The lights go down, the curtain goes up, and suddenly an audience is plunged into the world of a show. On Broadway, an opening number is more than just the first song of a production—it’s a introduction, almost like a musical mission statement of the story, style, and tone of the journey ahead.
From Waitress to Hamilton, revisit these Broadway opening numbers and share your favorite musical introductions.
Waitress Playbill - Opening NIght
Avenue Q Playbill - Opening Night
Godspell Playbill - Feb 1977
Chicago Playbill - June 1975
Wedding Singer Playbill - Opening Night
Company Playbill - Dec 1970
Legally Blonde Playbill - Opening Night
Aida Playbill - Opening Night
The Lion King Playbill - Sept 2006
Cabaret Playbill - March 1967
Ragtime Playbill - Opening Night
Titanic Playbill - Opening Night
A Chorus Line Playbill - July 1975
Hairspray Playbill - Opening Night, July 2002
Hadestown Playbill - Opening Night
9 to 5 Playbill - Opening Night
Hamilton
Six the Musical Playbill - Opening Night
Tina: The Tina Turner Musical
Evita
Beauty and the Beast Playbill - Opening Night
"Prologue: Into the Woods" Into the Woods
The Light in the Piazza Playbill - Opening Night
Passion Playbill - Oct 1994
Moulin Rouge Playbill - Opening Night
West Side Story Playbill - September 1958
La Cage aux Folles
Fiddler on the Roof Playbill - Sept 1964
Once on This Island Playbill - Opening Night, Oct 1990
Little Shop of Horrors Playbill - Opening Night, Aug 2003
In the Heights Playbill - Opening Night
Dreamgirls Playbill - Sept 1983
Come From Away
Xanadu Playbill - Opening Night
Sweeney Todd Playbill - Feb 1979
"The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Pippin Playbill - Nov 1972
Oklahoma! Playbill - Feb 1945
Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 Playbill - Opening Night
