Ticket Giveaway: Win two tickets to see Bright Star for free.
Steve Martin and Edie Brickell’s new musical Bright Star opens at Broadway’s Cort Theater on March 24, 2016, with a country and bluegrass score, directed by Walter Bobbie with a cast of 22 including Carmen Cusack and Paul Alexander Nolan. Inspired by a real event, this original musical tells a sweeping tale of love and redemption set against the rich backdrop of the American South in the 1920s and ‘40s.
To enter the contest for a free pair of tickets to Bright Star, answer this question:
What is the best song from any Broadway show past or present? What makes it so?
- Please put your answer in the comments at the bottom of this blog post, because the winner will be chosen through Random.org based on the order of your reply, not its content.
But you must answer the question, complete with explanation or your entry will not be approved for submission.
- Please include in your answer your Twitter name and follow my Twitter feed at @NewYorkTheater so that I can send you a direct message. (If you don’t have a Twitter name, create one. It’s free.)
- This contest ends Monday, March 21, 2016 at midnight Eastern Time, and I will make the drawing no later than noon the next day. You must respond to my direct message on Twitter within 24 hours or I will choose another winner.
The winner will receive a voucher for a pair of tickets to see Bright Star on any performance on Tuesday to Thursday evenings from 4/26/2016 to 6/9/2016. Obviously, you have to be in New York sometime during this period in order to see the show.
Update March 22: The Random.org drawing resulted in the number 15, which is Melinda Bercy. Congratulations!
Hmmm. This is a hard one.
I’m going to go with “Do You Hear The People Sing” from Les Miserables, because something about that song always gives me chills. I find the song so uplifting and empowering (and fun to sing) but also heartbreaking considering what happens later on in the show.
My twitter handle is @thebwaycookie.
Thanks for the chance to win!!
#TCMNo.1″Hey There” from The Pajama Game. It is advice to a lovelorn person who doesn’t see things too clear because they are in love. It’s a catchy song and rememorable.
Wow, one song out of every Bway show ever??? 🙂 Pretty impossible, but I’m gonna also pick a Les Miz song, except “One Day More”…always gives me chills when performed onstage (ah, the slow marching always gets me), and it has to be one of the most thrilling Act 1 finale songs ever; I LOVE all the counterpoint and overlapped singing, and it manages to capture (both lyrically and musically) the thoughts/emotions of every character so perfectly!!
@ladystardust25 on Twitter
If there’s one song that always gets to me, it’s “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Miserables. There can never be a dry eye in the house when Fantine touchingly recounts her tragic past. It’s such a heart-wrenching ballad that will never fail to move you.
@nkny
“Glitter and Be Gay” from “Candide, as sung by Barbara Cook, in that she captures the multiple levels that the song is working on, her imprisonment, her inability to resist the bling and privilege bestowed upon her, while never losing her “victimhood.” Plus her ability to capture the high “C’s” and complex lyrics and timing of Bernstein’s music.
It’s impossible to pick a favorite. I’m going to go with something recent because it’s great fun…and any song that can get a standing ovation mid-act deserves a mention. “A Musical” from “Something Rotten.”
Twitter: @karen111s
It’s tough to pick one because it changes all the time! Right now, my favorite song is “This Little Girl” from Matilda. As a teacher, this song made me tear up the first time I heard Alison Luff sing it. I love any song from a show that makes you stop afterwards and think about how it means in regards to your life or a current problem going on. The line, “this little girl needs somebody strong to fight by her side”, gets me every time because nothing is truer about a teacher and their students.
@sassafrass227
My favorite is “The Impossible Dream” from Don Quijote de la Mancha. Because it is my quest to follow that star. No matter how hopeless, no matter how far….to be willing to march into hell for a heavenly cause! And I know if I only stay true to that glorious cause that my heart will lay peaceful and calm when I lay to my rest. And the world will be better for this! 🙂
“Touch Me” from Spring Awakening. The harmonies are gorgeous, the orchestrations are impeccable, and the song is always performed with such passion.
