnnAngros-fq9yy]

Naturally!

[@marioalbertolagunesperez2021]

Well, for me, heaven in your minds is the most awesome of all you mentioned

[@Karla_Marie]

It is so cool to see Jerry Orbach singing on stage. And such a beautiful song.

[@Shan_Dalamani]

I had no idea he could sing. All I've seen him in is Law & Order and Dirty Dancing.

[@nbenefiel]

I saw Orbach in Fantastiks when I was A. Kid. It was magical. I still have some of the paper squares that were floated into the audience.

[@MightyMoCat]

I miss Jerry Orbach. 😢

[@joecascone2189]

All excellent choices. I'd have to say that "Comedy Tonight" from "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" is the greatest opening number from this list. It informs, and (really) entertains and truly sets up the whole show. And, yes it DID save the show out-of-town in Washington (pre-Broadway)!

[@marksadams01]

The 25-minute long "Into The Woods" opening.

[@jwsel]

Into the Woods premiered in 1986. This list is pre-1980.

[@geraldineclarke5434]

I would have put Sweeny Todd at #1, I was on a business trip to NYC and the first night I wandered down to TKTS to get a halfprice ticket to something. As I got to the ticket window, someone in the back said "I've got 6 tickets to the new Sondheim" and I immediately bought one. It was Sweeny which had just opened and I knew nothing about it. I think knowing nothing about that show before you see is great. That opening number was absolutely devastating and the show gave me the greatest theatrical experience of my life.

[@kristenlee2357]

The thumbnail being Jesus Christ superstar meant I was very disappointed that you listed honorable mentions. I’m very sad.😢

[@tessat338]

I know! Seriously!

[@BernardProfitendieu]

calm thyself, you'll recover - that show is a crapfest

[@backdraft916]

@@BernardProfitendieuyour opinion; and you know what they say about opinions…

[@agneskirsch8335]

Especially since "Heaven on their minds" is such a great song

[@cindywhittington1418]

Yeah, I was disappointed also… both Godspell and JC Superstar were great musicals…

[@daniellebelisle2446]

Les Mis and Wicked have stellar openings!

[@Positivekitten]

But they are not pre-1980.

[@BernardProfitendieu]

no, they don't

[@thespian3937]

Into the Woods has always been my favourite

[@idrilaldarion8088]

West Side Story is my favourite:)

[@suno8911]

“Jellical song for jellical cats” is one of the most incredible, impactful overtures ever. As much as we love to hate the recent movie disaster, who can deny the impact of Cats in the history of musicals?

[@noelleggett5368]

Cats was first produced in 1981. This post is about musicals before the 1980s.

[@tedcoop4392]

*Jellicle

[@dellarosa24601]

When I was 6 years old, I saw my first musical: Les Misérables. I fell in love instantly. 22 years later, the opening still immediately immerses me into my favorite musical of all time. Nothing ever can compare, for me.

[@BernardProfitendieu]

it was written for 6 year olds, so that sorta figures

[@ivonav3751]

@@BernardProfitendieu Not sure what you mean by that...I don't know many six year olds (you must have been a pretty discerning child, @dellarosa24601) who would be able to sit through the whole thing much less understand what was going on. I've loved some of the songs for a long time, but finally saw it with my husband last year (we are in our 60's) and are seeing another production next month. I suppose the musical structure of some of the tunes is not terribly sophisticated or complex, but that hardly puts it in a "written for 6 year olds" category.

[@BernardProfitendieu]

@@ivonav3751 I should have said written for 6 year olds or those in their 60s who act like 6 year olds Happy now, dear?

[@ivonav3751]

@@BernardProfitendieu I'd have been happier had you actually answered my question, but it just serves me right for giving you the benefit of the doubt.

[@Emily-gy2ef]

On top of having a smashing opening number, both West Side Story and The Sound of Music have a scenic opening with the camera doing a high in the sky view of city sky scrapers and mountains before focusing in on a speck of ground where the story takes place! Opening view and song never to be forgotten!

[@DanYHKim2]

Both make great use of location shots, and do great things with light and darkness.

[@billfisher9238]

the opening to RAGTIME. the intro of all the characters, classes and notable historical actors. plus brilliant music. also, 42nd STREET. the half-raised curtain where we meet those dancing feet.

[@susanyoung5447]

Being a child of the 60s and 70s, my favorite is definitely Superstar. My Mind is Clearer Now. For me, of course, it was the movie

[@kathyastrom1315]

You mean Heaven on Their Minds. I’m the same general age as you. I grew up watching the film annually on Easter weekend when the local tv station showed it after the 10:00 news on Saturday night (the previous Saturday night before Palm Sunday was always Godspell). Mom would let us stay up late to watch it. Sis and I would spend the rest of the year wearing out our record of the soundtrack, arguing who got to sing Judas and who was stuck with Jesus. For my tenth birthday, I asked for tickets to see a national tour when it played Chicago in 1976.

