Best Opening Number (In Your Opinion) Since 1997?

[CedricOates]

Just wondering what everyone thought was the best opening number since 1997, how long I’ve been alive haha.

My pick is “In The Heights” from In The Heights.

[Call_me_jorge]

RAGTIME!

[TotallyEffed]

The first ten minutes of American Idiot were pure theatrical adrenaline.

The opening of Matilda was incredible too.

[QueenTwinnied]

Prologue, The Great Comet. The energy of that number is incredible

[AEA AGMA SM]

“Good Morning, Baltimore” is an absolute gem of an opening number that perfectly sets up the show to follow.

[BroadwayMan5]

Ragtime
The Lion King
Pippin (2013 revival)
Something Rotten

[HugoP]

HAMILTON's opening number sets the standard-- introduces characters, themes, the whole approach, and does it in a riveting and unforgettable way.     RAGTIME's opening number is pretty stunning, and it sets up everything that comes after with stunning theatricality.    ASSASSINS opens powerfully too, and gets you ready to strap in for what's to come.

But I think Musical Theatre does opening numbers better than anything else (I kind of wish there were as long a list of great closing numbers).      THE WEDDING SINGER has a wonderful opener, but the rest of the show falters.    SOMETHING ROTTEN's opener is delightful, but, again, the rest is uneven.  GREAT COMET-- as mentioned above-- opens with a truly fun, electric introduction number.    

And, one of the best 'opening numbers' happens at the very end of MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG (but it's not 'since 1997' as the thread requests!)

  

 

[CT2NYC]

Like "Good Morning, Baltimore," "Hello!" from The Book of Mormon brilliantly captures the spirit and tone of the entire show to follow. They're both perfect.

[msmp]

"Ragtime" from Ragtime and "Prologue" from The Great Comet would probably be my picks. I'd say "Opening Up" from Waitress but I don't think that's technically the actual opening number.

[Rainah]

It's funny to me how many people love Prologue from Great Comet as Dave Malloy always hated the necessity of the number and really wanted to start from Pierre. It's an incredibly staged number though, I do love it.

Hamilton's opening does indeed do everything it needs to in winning fashion. I find the pace of "In The Heights" flags a little, enough to knock it out of first place for me.

[MadsonMelo]

I’d say Hello from Book of Mormon

[poisonivy2]

"Hello" from Book of Mormon 

"Hamilton" 

Both of them start with the classic "I Am/We Are" structure. They introduce the characters, give us a hint as to who everyone is, and why we should care about them. Then both transition into an "I Want" number. "You and Me But Mostly Me" is a duel I Want number for Price and Cunningham, while "My Shot" is Hamilton's I Want moment.

I think I Am/We Are --> I Want is still the best way to open a musical.

[CedricOates]

Also the first 3 songs of Jersey Boys are pretty magical. Sets up the whole story and tone for what follows. And Frankie’s voice!

[CallMeAl2]

Gotta say "Circle of Life" from The Lion King brings tears to my eyes every time. I could watch that number and then just go home a happy customer. 

[qafgenius122]

I would class the “Overture/Prologue” into “The Launching” as the opening number of Titanic, which opened in 1997, as one of the great opening numbers not just since 1997, but all time. That score by Yeston is stunning.
Of course the following year, Ragtime pretty much changed the game for opening numbers.
And I’m going to also include “Just Another Day” from Next to Normal, which I just love, and I think technically is an opening number, not counting the short Prelude.

[Scarlet Leigh]

I gotta agree with the opening of "Ragtime." There is a LOT of information and background on the characters and they are able to fit in just under 10 minutes but they don't stuff it in where it's overwhelming. It's amazing how they not only cover the backstory of the characters more unique to the plot of musical but also a who's who of the historical figures featured in the show as well. All with great music that changes styles with where the attention currently is and brilliantly staged.

[adamgreer]

The Circle of Life
Ragtime
The entire opening sequence of Titanic

All three were thrilling in their own way.

[Shh_413]

I second "Hello" from The Book of Mormon. I'm a sucker for opening numbers that work out of context and serve as valid representation for the tone and story of the show while managing to work in some characterization for the protagonist(s).

I can easily show a friend just the opening number and they'll understand the type of humor that would follow for the rest of the show.

[GeorgeandDot]

Ragtime
The Book of Mormon

[AC126748]

Titanic -- Opening

Ragtime -- Ragtime

The Light in the Piazza -- Statues and Stories

Dear Evan Hansen -- Anybody Have a Map?

[Jarethan]

I had not thought about this until seeing this.  I realized that some of the great opening numbers are from the past 20 years.  If you think about some of the great musicals, they did not have big opening numbers, e.g., South Pacific, MFL, Dolly, Mame, Man of La Mancha, Phantom, Gypsy, Evita (clearly effective,but...), The Music Man.  (Clearly there are also Tradition, Cabaret and Company; and special mention to the opening of Follies, which may not be a number per se but is still amazing when well done).

Re  the past 20 years, I agree with a lot of the posters, but I would rank as follows:

1.  Ragtime: for my money, maybe the greatest opening number ever.  It accomplished so much story telling, yet entertained the hell out of you.

2.  The Lion King: IMO it is major downhill from there, but the opening number, which is really just a procession, is stunning.  It is the reason The LionKing remains the hit it is today.

3.  Hamilton: I don't know how much this has to do with the electricity in the air, but I think the opening number sets the tone for the entire show.

4.  Titanic: the chorals are so great,and it does an incredible job of introducing all of the characters.  I still get goosebumps when I occasionally listen to it.

5.  Come From Away.  That show would not be the hit it is without that opening number.  It tells you that it is going to be okay to be entertained by the show, and that you needn't worry about planes falling out of the sky.

Honorable Mention: The King of Broadway.  IMO The Producers gets bad-mouthed a lot on this board.  It is to me still the most entertaining show in that time period, and the opening number does a great job of setting the scene, introducing us to Max Bialystyock.  Urinetown, for its pure audacity.

[IHeartNY2]

Lion King for me.

[RevolutionaryCostume]

The Five Fifteen from Grey Gardens

Good Morning Baltimore from Hairspray

Ohmigod You Guys from Legally Blonde

 

[Catsbroadwayfan]

What/if from If/then

Just hearing the opening note sends chills down my back, that show is so special to me.

[RaisedOnMusicals]

MadsonMelo said: "I’d say Hello from Book of Mormon"

Me too. It put a smile on my face that lasted through the entire show. (Except for the times I was laughing.)