Twitter handle: @wackeal
Everything’s coming up Roses from Gypsy. Great old song that describes the feeling of Broadway. @itssaralou
Anything goes – nothing beats Cole porter classics! @jvfarnum13
Personally, The Ladies Who Lunch from Company is my absolute favorite musical theatre piece ever (tied with Morning Glow from Pippin.) The lyrics in this song depict the outsider observations made of typical lives that people aspire to lead, even though there’s no rhyme or reason or meaningful depth to anything it entails, and it still does make me cry, in truth, every time I listen to it. Twitter handle: @ImNotAPotatoe
Wow, tough choice! I love a lot of the comedic songs such as from Book of Mormon or Avenue Q, but ultimately the song that resonates with me the most would have to be the classic “Music of the Night” from Phantom of the Opera. Phantom was one of the first shows I saw as a kid and after seeing it, it sparked my interest in going to more Broadway shows as I grew up. So whenever I hear this song, I get chills and it instantly brings me back to when I was kid, sitting in the back of the car with my parents up-front driving us into New York, blasting the soundtrack in its entirety. My Twitter is: @mennuto
“Some Enchanted Evening” from South Pacific not only is the most beautiful love song on Broadway ever, but it stops the room whenever it is heard. It is always performed powerfully and beautifully as well. It also encompasses the dream/Cinderella-esque love at first sight that finds its way into many of the top Broadway shows of all time
Defying Gravity Wicked Just an inspiring song that I couldnt stop listening to when I first saw the show.
@melinda70
Sunday from Sunday in the Park with George. It so beautifully captures the forming of the painting and it’s a gorgeous piece of music.
Rose’s Turn. A song that combines two essential parts of what a Broadway musical is. Itself, the song is not supposed to sound pretty, rather, it conveys emotion like no other song and lives in the head of the listener long after the first listen. The lyrics themselves are absolutely perfect for the scene and pair perfectly with the score. Amazingly, the actress does not need to have a fabulous voice in order to move audiences tremendously while singing Rose’s Turn. It is unique and one of the only songs ever composed by Jule Styne with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Many theatre legends have tackled the role of Rose with Rose’s Turn being the true test of character. From Ethel Merman to Burnadette Peters to Tyne Daly to Patti LuPone, the variations of the song are wild. It is truly a representation of not only Broadway but theatre as a whole. – @acaruso139
I’d have to say Soliloquy from Carousel. It just goes through such a range of emotions.
“If Ever I Would Leave You” from Camelot. Gorgeous melody and beautiful lyrics. Nothing better than that. @TimothyMcManus4
How theatre songs have impacted me definitely depends on the singer. I would say that seeing Steven Pasquale perform Soliloquy from Carousel is the single best 7 minutes of theatre I’ve ever witnessed. But, do I think it’s the best song? Few songs from theatre have touched me the way Wheels of A Dream from Ragtime still does every time I listen to the recording. I think anyone who has a dream to be more than what they are, or wants more for someone they love, can relate to it. -@LVShannyLeigh
“Defying Gravity” from Wicked. This one is probably often discounted due to its popularity. The music and lyrics tie perfectly in the song. The renditions in theaters is nothing short of a visual spectacle and an absolute highlight of the show. Yet outside of Broadway, the song has really taken a life of its own. It has become an empowering anthem acorss cultures. This is arguably one of the most recognizable songs from Broadway. And of course this is a wonderful song to showcase one’s vocal and acting talents.
@Kevin_KW_Hsueh
My favorite song CURRENTLY has got to be “Someone Else’s Story” from “Chess.” I don’t have a favorite performance, and I’ve never seen it live; but something about the story and the message behind it touches me where I am in my life right now.
Twitter Handle (Created just for this!): @EGHerschbein
“Show Off” from Drowsy Chaperone! Sutton Foster’s best song and how can you not love Sutton? @whoisjessicawu
“Bui Doi” from Miss Saigon
This is a powerful all-male song with a very very powerful message about privilege, racism and apathy. No instruments needed for this piece.
@critical_media
“Invisible” as sung by Patti LuPone in WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN.
Its cool samba beat belies the pain underneath as a woman teetering on the verge of insanity reflects on being abandoned by her husband and society as a whole. Just heartbreakingly beautiful.
@MamalehEllen
“Best” is a big word, but I’ll define that meaning the most joyous song ever and that’s ‘You Can’t Stop the Beat’ from Hairspray. It’s fun, it’s energetic, it’s empowering and it’s forever resonant.
@RyanCBrinson
“This is the Moment” from Jekell & Hyde performed by Robert Cuccilo on Broadway. It was a song that inspired, touched and motivated me when training for an event. Extra special, huge surprise, he sang the song to me during an appearance. Long story but during a lifetime memory.
Twitter @JudyMolnar
While it’s nearly impossible to choose a “best” song, the first one that comes to mind is Defying Gravity. It’s such an epic and inspirational song performed so beautifully by such talented actors and musicians. Plus it’s one of the few broadway songs on my workout playlist.
One Day More isn’t half bad either.
