Best staged number in theatre history?- Page 2

[Julie Yard]

Posted: 3/25/15 at 10:12pm

Touch Me from Spring Awakening.

and I agree... One Day More --Les Miserables (original staging)

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 3/25/15 at 10:19pm

I have no quarrel with anyone's favorite here, but "Who's That Woman?" was probably the number that most excited me. On the other hand, "Shall We Dance?" is the perfect blend of dialogue, song and dance as per the Hammerstein tradition.

But for sheer simplicity (and I don't know whether Prince or Bennett staged it), I have to vote for the original staging of "Too Many Mornings". We know Ben and Sally are singing in each others' arms, but it was staged with Ben embracing a showgirl "ghost" while Sally embraced and caressed empty air.

Absolutely chilling while simultaneously giving us all sorts of information.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 3/25/15 at 10:22pm

Speaking of simplicity, I found every moment of MARCH OF THE FALSETTOS (performed off-Broadway with little more than a couple of chairs and four flashlights) so brilliantly staged I wanted to give up directing forever.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 3/25/15 at 10:47pm

The opening and most of the numbers in Nine, Grand Hotel and Will Rogers Follies brilliantly staged by Tommy Tune.
Most memorably, Anita Morris in her breathtaking provocatively staged in "A Call from the Vatican" from Nine.

Updated On: 3/26/15 at 10:47 PM

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 3/25/15 at 10:50pm

I second "Solidarity" from Billy Elliot.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 3/25/15 at 10:55pm

Gower Champion's staging of THE HELLO DOLLY number is hands down the most exciting number I ever saw on a Broadway Stage. Just a thrilling, warm-hearted, piece of genius. If you never saw it live I pity you.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 3/25/15 at 11:10pm

Funny, I never really think of Shall We Dance as a Robbins number... Did he stage the full sequence? I mean--the dancing is thrilling when it goes full out, but...

When I think of Robbins I tend to think of things like Cool, or other dance numbers--but when I saw the recreation of the original WSS in England 15 years back I thought the whole transition and staging going into Dance at the Gym was thrilling (as was the prologue.)

I do think The Montage/Hello Twelve in A Chorus Line is just masterfully staged. Having seen it live I feel I can comment more on it than great numbers I've only seen on bootlegs or other filmed versions--though there is a pretty good bootleg of the revival cast doing it on youtube. And it truly is about how it's staged--the lighting, the movement, everything combined--it truly is, to use an overused term when it comes to stage musicals, cinematic in the way all the sequences dissolve into each other, etc.

Here's the clip--for a 210 minute sequence, even not so well filmed by an audience membet--the actual staging in every sense of the word is pretty flawless https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqQAPcuuiP0

Updated On: 3/25/15 at 11:10 PM

[adam.peterson44]

Posted: 3/25/15 at 11:33pm

I've only recently been in a position to be able to see a lot of professional theatre, so i don't presume to know what the best in theatre history is, but here are some of my favorites that i've seen either on Broadway or a touring production or in regional productions, with most of the examples being quite recent.

Three categories that i tend to love the most - wonderful tap dancing numbers always move me tremendously, and also emotionally-powerful scenes, and i also love quirky/comedic dance numbers.

In the wonderful tap dancing category:

42nd St: Audition, We're in the Money, and Go Into Your Dance (several regional productions)
Newsies: King of New York
Anything Goes: title song (Kathleen Marshall staging)
Aladdin: Friend Like Me
A Christmas Story: You'll Shoot Your Eye Out (tap dancing part)



Quirky/comedic stagings that i love:

A Christmas Story - slow-motion run during Ralphie to the Rescue
Nice Work If You Can Get It - the bathtub scene
Sister Act - I Could Be That Guy - a genius combination of song/costumes/staging for a scene that is both funny and moving - perfection!
Pippin - Magic To Do, No Time At All, and finale scene (2013 revival)

Dramatic/emotional stagings:

Les Miserables - One Day More
Wicked - Defying Gravity

Next to Normal - There's a World and I've Been: Michael Greif's staging during those two songs rips my heart out, throws it on the floor, and stomps all over it (in a good way). It leaves me emotionally devastated. Similarly Aftershocks.

Carousel - If I Loved You (The Goodspeed 2012 production staged this scene better than any other Carousel production i've seen - very effective).

[brdway411]

Posted: 3/25/15 at 11:35pm

Friend Like Me from Aladdin.