[@morticiaaddams7866]

Yeah. The remake was good (Alice Cooper slayed his piece!), but the movie soundtrack was what I prefer

[@Betty-qz5zd]

Oh, I watched that movie over and over. I just loved it. "Could we try again, please?"

[@macyinthemist]

Ugh baiting me with jesus christ superstar and then finding out that heaven on their minds is only in the honorable mentions...when will this musical be more present in these top tens?

[@Music_is_Breathing]

Great picks! Favorite "Caberet"

[@What_Makes_Climate_Tick]

Wow! Comedy Tonight was an out-of-town addition? If so, a brilliant addition! I agree with another commenter that Prepare Ye is a great opener in Godspell.

[@SuzePrice]

Pippin is a longtime favorite, especially with Ben Vereen. Classic!

[@AlyraMoondancer]

I saw that production with my drama class when I was in high school. It was amazing! And Irene Ryan as Berthe was unforgettable. I loved that show.

[@mattperiolat]

Pre-80? Any Dream Will Do from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat should at least be considered I would think.

[@tessat338]

I played a narrator in our teen theatre production of "Joseph." It's a challenging vocal role and we were teenagers, so the director split the role between three of us, my sister and a young lady who, even at 15 had an AMAZING vocal range and at 16, could hit those high As. 30+ years later, she's still doing theatre and has done some TV. My younger sister, also then 16, who had always been a fine actor and had played clarinet, literally found her beautiful alto voice over the previous winter's show. I, at 17, carried the middle with the mezzo-soprano. It was a fun trio with lots of vocal blending, back and forth, and interplay. Anyway, at the opening of the show, I was up on the stage-right scaffolding and there was a microphone over the railing out in front of me. During rehearsals, I often daydreamed about taking that mike and singing directly into it, but of course, we actors weren't to EVER touch any part of the sound system. In this 1980s evolution of the show, there was an introduction which was spoken by the stage manager from the sound booth. He was a more seasoned performer and had a deeper voice than any of the guys in the show. As the run went on, his mike began to get glitchy. Then my daydreams had a focus. I decided that, if his mike ever went out entirely, I'd just step up and say the show intro lines myself. I didn't tell anyone about my plan, I just made sure that I was ready to do it. Sure enough, the day finally came where his microphone crapped out. He shook his head. I took hold of the mike and spoke the lines. I was a little wobbly towards the end, but THE SHOW WENT ON. At intermission, he and the director thanked me for my quick thinking. I had to confess at that time, that it wasn't quick thinking at all. I had been plotting for the whole show to grab that mike at the first opportunity to present itself. I'd have done better if I had actually rehearsed the lines instead of just plotting, but I carried it off credibly, though without his gravitas. My breath control and phrasing weren't quite all there. I at least had made sure that the microphone was working during our sound checks. He is now married to our older sister, not to my younger sister who split the narrator role with me. At the time, my younger sister and I looked so much alike that in a photo of the show taken of us from the back, I actually got us confused. Our co-narrator called us her "bookends" since she started the show on the center stage scaffolding and my sister was on the stage-left scaffold. I'm still friends with our co-narrator, our Joseph, our Mrs. Potiphar, our Benjamin, and a bunch of the rest of that cast. The group still gets together for Christmas parties. The stage manager married into our family so I got to keep him as a relative without having to keep him happy.

[@tessat338]

That microphone was like Macbeth's dagger or Ibsen's gun. I got fixated on it and just had to look for an opportunity to use it.

[@BernardProfitendieu]

🤢🤢🤮 considered: and rejected!!

[@PrincessMeggala0913]

But that’s NOT the opening. It’s the Narrator singing……that’s probably why it wasn’t included…..

[@tessat338]

@@PrincessMeggala0913 If I recall, it was a quote or a paraphrase from Genesis about Joseph and his brothers. But it was the cue for the band to start and for us to start in with "Any Dream Will Do." I'll have to go back and look at the video.

[@carmens1793]

When I was 14 years old I watched Jesus Christ Superstar a lot my dad brought the VHS that was my Favorite ❤️

[@BernardProfitendieu]

yeah, it's for 14 year olds

[@techone72893]

JCS has been my favorite for 50 years. I was a little kid when it came out and I had a copy of the Original Cast Recording with Ian Gillan. When the movie came out, I watched it at every opportunity I could until the VHS version came out. I was lucky enough to meet Ted Neeley at a movie premier in 2015. He told me they would be touring the country with a new digital version of the film. My wife and I got VIP tickets to one of the screenings which included a meet and greet before the show with Ted, Barry Dennen, and Kurt Yaghjian. The VIP experience we got also allowed us to sit with Ted in between us during the screening. He was like a little kid, constantly nudging me and telling me BTS stuff that had happened during some scenes. I was actually in tears for the first five minutes of the showing because of how much the experience meant to me. Ted was one of the nicest people you will ever meet. I'm also surprised that the opening number was only an honorable mention considering how the entire show was so groundbreaking.

