Leave them waiting for Act Two with chills. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the musical theater numbers that made our hair give a standing ovation as the curtain came down on Act One.
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00:00All alone, all alone, with no one home, so yet I'd be a hero, and if my wish were granted,
00:12I should keep chanting, what's all the story you say?"
00:16Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today, we're counting down our picks for the musical theater numbers
00:21that made our hair give a standing ovation as the curtain came down on Act 1. If any musicals are
00:26still on your to-watch list, you might find some plot spoilers ahead.
00:4310. Right This Way – Bandstand
00:46There is a train, it leaves the station at a quarter after five, and it's direct.
00:53After World War II, a group of veterans struggling to adjust to civilian life form a band. They soon
00:59join forces with the widow of a fallen soldier and win a swing band competition in Ohio,
01:03only to learn that's just one small step to national victory. In this song,
01:07bandleader Donnie laments over the heroes' appreciation, which he believes they deserve.
01:12"...and losing my faith, I'm lost in thought."
01:25I think that we are entitled to travel first class.
01:31What starts as dejection and frustration soon turns into hope and motivation. The band decides
01:36they'll do whatever it takes to make it to New York to compete. We can almost feel their rush
01:40of emotions charging throughout us too, and we have the goosebumps to prove it.
01:599. Non-Stop – Hamilton
02:02Man, the man is non-stop.
02:05Gentlemen of the jury, I'm curious, bear with me. Are you aware that we're making history?
02:10Non-Stop is the perfect title for this song. It does the most. After John Lawrence's tragic death,
02:15Hamilton throws himself into his work, contributing to the Federalist Papers.
02:19Everything's fine, but you're running out of time.
02:22But you're running out of time. But you're running out of time.
02:25How do you ride like tomorrow won't arrive?
02:27How do you ride like you need it to survive?
02:30This song does an excellent job of encapsulating our protagonist's temperament. Its tempo,
02:34drive, and energy capture his essence perfectly. Meanwhile, it wraps up this chapter of his life,
02:40calling back to key plot points and earlier songs,
02:43while setting the stage for major events in Act 2.
02:45It really showcases Lin-Manuel Miranda's genius,
03:02brilliantly advancing the story with a melody that's an absolute banger. By the final note,
03:07we're as charged up as Hamilton, and carry that buzz right through intermission.
03:11I am not throwing away my shot!
03:17Number 8. Why We Build the Wall. Hadestown.
03:20Why do we build the wall? My children, my children, why do we build the wall?
03:29Hold on. Does Hadestown's ethos remind you of a certain recent administration?
03:34Think about it. A fear-mongering leader seeking total control,
03:37wanting to build the wall to keep outsiders away?
03:40How does the wall keep us free? The wall keeps out the enemy,
03:46and we build the wall to keep us free. That's why we build the wall,
03:51we build the wall to keep us free.
03:54Even his back-and-forth with his followers feels eerily relevant. Yet this song was written about
03:59a decade before we ever thought a reality TV star could be president. Hades joins a long
04:04line of leaders who use sensationalism and make irresistible promises to attract followers.
04:09What's even spookier is how easy it is to get sucked in. Before you know it,
04:13you're totally entranced by Hades's hypnotic voice and singing along to that soothing melody.
04:18It feels so close to home that we can't help but break out in chills.
04:22We build the wall to keep us free.
04:29Number 7. Sunday. