Best(or worst) Act 1 closers?

[Bob30]

I always look forward to how a show will end Act 1 and my favourite endings to Act 1 are

Wicked - Defying Gravity
Anything Goes - The large scale tap routine and Title Song
Avenue Q - The heart wrenching A fine fine line

I cant think of worst

yours?

[jamiekennywicked]

Best
Ragtime
Side Show
Fiddler On The Roof (when the orchestrations are done well)
Evita
9 to 5

Worst
The Wizard Of Oz (London Palladium version) It's good plot wise- but musically . .
Rent

[bob8rich]

Yeah, I love the act 1 closers for Ragtime and Side Show too. Plus Les Mis, of course.

But my favourite would have to be A Little Priest in Sweeney.

[Bob30]

Forgot to put Sweeney in mine, i adore a Little Priest!

[Mark_E]

9 to 5 - Shine Like the Sun

[Buddy's blues]

As someone has already said A Little Priest, I'll go with A Weekend In The Country

[Nickhutson]

Best

Ragtime
Wicked
Beauty and the Beast
Barnum (I never saw it, but having a song sung atop of tight rope going to the back of the London Palladium auditorium must've been amazing)
Billy Elliot
Cabaret (tomorrow belongs to me... amazing!)
Mary Poppins (the fact that she buggers off is amazing!)

I hate it when cast recordings of musicals don't put the act II opening music in. Some entr'actes are brilliant!

[mallardo]

For sheer heart-swelling wonderfulness I would say "Sunday" from Sunday in the Park With George.

For raw excitement I would say "Defying Gravity".

For vocal thrills, the Act One Finale of South Pacific with Emile hitting the big "Never let her go" note in full voice.

[MamasDoin'Fine]

'Too Close To The Sun'...the interval didn't come fast enough!!!

[06s091]

Best:
"A Little Priest" - Sweeney Todd
"One Day More" - Les Misérables

[MusicalBoy]

One Man, Two Guvnors method of closing the first act was ingenious, if not a little bit abrupt.

Musical-wise, nothing can really beat the bliss of 'Sunday' in Sunday in the Park with George.

[ClapYo'Hands]

In addition to some already mentioned:

The Phantom of the Opera
Gypsy - The Curve production was especially haunting!
La Cage Aux Folles
In The Heights

Honourable mention - Oliver! - Really weird end to Act I.

[philitalia]

I Got Rhythm in Crazy For You (Prince Edward) - perfect

[ClapYo'Hands]

Odd you should mention that Phil, as I was just watching this: http://www.bluegobo.com/production/2890658/video/11067

[philitalia]

That clip of the Olivier awards just makes me happy and smile every time. Pity about those titles

ps. I have that same clip on vhs from when I recorded the show and it's just a little bit faster - even better

[ClapYo'Hands]

Another treasure:

http://www.bluegobo.com/production/2883009/video/10005

1987 SOLT Awards live from the Victoria Palace Theatre.

[philitalia]

thanks for those links - didn't know that website

[ClapYo'Hands]

That's my afternoon sorted!