[@BernardProfitendieu]

@@techone72893 oh, dear! do we have a doctor in the house?

[@HeronCoyote1234]

RIP Jerry Orbach.

[@alyzu4755]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@charlesveg]

A true giant

[@RosieTheWickedFangirl2007]

My favourite classical musical is Joseph and the amazing Technicolor dream coat and my favourite Andrew Lloyd Webber show and Les Miserable is my mum’s absolute favourite musical ever

[@paulcanaday-elliott9834]

For the post-1980 list, I’d vote for “Good Morning, Baltimore” from Hairspray to be included. It brilliantly establishes the world we are about to enter and introduces us to the central character and what she wants.

[@loriloristuff]

True story: Went to school in the 60s where the order of religious sisters LOVED musicals. There were song sheets in the upper grade classrooms. On days of "inclement weather" sing-alongs were held instead of lunch recess over the PA system.

[@ybmagpye]

I am envious of the students in that school!

[@tracysteele7652]

What about food glorious food from the musical oliver

[@idrilaldarion8088]

Is that an opening number?

[@debcamptown6257]

​@@idrilaldarion8088 Yes it the opening of Oliver

[@AG-tj8ew]

Tradition! Love that musical.

[@DavidHonneus]

Don't forget the opening of "Bye, Bye' Birdie" with the kids on the telephones!!!

[@leighfinner7959]

The overture to Nine. Guido sits center stage as each of the women in his life enter, first talking and then the sound slowly became music and Guido stands, stops them then conducts the women. It was beautiful and stunning.

[@bobmathis-friedman6742]

I like Good Morning, Baltimore, from Hairspray

[@jwsel]

Hairspray is not a pre-1980 musical.

[@drcorydc1]

The opening of A Chorus Line is among the best. (I'm biased, having performed in the show)

[@cedgson91]

How dare you put heaven on their minds & ballad of Sweeney Todd in honourable mentions They deserve their own place 😮

[@denisefreitas6727]

Aquarius, The Hills are Alive and West Side Story prologue are my favorites.

[@Djynni]

Fun to see Jerry Orbach in a musical. My favorite is Sound of Music. No voice like Julie Andrews.

[@marksadams01]

He was in the original cast of "Promises, Promises" too.

[@Peter-z9t]

Also outstanding in "42nd Street"--his musical theater career was overshadowed by his later television work.

[@lisag9752]

You did a beautiful job describing these Ms Mojo!

[@donsandsii4642]

Part 2 1980 to 2000 musical openings?

[@Mona07452]

For post-1980’s openings, it would have to be The Book of Mormon’s ”Hello.”

[@WillScarlet16]

Oscar Hammerstein said that if you get the opening number right, you can read from the phone book for two hours and the audience will have a good time.

[@manuelorozco7760]

Wise words. And I believe Whistle A Happy Tune was the first time he proved me right

[@einahsirro1488]

I really like the opening of Little Shop of Horrors, but the stage musical came out in 1982 and, sadly, missed your deadline.

[@fthomasdigaetano3886]

Sorry, I think a boat was missed by failing to include Comedy Tonight from A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. It is an ensemble piece which lays out the show, whets appetites and acts as a theme.

[@stvp68]

I love that I Hope I Get It starts with 5 6 7 8, but the dance music is actually only in 6 (4+2)

[@GlennSearle-qk6he]

The opening of Ragtime is perfection. It was the music of something beginning. An era exploding. A century spinning. In riches and rags and in rhythm and rime. And people called it ragtime.

[@daletrecartin1563]

'Comedy Tonight' should have rated a number rather than a mention.

[@manuelorozco7760]

My high school did Forum as their spring show in my junior year! I didn’t expect to get a kick out of it

[@mikkibaker6907]

It's "West Side Story", hands down. But I'm tossing in a request for you to bend the rules a bit. When Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote "Carousel," they did something new and different. Instead of opening with a musical medley of songs from the show, they really opened with "The Carousel Waltz," which was one of the finest dance segments of the show. So, not "just" music.

[@monahubbard2354]

Adam Lambert is now playing the Emcee in Cabaret and he's phenomenal! I just saw it a week ago and am going back in November!

[@jwpaulson2360]

Can't deny the power of the opening of West Side Story. I would place the opening of Chorus Line much higher .... but that's just me.

[@xavierbu]

Prologue from Ragtime is one of my favorite ones.

