Friday 5: 5 Best Broadway Show Title Songs: 2003 - 2008

5 Best Broadway Show Title Songs: 2003-2008

Today, we take a look back at 5 early 20th century musicals that had some terrific title numbers. Why did we like them? What are our favorite lyrics from them? Tell us what you think, too! Did we miss any?

Avenue Q (2003)

This little charmer - Sesame Street for adults - has a perfectly bouncy "theme song." Talk about an ear worm! My favorite part of "Avenue Q" (the song):

COMPANY

Your work real hard

And the pay's real low

And ev'ry hour

Goes oh, so slow

And at the end of the day

There's nowhere to go

But home to Avenue Q!

You live on Avenue Q!

Your friends do too.

As a worker bee myself, I can totally relate. And I think it would be great fun to live on the same block as Princeton, Kate Monster and Christmas Eve!

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (2005)

Not to be outdone, William Finn came up with a real toe-tapper of a title song for his "adult spelling bee." The King of word salad lyrics, it makes me feel like I really get these kids, and I feel a bit like one myself...

ALL

We concentrate on winning

At the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

We speak so damn convincingly

MS. PERETTI

They're nervous but they're grinning

LOGAINNE, OLIVE

It seems

We're living out our dreams

BOY SPELLERS

Which is a very nice, very nice

Very very very nice

ALL

Very nice, very nice

Very very very nice

Very nice

Beginning

MS. PERETTI

25th Annual

SPELLERS

25th Annual

ALL

Putnam County

Spelling Bee!

The Light in the Piazza (2005)

Not all title numbers have to be catchy, though. This one is simply beautiful.

CLARA

I don't see a miracle shining from the sky

I'm no good at statues and stories

I try

That's not what I think about

That's not what I see

I know what the sunlight can be

The Light, the Light in the Piazza

Tiny sweet

And then it grows

And then it fills the air

Who knows what you call it?

I don't care

Out of somewhere I have something I have never had

And sad is happy

That's all I see

The Light in the Piazza

Legally Blonde (2007)

Here's a show where the title number happens twice - first as an introspective ballad at a crucial turning point in Elle Woods' life, then as an uplifting production number of empowerment. Both are worthy of being on this list.

ELLE - "Legally Blonde"

Chalk it all up to experience

They said I'd fail but I disagreed

Who could say then where my path would lead?

Well, now I know

Back to the sun

Back to the shore

Back to what I was before

Back where I'm known

Back in my own

Very small pond

Laugh with my friends

When I arrive

We'll drop the top and just drive

That's fine with me

Just let me be

Legally Blonde

VIVIENNE - "Legally Blonde Remix"

You proved it to me

Now show everyone what you can do

And you look great in dark blue!

Get back in the game

Back on the case

Take a good look at my face

I'm not a fool

And it's a rule

I do not pose!

But I see a star

You're my new muse

You've got the best freakin' shoes!

And you lit a fuse

So go show them who's

Legally Blonde!

In the Heights (2008)

This is an epic title number that does double duty as an opening number. Like one of the greatest openers of all time, Fiddler on the Roof's "Tradition," it introduces characters, dramatic themes and musical motifs. The way it builds and builds to its thrilling final button gives me goose bumps every time I hear it.

USNAVI

Lights up on Washington Heights, up at the break of day

I wake up and I got this little punk I gotta chase away

Pop the grate at the crack of dawn, sing

While I wipe down the awning

Hey ya'll good morning

COMMUNITY

In the heights

I buy my coffee and I go

Set my sights

On only what I need to know

In the heights

Money is tight

But even so

When the lights go down I blast my radio

2023 in Review: Our Favorite Performances

2023 in Review:

Our Favorite Performances

(6 Categories)

We were fortunate enough to see 21 different productions in 2023: 14 Broadway, 3 off-Broadway, and 4 regional; these are the shows we considered in all categories for our favorites this year: & Juliet, A Beautiful Noise, Back to the Future, Bad Cinderella, Bob Fosse's Dancin', Camelot, Here Lies Love, Leopoldstadt, Life of Pi, New York New York, Once Upon a One More Time, Pacific Overtures (Signature Theater), Parade, Shucked, Spamalot (Kennedy Center), Sunset Boulevard (Kennedy Center), Sweeney Todd, The Frogs, The Gardens of Anuncia, The Light in the Piazza and The Play That Goes Wrong (Kennedy Center). We also saw Kimberly Akimbo two additional times - what can I say? We are Fanagrams! We made our lists separately - so below you'll see where we agreed, plus performances we each just had to include! I'm surprised at how much we were in sync this year!