[BwayFan23768]

Posted: 3/25/15 at 11:38pm

Some of my favourites:
The Bench Scene - Carousel
"Shall We Dance?" - The King and I
"Who's That Woman?" and "Beautiful Girls" - Follies
"Johanna Quartet" - Sweeney Todd
"A Weekend in the Country" - A Little Night Music
"Put On Your Sunday Clothes" - Hello, Dolly!
"The Advantages of Floating in the Middle of the Sea" and "Chrysanthemum Tea" - Pacific Overtures
"Sunday" - Sunday in the Park with George
"Molasses to Rum" - 1776

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 3/25/15 at 11:44pm

The Bench Scene from which production? I mean it's a glorious piece of *writing* but, as much as I loved the Hytner production on tour as a teen, I can't even recall the staging of that number.

[Visceral_Fella]

Posted: 3/25/15 at 11:44pm

No Grand Hotel? What have y'all been watching?

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 3/25/15 at 11:59pm

Impossible question though this is, if I had to pick from anything I've seen live, my first thought is I've Decided to Marry You from Gentleman's Guide. Every beat of the song is perfectly staged- it's a great song regardless, but the staging is what makes it work as beautifully as it does. I also really loved Joseph Smith American Moses in Book of Mormon, very clever staging.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 3/26/15 at 12:02am

Visceral_Fella , aha


The opening and most numbers in Nine, Grand Hotel and Will Rogers Follies brilliantly staged by Tommy Tune.

Updated On: 3/26/15 at 12:02 AM

[followspot]

Posted: 3/26/15 at 12:11am

I've always loved and admired "The March of the Siamese Children" in THE KING AND I. So much conveyed without a single word spoken.

The March of the Siamese Children

Updated On: 3/26/15 at 12:11 AM

[Sally Durant Plummer]

Posted: 3/26/15 at 12:15am

Besides the brilliance of much of the original Follies (thanks Gaveston for putting in a word for "Too Many Mornings"!), the Act I Finale of Dreamgirls is pure genius. After ripping her heart out, Effie does not even get the applause she is rightfully due as the Dreams take the stage for the last 30 seconds of act one.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 3/26/15 at 12:41am

SO many phenomenally staged pieces. Not just best choreographed, but also dynamically staged dramatic musical scenes.

A Chorus Line: Opening (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htLGQ3CDODY) Montage (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqQAPcuuiP0) One (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fo0iIoWePYI) Music and the Mirror (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rVGHyFMZIM)
Follies: Who's That Woman (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgvoAr0_gt4)
Will Rogers Follies: Our Favorite Son (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9-1XutZfPY)
Tommy: The Opening Prologue (no decent video found)
Dreamgirls: The whole show, really, but especially Heavy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgCv5a22YUU)
Carousel '94: The Carousel Waltz (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4CXXNbQb48) If I Loved You (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20Z-XEwIhfw) The Act 2 Ballet (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60gstVHOnyE)
Pippin: With You (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=139lPgi9gy8)
Sweet Charity: Big Spender (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XTdZX6r4u8), Rich Man's Frug (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-HDIMF344Y)
Promises Promises: Turkey Lurkey Time (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkBZ0-r_M-8)
Phantom of the Opera: Title song (no decent video does it justice)
Les Miserables: The Final Battle (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvmQ3knygQY from about 2:00-4:20)
Ain't Misbehavin': How You Baby (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gE8_MxJCsqg starting at about 19:00) and Black and Blue/Finale (same link 1:17:30 to end)
Hello Dolly: Hello Dolly (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFO8T63lLGI)
West Side Story: So many to count, but the two that always exploded off the stage to me were America (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkJ-axYUj24) and Dance at the Gym (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AE8Kd74KbqE)
My One and Only: 'SWonderful (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KPHUCta7qU)
Nine: Again, one could argue the whole show but Folies Bergeres is a master class in slowly building a number (Part 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ba6kpq3q88U Part 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HQbFV-Y-hU)
Sunday in the Park with George: Sunday (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JixqbMd_P2Y) and the Finale in the 2008 revival
South Pacific '08: Honey Bun reprise in Act 2
Evita: Peron's Latest Flame and Rainbow High (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9nbX2NY23Q)
Fiddler on the Roof: If I Were a Rich Man and Wedding Dance
Cabaret '98: Wilkommen (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ2ZcluLXjo) and Cabaret (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nx3F3YfsWHA)
Chicago: Hot Honey Rag (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7CeATYYlb0)
Dancin: Sing Sing Sing (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMW9W_H0X0Q)
La Cage Aux Folles: I Am What I Am (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VClVu81QQW4)
Gypsy: All I Need Is the Girl (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3njRt0ywV4w)
The King and I: Small House of Uncle Thomas
Annie: Easy Street (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSnpEvfemjY)
Oklahoma '98: Laurie's Dream Ballet (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNPQbP14Oz0)
Crazy For You: I Got Rhythm (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTCywgHysY8) and Slap That Bass

