This post has not been vetted or endorsed by BuzzFeed's editorial staff. BuzzFeed Community is a place where anyone can create a post or quiz. Try making your own!

Posted on Jan 15, 2014

The 10 Greatest Act One Musical Finales - EVER!

Every musical has them, but only a few are worth being called "the greatest". Is yours on the list?

Community Contributor

No matter what you think of Annie, this number sets up the rest of the show as Warbucks promises to find Annie’s parents. While it may not tear down the house, it is pivotal to the plot and the development of the story. I dare you not to choke up as the curtain comes down.
The number starts at the 5:00 mark. — youtube.com / Via youtube.com

No matter what you think of Annie, this number sets up the rest of the show as Warbucks promises to find Annie’s parents. While it may not tear down the house, it is pivotal to the plot and the development of the story. I dare you not to choke up as the curtain comes down.
The number starts at the 5:00 mark.

youtube.com / Via youtube.com

No matter what you think of Annie, this number sets up the rest of the show as Warbucks promises to find Annie’s parents. While it may not tear down the house, it is pivotal to the plot and the development of the story. I dare you not to choke up as the curtain comes down.
The number starts at the 5:00 mark.

Spotify — open.spotify.com

This Stephen Sondheim musical has never played Broadway, but it was meant to be his first solo Broadway show, until the original producer died and it was shelved. In 2000, it premiered Off-Broadway and yielded an excellent cast album! “One Wonderful Day” features the entire cast and has so much joy in it, it’s hard to contain on the album! Trust me, you’re in for a treat!

Dolly is gonna live life again and it's glorious! Watch Carol Channing recreate her Tony winning role. — youtube.com / Via youtube.com

Dolly is gonna live life again and it's glorious! Watch Carol Channing recreate her Tony winning role.

youtube.com / Via youtube.com

Dolly is gonna live life again and it's glorious! Watch Carol Channing recreate her Tony winning role.

Angela Lansbury recreated her definitive role in this not very well received revival of MAME. However, the Act 1 finale is breathtaking.
(Note: The actor who plays Young Patrick doesn't have the best diction, so something is lost in the "My Best Girl (Reprise).") — youtube.com / Via youtube.com

Angela Lansbury recreated her definitive role in this not very well received revival of MAME. However, the Act 1 finale is breathtaking.
(Note: The actor who plays Young Patrick doesn't have the best diction, so something is lost in the "My Best Girl (Reprise).")

youtube.com / Via youtube.com

Angela Lansbury recreated her definitive role in this not very well received revival of MAME. However, the Act 1 finale is breathtaking.
(Note: The actor who plays Young Patrick doesn't have the best diction, so something is lost in the "My Best Girl (Reprise).")

Chances are you’ve never heard of this show, but the end of Act One finale is a treat. Uggams’ character proclaims she’ll be, “the best or nothing at all!” With music by Jule Styne (Gypsy; Funny Girl) and lyrics by Adolph Green and Betty Comden, the song has a rightful place on this list, even though it hasn’t been seen on Broadway since it closed 46 years ago.
This video is from a 1968 episode of "The Ed Sullivan Show." A slightly truncated version of the song starts at 00:30 and ends at 2:30. — youtube.com / Via youtube.com

Chances are you’ve never heard of this show, but the end of Act One finale is a treat. Uggams’ character proclaims she’ll be, “the best or nothing at all!” With music by Jule Styne (Gypsy; Funny Girl) and lyrics by Adolph Green and Betty Comden, the song has a rightful place on this list, even though it hasn’t been seen on Broadway since it closed 46 years ago.
This video is from a 1968 episode of "The Ed Sullivan Show." A slightly truncated version of the song starts at 00:30 and ends at 2:30.

youtube.com / Via youtube.com

Chances are you’ve never heard of this show, but the end of Act One finale is a treat. Uggams’ character proclaims she’ll be, “the best or nothing at all!” With music by Jule Styne (Gypsy; Funny Girl) and lyrics by Adolph Green and Betty Comden, the song has a rightful place on this list, even though it hasn’t been seen on Broadway since it closed 46 years ago.
This video is from a 1968 episode of "The Ed Sullivan Show." A slightly truncated version of the song starts at 00:30 and ends at 2:30.

Broadway’s biggest hit has one of the best Act One finale’s currently playing on the Great White Way. By this point in the show, Elphaba and Glinda part ways and thus, Elphaba is deemed the Wicked Witch of the West. In an electrifying number, Idina Menzel soars above the stage and proclaims her freedom from the powers that be.
Here's the full "Defying Gravity" scene as performed by Idina Menzel, Kristen Chenoweth, and the original Broadway cast. — youtube.com / Via youtube.com

Broadway’s biggest hit has one of the best Act One finale’s currently playing on the Great White Way. By this point in the show, Elphaba and Glinda part ways and thus, Elphaba is deemed the Wicked Witch of the West. In an electrifying number, Idina Menzel soars above the stage and proclaims her freedom from the powers that be.
Here's the full "Defying Gravity" scene as performed by Idina Menzel, Kristen Chenoweth, and the original Broadway cast.

youtube.com / Via youtube.com

Broadway’s biggest hit has one of the best Act One finale’s currently playing on the Great White Way. By this point in the show, Elphaba and Glinda part ways and thus, Elphaba is deemed the Wicked Witch of the West. In an electrifying number, Idina Menzel soars above the stage and proclaims her freedom from the powers that be.
Here's the full "Defying Gravity" scene as performed by Idina Menzel, Kristen Chenoweth, and the original Broadway cast.

