Playlist For Sunday, Feb. 2nd, 2020: Another Op'nin'!

Jumping right in. Formally introducing. Starting small. Starting huge! Instructions. Warnings! Chaos and questions. Factory whistles, trains, French, and ghosts! Sooooo many ways to open a musical. And, like oysters for Rockefeller, we're gonna open 'em on Sunday.

 From Curly 

to

Chorus...

 Starting here, starting now (nope, we're not playing that), we'll try out some of the iconic Broadway musical openers. From the likes of Oklahoma!, A Chorus Line, Gypsy, Sweeney Todd...and go all the way to today's Tootsie and Hadestown. From simple and sublime to the grab-you-by-the-collar-and-shake-ya kinda number. They set the tone, show you the ropes, and, if we're lucky, keep us in our seats (or on the edge of them).

Broadwayphiles will know every word and anticipate every modulation, cuz these are the "Top 40"...so grab your popcorn or your sippy cup of merlot, and join me for Another Op'nin'!

 

Oh, What A Beautiful Morning (Alfred Drake, Oklahoma!)
Another Op'nin', Another Show (Ensemble, Kiss Me Kate) 
Dites-Moi (Laurissa Romain, Luka Kain, South Pacific)
Let Me Entertain You (Karen Moore, Jacqueline Mayro, Gypsy)
I Put My Hand In (Carol Channing, Hello Dolly!)
Tradition (Zero Mostel, Company, Fiddler On The Roof)
Rock Island (Ensemble, The Music Man)
Why Can't The English (Rex Harrison, My Fair Lady)
How To (Robert Morse, How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying)
Comedy Tonight (Zero Mostel, Company, A Funny Thing Happened On
      The Way To The Forum)
Six Months Out Of Every Year (Shannon Bolin, Robert Shafer, Damn Yankees)
Company (Dean Jones, Ensemble, Company)
Penniless Bums (Tony Roberts, Robert Morse, Sugar)
The Ballad Of Sweeney Todd) (Len Cariou, Company, Sweeney Todd)
Beautiful Girls (Arthur Rubin, Follies)
Invocation And Instructions (Nathan Lane, Roger Bart, The Frogs)
Sit Down, John (William Daniels, Ensemble, 1776)
The Advantages Of Floating In The Middle Of The Sea (Mako,
       Company, Pacific Overtures)
We Are What We Are (Ensemble, La Cage Aux Folles)
I Hope I Get It (Company, A Chorus Line)
Prologue/Theme From City Angels (James Naughton, Ensemble, City Of
       Angels)
Hello! (Andrew Rannells, Josh Gad, Company, The Book Of Mormon)
Four Jews In A Room Bitching (Christian Borle, Andrew Rannells,
       Brandon Uranowitz, Anthony Rosenthal, Falsettos)
Anybody Have A Map? (Rachel Bay Jones, Jennifer Laura Thompson,
       Dear Evan Hansen)
Prologue (Company, Natasha, Pierre, And The Great Comet Of 1812)
Alexander Hamilton (Leslie Odom, Jr., Lin-Manuel Miranda,
       Company, Hamilton)
Opening Number (Santino Fontana, Company, Tootsie)
Road To Hell (Chris Sullivan, Company, Hadestown)