Student Blog: One Of The Greatest Tony Opening Numbers Ever

With the Tony Awards happening recently, I figured I would look back at one of the greatest opening numbers in Tony history: "Bigger."

"Bigger" was written by Tony Award-winners Tom Kitt and Lin-Manuel Miranda and performed by Tony Award-winner Neil Patrick Harris at the 67th annual Tony Awards in 2013. The song begins with Harris and his guitar, who says he could sing a song that is quiet and small but would rather sing a bigger song. Harris then guarantees "a truly legendary show," which is a nod to his famous line in How I Met Your Mother.

Throughout the song, Harris is joined by Tonny-winning heavyweights such as Kinky Boots and Pippin and literal heavyweight Mike Tyson, who had a one-man show on Broadway in 2012. Harris is also joined by a magician and many child actors, who Harris claims are "the reason this whole season seems to look like Chuck-E-Cheese."

Later in the song, Harris delivers a powerful message to the kids watching at home, stating that everyone at the Tonys was once just a kid with a dream of making it to Broadway. The song ends with every Tony-nominated musical on stage and Harris hanging from the rim of an oversized Tony Award.

Although I highlighted my favorite parts of the song, nothing does this Emmy-award winning number justice other than watching it, which you can do below!

Chicago Awards - Live Stats

Best Musical - Top 3

1. HAIRSPRAY (Uptown Music Theater of Highland Park)

7.3% of votes

2. RENT (Highland Park Players)

7.2% of votes

3. THE WIZARD OF OZ (Up and Coming Theatre/Elgin Summer Theater)

6.5% of votes

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