1. "Magic to Do" from Pippin:
My first experience being in a proper musical, I was in Pippin at the age of nine. Seeing the high schoolers (who were basically rockstars in my eyes) with their white gloves all aglow from the backlight and moving around in the darkness was mesmerizing. Also, Stephen Schwartz is to me what Shakespeare is to Kevin Kline.2. "There's No Business Like Show Business" from Annie Get Your Gun:
Honestly, how the Tony Awards haven't opened with this song in a while is beyond me. It's the perfect love letter to the theatre. You can't help but want to hop on stage with the cast and dance along.
3. "There You Are" from Drood:
Another wonderful get-on-your-feet number, all I wanted to do when I heard this was to break out into a can-can. I need to purchase this album on iTunes ASAP.
4. "Let There Be" from Children of Eden:
Again, I am completely and utterly in love with Mr. Schwartz's work and Children of Eden is no exception; the harmonies in this song are just gorgeous, and I'm shocked that it hasn't had the Broadway run that it deserves. It never ceases to bring tears to my eyes with its beauty. I hope to see it again, or better yet, have the privilege of being in its cast.
5. "Come and Look at the Freaks" from Side Show:
Again, I'm very fond of good harmonization, and "Freaks" definitely fits the bill. It definitely gets me to want to finish the soundtrack and look forward to the upcoming revival.
6. "Overture/Work Song" from Les Misérables:
Frankly, the one thing I like almost as well as good harmonies is a song that I can belt my lungs out on, and this is one of them. Another show I'd like to be in someday.
7. "Carrying the Banner" from Newsies:
Alan Menken, anyone? Hearing this song makes mornings a lot less awful, and remembering that Christian Bale was in the movie version of this show never ceases to make me chuckle.
8. "All That Jazz" from Chicago:
"Well behaved women seldom make history." This is definitely true for Chicago's two leading ladies, Roxie and Velma (who sings this song). A big booming number, "Jazz" makes you wish you were in a speakeasy back in the '20s.
9. "Let Me Be Your Star" from Bombshell:
I know, it's not a real musical (though I and many other SMASH fans wish it was), but it's still gorgeous and wishful and hits very close to home given my desire to be a successful actress. And Megan Hilty sings in it, so of course it's fantastic.
10. "No One Mourns the Wicked" from Wicked:
I tried to not include this one. Really, I did. But the fact remains that this is a dang good opening number, and Wicked is a good musical regardless of its popularity. (Also, another Schwartz song? Why, yes it is. I already told you that he's my favorite musical composer.)
Feel free to share some of your favorites in the comments!
