Best PRE-intro to a musical?

Daddy Warbucks Profile Photo
Daddy Warbucks
#1Best PRE-intro to a musical?
Posted: 5/19/15 at 2:29pm

I'm looking for some help from the musical gurus on this forum.  


Generally musicals will have some INTRO to the story being told -- often a song that provides the setting (e.g., Downtown, Dear Ole Shiz, Heat is on in Saigon, Good Morning Baltimore, etc., etc.).


But very often, BEFORE the intro, there is some PRE-intro; sometimes it is someone in the future who is letting us know they are going to tell us the story of what happened.  E.g., Narrator starts off Little Shop ("On the 23rd of September, in a year..."), Galinda starts in the future and tells the story of the wicked witch, Phantom starts in the future with the auction, Adam in the future starts American in Paris and tells us the story.


 


Can you think of any other really good PRE-intros to musicals?  

jkstheatrescene Profile Photo
jkstheatrescene
#2Best PRE-intro to a musical?
Posted: 5/19/15 at 2:47pm

The opening to BABY begins with a sex ed lecture about conception before the story starts with the number "We Start Today."

Mr. Nowack Profile Photo
Mr. Nowack
#2Best PRE-intro to a musical?
Posted: 5/19/15 at 2:50pm

Would the vocal overture and night waltz from A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC count?


Keeping BroadwayWorld Illustrated

Wilmingtom
#3Best PRE-intro to a musical?
Posted: 5/19/15 at 3:34pm

Do you mean something like Joe Gillis floating dead in the pool at the beginning of Sunset Boulevard?  Or is that the intro itself?

Phyllis Rogers Stone
#4Best PRE-intro to a musical?
Posted: 5/19/15 at 3:38pm

Is it possible you are looking for the phrase "opening number"?

ljay889 Profile Photo
ljay889
#5Best PRE-intro to a musical?
Posted: 5/19/15 at 3:47pm

"Is it possible you are looking for the phrase "opening number"?"


 L O L

LYLS3637 Profile Photo
LYLS3637
#6Best PRE-intro to a musical?
Posted: 5/19/15 at 3:48pm

"Is it possible you are looking for the phrase "opening number"?"


 Or Prologue? 


"I shall stay until the wind changes."

Kad Profile Photo
Kad
#7Best PRE-intro to a musical?
Posted: 5/19/15 at 3:54pm

The introduction to the introduction.


"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."

Daddy Warbucks Profile Photo
Daddy Warbucks
#8Best PRE-intro to a musical?
Posted: 5/19/15 at 4:03pm

Great responses so far.  And no, as my introductory post explains, opening number would not be accurate.  It is usually what happens before the opening number.  Kad and Lyls, you got it!  


I never saw Sunset Blvd (I only know the music).  Is that how the staged version opened with Joe Gillis floating dead in the pool?  That is cool.  These are exactly the types of examples I'm looking for.


 

Phyllis Rogers Stone
#9Best PRE-intro to a musical?
Posted: 5/19/15 at 4:11pm

But Glinda comes down during the opening number.   

TheBoyFromNC Profile Photo
TheBoyFromNC
#10Best PRE-intro to a musical?
Posted: 5/19/15 at 4:20pm

What you're actually looking for is called a framing device.


The new version of Carrie starts with detectives interrogating Sue about what happened at the prom.


Catch Me If You Can starts with Frank being captured by the FBI, and tells his story then.


Fun Home is narrated throughout by 43-year old Alison, while the plot shows 9- and 18-year old Alison.


Most of A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder is Monty writing his memoirs in prison.


Love Story starts with the protagonist's funeral.


Bare: The Musical (not the Pop Opera, though) starts with Peter talking at Jason's funeral.


Yank! starts with someone finding the protagonist's journal in a junk shop.

Updated On: 5/19/15 at 04:20 PM

darquegk Profile Photo
darquegk
#11Best PRE-intro to a musical?
Posted: 5/19/15 at 4:28pm

My favorite is the prologue to the film version and revised/licensed stage version of Reefer Madness, with the Lecturer not just beginning cold, but establishing the world of the play as a PTA assembly gone mad.

theatreguy12
#12Best PRE-intro to a musical?
Posted: 5/19/15 at 9:07pm

How about the narrator of Damn Yankees….who narrates a bit before "Six Months Out of Every Year" goes into full swing.  He starts out with "Good evening…."  It's kind of part of the song, as the guys and their wives on stage are reacting to what he's saying.  But it's not sung.


That is a great opening number, by the way.

metropolis10111 Profile Photo
metropolis10111
#13Best PRE-intro to a musical?
Posted: 5/19/15 at 9:09pm

No contest here.. .Drowsy Chaperone 

juice23 Profile Photo
juice23
#14Best PRE-intro to a musical?
Posted: 5/19/15 at 9:14pm

Would the opening of GREY GARDENS count? They show the tabloids with the voice over and you get a glimpse of little Edie's eyes in the window before the reveal of the act one version of the home. Very effective. 


My Music Classroom Giving Page: https://www.donorschoose.org/MrHMusicRoom

ggersten Profile Photo
ggersten
#15Best PRE-intro to a musical?
Posted: 5/19/15 at 9:38pm

St. Bridget in Mame is a "preamble" or pre-intro since some consider "It's Today" to be the opening number.  

Updated On: 5/19/15 at 09:38 PM