@coachadnyc on Twitter
Okay this is probably cliched to post this but I honestly think one of the best, if not the best, songs from any Broadway show past or present is “Sun’s Gonna Shine” from Bright Star. I saw the show in it’s pre-Broadway run at the Kennedy Center and fell in love with all the songs, but particularly this one. The little bits and pieces I remembered from it, along with the video you linked, have gotten me through some of the most trying times of my recent life, and without this song I’m not sure I’d be the person I am today. I got rejected from things I was so sure I was going to get, but the fact that I could tell myself that “something tells me it’ll be alright, something tells me it’s gonna be okay” to the tune of a Broadway song lifted my spirits more than I could’ve imagined. I’m a college student so I don’t necessarily have the money to go see the show just because it’s quite possibly my favorite show of all time, so this would be an amazing opportunity for me. My Twitter is @lookforabow 🙂
“All I Ask of You” from Phantom of the Opera is the best song because it has beautiful music and gorgeous voices expressing powerful emotion. @mymusicboxes
The amazing nearly whole-cast counterpoint of “One Day More” from Les Miserables is a stunning act 1 conclusion that ties up and continues storylines while it pulls in emotional and musical cues that thread throughout the show. It’s thrilling to see done live and I think has had an impact on so many musicals since. @fuschia
The finale from Avenue Q “For now” is my favorite song. Through times of troubles this song brought me great joy. It always makes laugh regardless of difficulty of real life. @brynjamins
I’ll have to go with “Being Alive” from Company. It sums up the concept of the entire show into one beautiful song. @mduaime
“Light” from Next to Normal. It beautifully captures the resilience of the human spirit and highlights the ability of broken people to not only recognize and accept their hardships, but also to access their strength of spirit by vowing to overcome them. It’s the ultimate reflection of what it means to be human, fighting for the life you have now. – @andrewjmach
The first one that jumps to my mind is Not For The Life of Me from Thoroughly Modern Millie. It just dives right in, before you’ve even seen that big full cast opening number to create the world we’re in, and tells you everything Millie wants. And as someone who grew up with big New York dreams, I can often get jaded and forget the magic that brought me here now that I’m living in it every day, and listening to that song just reminds me of how I felt moving here and keeps me going when those crappy winter days make me want to move a million miles away. Twitter: @brigidinthecity
“Climb Every Mountain” from The Sound of Music. It is a song of hope while at the same time encouraging one to find their inner sttength and self worth despite adversity and challenges beyond your control. Twitter: @DunnBritt
Oh, What a Beautiful Morning from “Oklahoma”. After a long, dreary winter, these sunny days make us want to sing this wonderful Rodgers and Hammerstein tune! A classic, for all ages, young and old!
I Had a Vision from Bright Star! When I saw I preformed it was the most emotional thing that I had ever scene on stage. I think the song is something that everyone can relate to. @ashley_briann
“I Don’t Need a Roof” from Big Fish. I love this song because of the raw emotion. I am not a mother or a wife but the unconditional love expressed between Sandra (Kate Baldwin) and Edward (Norbert Leo Butz) has me in tears whenever I hear it. @cmnolan94
The best Broadway song in my opinion is “Will I?” from Rent. The song is only 4 lines long, yet its choral arrangements and simple message evoke such heart and emotion. You don’t have to be suffering from HIV to relate to it’s meaning or feel the way the characters in the show feel. Jonathan Larson was a genius ahead of his time and his show lives on inspiring the younger generation (like myself) to fall in love with theatre.
Recently it would be A Musical from Something Rotten since it pays homage to so many musicals. It’s fun to try to spot them all. @DontTweetMom
My all time favorite Broadway song is Music of the Night from Phantom. It was the first musical I fell in love with! The levels that dog has, its lyrics, really everything about it is so moving!
My current contemporary favorites are For Good from Wicked because it reminds you that everyone can have a positive influence on you and Sun is Gonna Shine Today from Bright Star because it has a feeling of renewed hope. They all speak to me and aside from Bright Star that doesn’t have the recording out yet (hopefully soon) are found on repeat at my house!
I LOVE all three of those shows and could watch them over and over!
My Twitter handle is : @wildcatmeghann
The best Broadway song is Move On from Sunday in the Park with George because it provides inspiration to continue to create even when the world tells you not to. Sondheim’s lyrics here are less cerebral than usual, more spiritual. David Low @ydavey
The best song for me has always been, “C’est Moi,” from Camelot. It is so irritating in the best way to show the zealous pride of Sir Lancelot… Perfect character introduction in under 4 minutes.
By far the best song from a Broadway show is Defying Gravity from Wicked. It inspired me to change my life and not conform to anyone, plus it just sounds amazing.
My Twitter name is @feliciaflav