Peter Pan? Seriously? Peter Filichia wrote in his book, Let’s Put on a Musical, that the “I’m Flying” sequence from Peter Pan is the greatest Act One finale. Watching Peter (Mary Martin) fly out of the nursery window with the Darling children is beyond thrilling to watch. Sandy Duncan and Cathy Rigby give equally divine renditions of this number, but Martin set the bar ever so high. I dare you not to get goose bumps! Oh, and the kid who plays "Michael" is too cute! — youtube.com / Via youtube.com

Peter Pan? Seriously? Peter Filichia wrote in his book, Let’s Put on a Musical, that the “I’m Flying” sequence from Peter Pan is the greatest Act One finale. Watching Peter (Mary Martin) fly out of the nursery window with the Darling children is beyond thrilling to watch. Sandy Duncan and Cathy Rigby give equally divine renditions of this number, but Martin set the bar ever so high. I dare you not to get goose bumps! Oh, and the kid who plays "Michael" is too cute!

youtube.com / Via youtube.com

Peter Pan? Seriously? Peter Filichia wrote in his book, Let’s Put on a Musical, that the “I’m Flying” sequence from Peter Pan is the greatest Act One finale. Watching Peter (Mary Martin) fly out of the nursery window with the Darling children is beyond thrilling to watch. Sandy Duncan and Cathy Rigby give equally divine renditions of this number, but Martin set the bar ever so high. I dare you not to get goose bumps! Oh, and the kid who plays "Michael" is too cute!

If you want the grandmamma of Act One finale’s, it’s this Jule Styne/Stephen Sondehim tune first sung on Broadway by the formidable Ethel Merman. When Rose (Merman) learns her doted after daughter, June, has run off to get married leaving her act in shambles, Rose turns her attention to her no-talent, mousy daughter, Louise (Sandra Church). Sondheim has been noted as saying that he took the innocence of sunshine and lollipops to convey a dark meaning. Well, it works on every level. Since no live video recording of Merman performing this number on Broadway as Rose exits, here’s Patti LuPone’s definitive version of the song with a little bit of dialogue from the 2008 Tony Awards. — youtube.com / Via youtube.com

If you want the grandmamma of Act One finale’s, it’s this Jule Styne/Stephen Sondehim tune first sung on Broadway by the formidable Ethel Merman. When Rose (Merman) learns her doted after daughter, June, has run off to get married leaving her act in shambles, Rose turns her attention to her no-talent, mousy daughter, Louise (Sandra Church). Sondheim has been noted as saying that he took the innocence of sunshine and lollipops to convey a dark meaning. Well, it works on every level. Since no live video recording of Merman performing this number on Broadway as Rose exits, here’s Patti LuPone’s definitive version of the song with a little bit of dialogue from the 2008 Tony Awards.

youtube.com / Via youtube.com

If you want the grandmamma of Act One finale’s, it’s this Jule Styne/Stephen Sondehim tune first sung on Broadway by the formidable Ethel Merman. When Rose (Merman) learns her doted after daughter, June, has run off to get married leaving her act in shambles, Rose turns her attention to her no-talent, mousy daughter, Louise (Sandra Church). Sondheim has been noted as saying that he took the innocence of sunshine and lollipops to convey a dark meaning. Well, it works on every level. Since no live video recording of Merman performing this number on Broadway as Rose exits, here’s Patti LuPone’s definitive version of the song with a little bit of dialogue from the 2008 Tony Awards.

Dreamgirls features the best Act One finale ever - and it's comprised of three songs: "It's All Over", "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going", "Love, Love Me Baby". Jennifer Holliday's "Effie" is kicked out from the Dreams, loses her lover, and has a breakdown, while the Deena Jones and the Dreams performs on stage. No wonder it's the most operatic of the Broadway musicals.
Needless to say, this song is thrilling, chilling, visceral, and it had everyone talking about it when it premiered on Broadway.
While it’s the heir apparent to "Everything's Coming up Roses", Jennifer Holliday’s all encompassing performance mixed with the raw energy and emotion in this song pushed this number to the top spot. — youtube.com / Via youtube.com

Dreamgirls features the best Act One finale ever - and it's comprised of three songs: "It's All Over", "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going", "Love, Love Me Baby". Jennifer Holliday's "Effie" is kicked out from the Dreams, loses her lover, and has a breakdown, while the Deena Jones and the Dreams performs on stage. No wonder it's the most operatic of the Broadway musicals.
Needless to say, this song is thrilling, chilling, visceral, and it had everyone talking about it when it premiered on Broadway.
While it’s the heir apparent to "Everything's Coming up Roses", Jennifer Holliday’s all encompassing performance mixed with the raw energy and emotion in this song pushed this number to the top spot.

youtube.com / Via youtube.com

Dreamgirls features the best Act One finale ever - and it's comprised of three songs: "It's All Over", "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going", "Love, Love Me Baby". Jennifer Holliday's "Effie" is kicked out from the Dreams, loses her lover, and has a breakdown, while the Deena Jones and the Dreams performs on stage. No wonder it's the most operatic of the Broadway musicals.
Needless to say, this song is thrilling, chilling, visceral, and it had everyone talking about it when it premiered on Broadway.
While it’s the heir apparent to "Everything's Coming up Roses", Jennifer Holliday’s all encompassing performance mixed with the raw energy and emotion in this song pushed this number to the top spot.

Share This Article