How did we compare to your favorites? Leave a comment below, or catch up with us on Twitter or Instagram! (@jkstheatrescene for both)

Favorite Leading Performance

Ruthie Ann Miles as Margaret Johnson in The Light in the Piazza

HONORABLE MENTION

Stephanie J. Block as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard (Kennedy Center)

Micaela Diamond as Lucille Frank in Parade

Ben Platt as Leo Frank in Parade

Favorite Supporting Performance

TIE: Alex Newell as Lulu in Shucked

        Gaten Matarazzo as Tobias in Sweeney Todd

HONORABLE MENTION

Jordan Donica as Lancelot in Camelot

Anna Zavelson as Clara Johnson in The Light in the Piazza

Favorite Duo Performance

TIE: Josh Groban & Annaleigh Ashford as Sweeney Todd and Nellie Lovett in Sweeney Todd

        Ben Platt & Micaela Diamond as Leo and Lucille Frank in Parade

HONORABLE MENTION

Anna Zavelson & James D. Gish as Clara and Fabrizio in The Light in the Piazza

Caroline Innerbichler & Andrew Durand as Maizy and Beau in Shucked

Favorite Dancer

Kolton Krouse - Bob Fosse's Dancin'

HONORABLE MENTION

Bobby "Pocket" Horner - & Juliet

Tony d'Alelio - Bob Fosse's Dancin'

Favorite Ensemble

& Juliet

HONORABLE MENTION

Here Lies Love

Pacific Overtures (Signature Theatre)

Favorite Full Company

TIE: The Light in the Piazza and Parade

HONORABLE MENTION

Bob Fosse's Dancin'

Shucked

Sweeney Todd

2023 in Review: The Movers and Moments of the Year

Every year, there are huge hits, big flops, news makers and fan favorites, scandals and groundbreaking ideas in the theater scene. And when we pause to review the year just ending, we always think of things that deserve recognition, but don't really fit any single category. 2023 was no exception. Here are some of those people and moments:

2023 in Review:

The Movers and Moments of the Year

The Movers

New Faces of 2023 - Performers

Here are six individuals who made a huge impression on us this year, and we think each these remarkable performers are set to have huge careers in the coming years.

Erin Rose Doyle (Mary Phagan - Parade)

Jake Pedersen (Frankie Epps - Parade)

J. Savage (Gawain/"Hunk" - Bad Cinderella)

Ben Jackson Walker (Romeo Montague - & Juliet)

Kalyn West (Young Anuncia - The Gardens of Anuncia)

Anna Zavelson (Clara - The Light in the Piazza)

New Faces of 2023 - Creatives

Here are four people who made their mark in the world of theater this year in the creative areas of theater production. Each has already excelled in their respective fields, but 2023 really brought them to our attention. And now we can't wait to see what they do next!

Sammi Cannold - Director - Sunset Boulevard (Kennedy Center), How To Dance in Ohio

Brandy Clark & Shane McAnally - Composers (Music & Lyrics) - Shucked

Jamie Lloyd - Director - A Doll's House, Sunset Boulevard (West End)

Performer of the Year - Jordan Dobson

We've kept an eye on this fantastic performer ever since we saw him go on as Tony in the 2020 revival of West Side Story. 2023 was a great year for this uber talented young actor: he was in the original companies of two new Broadway musicals! As featured soloist and ensemblist in A Beautiful Noise, he delivered one of the few highlights of the evening, singing "Shilo." He left that show to be the lead - Prince Sebastian - in the highly underrated Bad Cinderella. His "Only You, Lonely You" in that show was a highlight of the entire season.

The Moments

Best Intermission - Ben Platt in Parade

Though most people used his presence at the interval as a photo op/Insta post, it was actually in interesting study in maintaining a challenging role and reminding everyone in the theater that even as life goes on for the rest of us, the incarcerated are trapped in their prison cell, guilty or not. Kudos to both Platt and director Michael Arden.

Best Curtain Call - Bad Cinderella

Fun, campy and energized! Just like the rest of the show. A great reminder to not take everything so seriously.

The Jaw-Droppers

Here are those moments that catch you off guard, make you gasp, and remind you of why live theater is the thrill of being there. Some are big effects, others are surprising small details, and all of them are exciting.

The flying DeLorean in Back to the Future

The orchestra reveal and title number of New York New York

The final exit of Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd

The Best Moment of 2023:

"The Turnaround Heard 'Round the World" - When the divine Ruthie Ann Miles started to walk of the stage, paused and turned back to look at us one last time... nirvana.

Star-To-Be: Piazza's James D. Gish

🌟Star-To-Be🌟
Piazza's James D. Gish 

It has been weeks since we basked in the theatrical glow that was Encores' The Light in the Piazza and the stunning performances of Ruthie Ann Miles and company. But it hasn't been far from our minds since. One of the many reasons why it continues to resonate was the utterly charming turn by James D. Gish as Fabrizio. By intermission, we just knew this guy is a Star-To-Be, and not just because of those matinee idol looks, either.

    

 

Sure he has a Broadway credit (as one of a long line of Fiyeros in Wicked), a couple of National Tours (Beautiful and Les Miserables) under his belt, and an impressive resume of regional roles. He also has a great career as a vocalist and voice over artist. Gish is also a graduate of ASU's Barrett Honors College with a B.S. in Business Administration (it's good to get an education). With his face on a Hershey bar, maybe he's already a star?

  

    

 

National Tours: Beautiful (far left); Les Miserables (to the left of Eponine)

 

 

Regional (clockwise from top left):

Jersey Boys (2nd from left); Newsies;

Bullets Over Broadway (center); The Toxic Avenger

What we see, though, is a future where he is a real above-the-title ticket draw on the Great Bright Way and beyond.