[@riaglitta]

Ahhhh so happy you used Ute Lemper's performance of "All That Jazz" - she was amaziiiiiiinnnnnggggggg

[@davemoore1233]

Is that Hugh Jackman in "Oklahoma"?

[@davemoore1233]

And Bebe Neuwirth in "All That Jazz".

[@MatteBlack2024]

Good review. My favorite is the opening of Hair, the Forman film. That was not interspersed with the Hair entry here as were other more recent films, e.g., Chicago.

[@stvp68]

The movie version has great choreography too

[@stvp68]

The movie version has great choreography too

[@kathyastrom1315]

@@stvp68 Done by the amazing Twyla Tharp!

[@TheGiacchina]

Excellent choices!

[@LaLayla99]

"All That Jazz" ♥️

[@shaliseshaw9385]

Pippin, Sweeney Todd(The Ballad Of Sweeney Todd), Cats(Jellicle Songs), On The Town, Evita, Rent, Carousel, South Pacific, Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, and other musicals should've been on the list. 🚖🚖🚖🚖🚖🚖🚔🚔🚔🚔🚔🎟️🎟️🎟️🎟️🎭🎭🎭🎭🎶🎶🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵

[@BernardProfitendieu]

Cats - you're sarcasm is delicious!! Carousel opening is an instrumental which she said were not considered, Cinderella was not a pre-1980 B'way debut, it was written for television, only came to B'way after many decades

[@stulewis6651]

I hope that you are referring to the Broadway version of "On the Town" and not the horrible film version. The brilliance of the show's opening is that it starts at about 5:55 am with a slow number ("I feel like I'm not out of bed, yet") and then the town comes to life five minutes later. "Pippin" was included on the list.

[@freeheeler09]

Reading through the comments and I realize how lucky we are to have been able to experience such a variety great shows! And, on any particular day, another dozen openers could have been highlighted here.

[@nr4008]

Bye Bye Birdie’s opening song sets the context (both in the movie and the stage show)

[@denyseleonard240]

I saw that version of Pippin on the pre-opening at the Musicbox theatre in NYC. The circus acts made it magical.

[@Kilchie]

Hmm... The intro specifically says instrumental overtures will not be included in the list. Then the top choice - West Side Story - opens with an INSTRUMENTAL OVERTURE.

[@GingerSnape46]

I love Sweeney Todd! I love it so much, I Mrs Lovett!

[@ToABrighterFuture]

And the 1972 film version of Cabaret is no slouch. Still holds an Oscars record for most wins without winning Best Picture, and that's probably an unbreakable record at this point. I took a few film courses in college, and even though I know how certain tricks of the trade work, Bob Fosse's directing still manages to beguile. There's already more than enough going on in the script, but the way it's all put together on celluloid is next level. It certainly qualifies as movie magic, even if that magic is so dark it would probably scare the bejeezus out of Alistair Crowley.

[@samuelcollantes1175]

Whistle a happy tune. Happy sunday afternoon, Emily, take care and God bless you. Greetings from Colombia to you as well

[@serinadalmer800]

42nd Street!

[@marilynbrown6711]

A Funny Thing Happened….👍🏼

[@RapFanatic4ever]

Grease Is The Word from Grease

[@debbie7505]

Didn’t it say pre 1970

[@Positivekitten]

@@debbie7505 they said pre- 1980s

[@tessat338]

That opening is in the movie but the stage shows had various different opening numbers.

[@KZ1211-t2q]

You should have included Ragtime. It's opening number introduces all the characters and plot lines, and it ends with a rousing, beautiful mixture of amazing harmonies.

[@tessat338]

The movie came out before 1980 but I'm pretty sure that the Broadway production was after 1980.

[@valkyriesardo278]

Oklahoma! but nobody sang it like Joel McCrea. What a voice!!!!

[@MightyMoCat]

I think you mean Gordon MacRae.

[@sarahramsey9454]

chicago all that jazz and sound of music fun but catchy tunes that'll have you dancing singing and re watch them over cause you liked them from the beginning to end

[@Melissent]

I agree with all your picks, but not even an honorable mention for Man of La Mancha's title number?

[@corysouthwell]

"Good Morning, Baltimore" doesn't even get an honorable mention?!

[@jwsel]

The list is of pre-1980 musicals

[@aprilpalm1269]

Pippin was not about magic tricks before the newest version. That clip is wrong.

[@jwsel]

In the original production, the leading player makes a woman levitate during “Magic to Do.” The revival definitely played up the circus elements, but magic was always part of Pippin.

[@LynneNolte]

Sit Down, John from 1776

[@Lapinporokoira]

Where is Good Morning Baltimore from Hairspray?

[@natejacki]

"Magic to Do" reminds me of Miss Patty from Gilmore Girls

[@lazarelazaro52]

A Chorus Line.