Following on from threads of similar veins - I thought I'd throw this question out to you all, what is the most emotional opening number of a musical that you have seen?

what show made you get goosebumps, or brought you to tears?

Well it would be rude for me to start the thread and not open the proceedings so I will say

Circle of Life - Lion King

The whole Circle of Life sequence had me very emotional - now it could be that it was my 1st west end musical on my own (doesn't sound that monumental) but when you only ever visited london when you were 7 with the family before that!

I think there is a real theatrical magic that takes place during the song, no other show has come close for me!

I completely agree. I've recently went to The Lion King (my first time) and was amazed at the stunning opening to the show.

Id have to say when I saw Parade at the Donmar, in the Old Red Hills, when the ensemble come out and everyone sings..bought tears to my eyes and gave me shivers, although also partially because it's my favourite show and it was my first time to see it!

The opening "Come One, Come All" sequence of Marguerite, and the "Will I?/Life Support/Seasons of Love" opening of RENT:Remixed.

Have to agree about Marguerite, gave me goosebumps everytime!
Also the overture of withes of eastwick, there's just something about it... can't explain it!

Reckon the opening of Imagine This is one of the most emotional I have seen...

...as for goosebumps every time it has to be Les Mis

The overture to Blood Brothers really gets to me...
The music, the way everybody gets into their positions, the narrator talking, the curtain going up. I think it's very emotional.

Ragtime?

I've never actually seen the show, just seen a recording of the section they did at the Tony awards in the US a few years ago, which I assume is the opening sequence - it was definitely the title number anyway. I didn't know anything about the show at all when I sayw it but the sheer power of it really got me.

And I agree with Imagine This (I'll stop raving about it now, i promise ).

Tricky one: I normally get most emotional once we're well into the story, and have followed the characters etc (e.g. first time the von Trapp children sing to the Captain in TSOM, or the recapitulation of "I Have A Song to Sing-O" at the end of The Yeomen of the Guard).

I suppose the opening numbers of 42nd Street and Sweeney Todd get my heart racing the most.

I love the Phantom's opening with the unveiling of the theatre, just brilliant. Put with those amazing organ chords it's just goosebumpy.

And have to add les mis to this just because whenever I hear those opening two chords I remember standing side of stage waiting to go on and it reminds me of playing thenardier and the greatest experience of my life

As soon as I read the first line of the first post on this topic The Lion King popped into my head too !!!

I have only seen it once but I was amazed at my own reaction at finding the tears pouring down my cheeks, as my husband and I sat in aisle seats so were really close to the 'animals' as they came past us.

Their slogan 'See it once,remember it for ever' was the best and truest I have ever come across in musical theatre.

It's an incredible opening but unfortunately for me nothing else in the show came close to matching it.

I've seen Lion King 4 times, in the WE and in LA, and I have cried at the opening every time I've seen it! Not ashamed to admit it!!

Also Parade and Marguerite, both wonderful openings, and wonderful shows for that matter.

Haven't seen Imagine This but heard great things about it.


I personally also get emotional when I hear the opening chords of Phantom, Les Mis and Wicked. but that's just because I'm a music junkie!

Mary Poppins Overture/Prologue (Chim Chim Cheree)
The overture is so magical, and when the curtain comes up to reveal Bert in the chimney... Oh, I love it.

Completely agree with the opening of the Lion King. It brought tears to my eyes the very first time I seen it. I don't think anything else comes close.

Totally with you on that. The opening chords to all three shows are incredibly powerful

I also agree about Lion King and Marguerite openings. Both so emotional for VERY different reasons! Also love the opening to Chicago 'All That Jazz'

I love the overture to Jesus Christ Superstar and the beginning to Cats, when all the cats eyes start to appear, that gives me goosebumps, the way the lighting and the music work together.

My fave opening to a show though would have to be the Springle Ring from The Lord of the Rings. It was great the way the hobbits would mingle with the crowd and catch fireflies before going into a folk dance, it's such a great piece of music and on the final night they really went for it, they danced their hairy Hobbit feet off! It was actually quite moving and made me tear up. Sob!

I have to agree with most The Lion King opening makes me cry everytime.

Another vote for The Lion King. But i also agree that it sets a standard that isn't quite reached again for the rest of the musical.
I also usually start crying at Les Mis from pretty much the moment the curtain goes up.

Cats - but I was young and it was my first west end show back in 1981.
Lion King - I have to agree - fantastic opening.

Phantom and Tanz der Vampire without a doubt! Major goosebumps everytime the shows start!

The opening of Follies always sends shivers down my spine, and the overture to Gypsy is still the most stunning of all.

I also love the openings of Carousel, West Side Story, Company and Sweeney Todd, as well as a rarely performed, but delightful musical, Baby.

Ragtime, Martin Guerre, Parade... and to a degree, Sunset Blvd when it was in the West End.

Good topic. I'd have to say that "All That Jazz" (Chicago) is possibly the best opening number in a musical that I've ever seen. It's damn exciting (excitement is an emotion, right?) and sets the atmosphere, period, tone, and musical language of the rest of the show right from the get-go. The opening ballad from Sweeney Todd comes a very close second for similar reasons.

Phantom always give me goosebumps and Ragtime definately, last show in london I was an emotional wreck from start to finish!! 

Definitely the Lion King.

And the remixed/medly opening of Rent:Remixed, was incredibly emotional. Probably the only good bit about the whole production in fact.