And sooooooo many others

[JamesBroadwayWiner]

Posted: 3/26/15 at 12:50am

I would say Defying Gravity. I know that Wicked is a bit of a cliche, but there is a reason for that. The flying portion is incredibly creative and effective. I mean it when I say that no moment in any other show ever makes me feel the way Defying Gravity makes me feel. It petrifies me every time.

[Musical Master]

Posted: 3/26/15 at 12:57am

Who's that Woman? and the entire Loveland sequence- FOLLIES 1971
Honey Bun reprise- SOUTH PACIFIC 2008
Shall We Dance and Small House of Uncle Thomas- THE KING AND I
Gym Dance- WEST SIDE STORY
Hello Dolly!- HELLO DOLLY! 1964
It's Today and Mame- MAME 1966

And so many others.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 3/26/15 at 1:03am

Shall We Dance for the most recent revival was truly breathtaking. Such a vast stage for the dancing.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 3/26/15 at 1:04am

We'll; Take a Glass Together from Grand Hotel. Who could ever forget the sheer joy of Michael Jeter's performance, from which the rest of the cast followed suit. Will never forget it.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 3/26/15 at 2:58am

I base mine on goosebump factors and production numbers (vs. solos) (and the last 50 years), in preferred order:

Hello Dolly -- Hello Dolly
Mame -- Mame
Who's That Woman -- (the original) Follies
A New Argentina --(the original) Evita
Circle of Life -- The Lion King
A Weekend in the Country -- (the original) A Little Night Music
The last 15 minutes of Nine (original production)
At Charlie's Place -- Over Here
End of Act 1 -- Les Miserables
Ragtime -- Ragtime
(Hate to put it this way) The Helicopter scene from Miss Saigon -- not because a set came down from the rafters, but because of the mix of staging and music / orchestration
Wilkommen -- both versions of Cabaret
The Party's on the House -- Half a Sixpence
Anything Goes -- Lupone Anything Goes
Not on You Nellie -- Darling of the Day
The Lambeth Walk -- Me and My Girl
The entire Lonely Town segment of (the current) On the Town
Two Numbers from the Harold Prince / Susan Stroman Show Boat -- dances reflecting the passage of time

Smaler scale:
The Phantom of the Opera number in the gondola -- the most goosebumps ever when (illogically) the candelabra came up through the underground lake
Shall We Dance -- any King and I that I have seen
Rose's Turn -- Lansbury Gypsy
And I Am Telling You / Dreamgirls -- Dreamgirls
Nowadays / Sweet Honey Rag(?) -- Chicago
The Girls Upstairs -- (Original) Folies
If They Could See Me Now -- (original) Sweet Charity
Follies Bergere - (original) Nine
The Music and the Mirror -- A Chorus Line
Cabaret -- the original production of Cabaret
Steam Heat -- Pajama Game
Sylvia's Death Scene -- Finding Neverland
Bosom Buddies -- Mame
Hallelujah! Baby -- Hallelujah! Baby!
A Little Priest -- Sweeney Todd
Swan Lake -- Billy Elliott
Betrayed -- The Producers


Probably things from West Side Story, but I am sooooooo sick of it.
Also never loved the show Fiddler...one of the only cases ever where I liked the movie more

[verdigris]

Posted: 3/26/15 at 5:02am

I think When I Grow Up from Matilda is fantastic. Also I've Decided to Marry You from GGLAM is very clever.

Updated On: 3/26/15 at 05:02 AM

[tazber]

Posted: 3/26/15 at 5:48am

Another vote for We'll Take A Glass Together from Grand Hotel.

[FrontRowCenter2]

Posted: 3/26/15 at 6:17am

I know I'm going to get a bit of heat from this one but I don't recall enjoying a number more in recent years than "It's a Musical" from Something Rotten! Too new??