best/most powerful finales of a show

[YankeesFan175]

lets hear them. i think the les mis one is very beautiful.

[popcultureboy]

The most recent revival of Cabaret.

[jeremykushnier1fan]

I know I know, but I'm going to say it. RENT.

[GYPSY1527]

Rose's Turn. no contest.

[JustChillin8908]

This may sound really stupid, but even though I've never seen it I love the finale to Hairspray (it makes me wanna dance which is very unusual for me).

I especially love when Penny sings for some reason.

[Katurian2]

Sweeney Todd just leaves my mouth wide open. Swan Lake is also great

[IssaMe]

Piazza, Candide, Monty, and dare I say it? DOTV.

[tim10086]

Most powerful...Parade.

Most exciting...42nd Street.

[Katurian2]

Whoot! Go 42nd Street!

[BoxOfficeJon]

I will always love Les Miserables final scene. It is so wonderful.

I also liked the Music Circus version of CHESS. It was so simple and yet so wonderful.

And I know I will get flack for it but I liked WICKED'S finale. Maybe cause I just really loved the show, I thought it wrapped it in a nice bow at the finale.

[Dre2387]

i agree with you boxoffice. I like the wicked one too. and le mis is definately up there.

[chino]

Les Mis!!!!! really the best.

[musicaltheater1]

- The tragic ending of Miss Saigon and Cabaret.
- The final disappearing act of the Phantom.
- I second on Rose's Turn in Gypsy.
- Orchestral Finale to the exodus of the family in the movie version of The Sound of Music.
- The heartwarming ending of Wicked (from For Good to Finale).

[Josh Freilich]

I get goosebumps from Les Mis as well as Sunday in the Park with George.

I also get a chill from listening to the finale to "My Favorite Year," "A Chorus Line," "BatBoy," "Prodigal," and Menken/Ahrens' "A Christmas Carol".

So beautiful.

[tim10086]

I'll throw Assassins in there too.

As well as Hair. The finale of that show...The Flesh Failures/Let the Sun Shine In...is just a FCUK YES moment.

[BroadwayChica]

"The most recent revival of Cabaret. "

I agree. It left my mouth wide open. My mom still talks about it all the time (she also does a hilarious impression of the MC at the very end of the show, which is so funny and cruel)

Ditto on Sweeney Todd, Gypsy, and Candide. And I agree with Josh Freilich about Sunday: that is one of the most understated, chlling and beautiful endings of any show I've ever seen.

And while I'm not by any means a Les Miz fan, it WAS the first show I ever saw. And to a 9 year old girl experiencing theater for the first time, that ending is truly magnificent.

[Josh Freilich]

What about ASSASSINS? That was pretty goosebump-inducing as well.

[Composer9]

Sunday in the Park with George and Passion both give me chills.

As far as a big finish, Roses Turn for sure.

[tim10086]

Big River

[livelife]

Phantom!!!!!!!!!!! - heartbreaking

[tim10086]

Many of you have mentioned Sunday in the Park With George, and as its a show I don't know, I just listened to the finale sample on Amazon.com. Even though its 30 seconds, its making me want to cry. I love this.

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Hairspray.

It's insane. My leg litterally starts shaking as the music starts to You Can't Stop the Beat, and my breath gets all wonky. Something about the sheer transfer of joy between the performers and audience hits me in a vicseral way. I guess it's because it's theatre at it's finest.

Akiva

[COOOOLkid]

Ragtime, Les Miserables, Sweeney Todd, SITPWG, and Miss Saigon.

[BroadwayChica]

Oooh, I have to agree with Passion and Assassins. And I ADORE Ragtime, but the ending to the first Act is MUCH more powerful than the ending to the show.

[Lamc16]

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Can't wait to see it again in London.