Best act 1 finale

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 7/30/08 at 3:25pm

One Day More - Les Miserables

[shh282]

Posted: 7/30/08 at 3:26pm

Well in Is He Dead? the proposal + prompt fainting by NLB is a high one on my charts

[levitatingcow11]

Posted: 7/30/08 at 3:28pm

Spring Awakening - the Hayloft scene, just because it is so awkward standing in the Ladies' Room during Intermission.

Also, I love Coming Up Roses in Gypsy.

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 7/30/08 at 3:34pm

Everything's Coming Up Roses is plenty "climactic." It's the start of Louise becoming a star.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 7/30/08 at 3:34pm

I kind of love "A New Argentina," especially in the original Bway production, with LuPone trumpeting those high notes over and over.

And "Sunday" in SITPWG.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 7/30/08 at 3:36pm

None of you are even close. (eta: oops I posted at the same time as Reginald)

The best Act 1 finale, bar none, is Evita.

The entire cast is onstage, some holding torches, some holding banners. They are singing "A New Argentina". It ends "The voice of the people, can not be, and will not be and must not be denied".

Don't believe me? Go look at the 1980 Tony Awards clip and see if you don't pee your pants after watching it.

Updated On: 7/30/08 at 03:36 PM

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 7/30/08 at 3:37pm

Is that all you got from it

[Mandi Moo]

Posted: 7/30/08 at 3:40pm

I don't know if these are the best, but some of my favorites are "Ever After" from Into the Woods, "The Bells of St. Sebastian" from Nine, and I've been obsessed with "Blackout" from In the Heights lately.

[zepka102]

Posted: 7/30/08 at 3:42pm

I love the staging for Light in the Piazza, with Margaret walking in on Clara and Fabrizio. The blackout has perfect timing, just as she realizes what is going on and is about to make a move.

In the Heights is so over-stimulating... in a good way though.

[walkedthroughmany]

Posted: 7/30/08 at 3:55pm

"A Little Priest" -- picture going into the show knowing absolutely nothing about it. I can't imagine what you must feel like going into intermission after that.

"August: Osage County" ends on some ridiculous highs after act one and especially act two.

And another vote for "One Day More."

[Jamie Pierce]

Posted: 7/30/08 at 3:56pm

I am holding my breath all during "Everything's Coming Up Roses" and when the house lights come up, I finally exhale. It's a pretty intense Act I closer.

"Dreamgirls" is my pick.

[Weez]

Posted: 7/30/08 at 3:58pm

Sondheim is pretty darn good at those act 1 closers. 'A Little Priest' and 'Sunday' are both high on my list of favourites. Also 'One Day More!', and - why not - 'La Vie Boheme B'. The ENERGY, man! :3

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 7/30/08 at 4:03pm

A Little Priest - Sweeney
I Believe - Spring Awakening
Defying Gravity (how original of me, I know) - Wicked
Feeling Electric - Next to Normal
So Much Better - Legally Blonde
Astonishing - Little Women

[James885]

Posted: 7/30/08 at 4:03pm

Everything's Coming Up Roses - Gypsy
And I Am Telling You... - Dreamgirls
A Little Priest - Sweeney Todd
Till We Reach That Day - Ragtime
One Day More - Les Mis
Along Came Bialy - The Producers
'Act 1 Finale ' - Urinetown
If I Can't Love Her- Beauty and The Beast

Also the 1st Act finales from LSOH, Light In The Piazza and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

[CyCoSpAz2]

Posted: 7/30/08 at 4:09pm

If I Can't Love Her from Beauty and the Beast. I don't know why, but I was just so overwhelmed and stared at the stage for a while after the lights came back on.

[toanythingtaboo 2]

Posted: 7/30/08 at 4:16pm

Depends on what you look for in the half way climax.

Defying Gravity has always given me actual goose bumps and it leaves you buzzing.

Thats rare, usually there is a 'wow' but that takes the crown because its so spectacular.

However, I am partial to 'And I'm Telling You' even though its dulled down with 'Dreamgirls' sneaking in before the curtain. 'One' from Bare is pretty powerful when sung well. The end of 'Blackout' is good too.

[Jamie Pierce]

Posted: 7/30/08 at 4:22pm

It would seem as though having "The Dreams" come in at the end of "And I Am Telling You..." would dull the Act I finish but for some reason, I find it really adds to the emotion of the moment. Perhaps because we see that, despite Effie's declaration, they are in fact moving on with out her.

[Raviolisun]

Posted: 7/30/08 at 4:26pm

In the Heights, Les Miserables, and Gypsy [especially with the letter-ripping] all took my breath away.

[practically_perfect]

Posted: 7/30/08 at 4:36pm

I know these aren't original but...
Defying Gravity- Wicked - because, it's simply exhilerating and incredible
One Day More - Les Mis - I love that song....
So Much Better - LB- I like where they black out, plus, it's the best song in Legally Blonde
If I Can't Love Her - BATB - Just a really good song, and I love when the set turns around
La Vie Boheme B - RENT - I just sat in awe of the first act...crying my eyes out for reasons I barely understood, dried my eyes @ intermission, then started all over again with Seasons of Love...

[Kev14]

Posted: 7/30/08 at 4:42pm

Wicked- Defying Gravity is awesome!

My Fair Lady- It was such a powerful ending, and they weren't even singing. I love how they end it on Eliza's dress.

Updated On: 7/30/08 at 04:42 PM

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 7/30/08 at 4:43pm

Gypsy
Passing Strange
Sweeney Todd
Wicked (The show should have ended right there. Act II is an abomination)

[ecsnyc22]

Posted: 7/30/08 at 4:48pm

I thought that Audra McDonald in 110 IN THE SHADE singing "Old Maid" was stunning.

Frankly, I think that anything Audra McDonald does is stunning...

[broadwayrules]

Posted: 7/30/08 at 5:00pm

I really like Roosevelt Petrucius Coleslaw from Caroline, or Change. I think that it really fits the show, and yet it is still a great song to listen to.

[Chance]

Posted: 7/30/08 at 5:02pm

Before they cut the intermission during previews, Storms a Brewin' in ....Trailer Park... was a great finale.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 7/30/08 at 5:10pm

Maybe because I just saw an excellent production of ALNM at the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake my vote would go to "A Weekend in the Country." It combines several plot threads and sets up a great what-will-happen.

But that's just one of many possibilities.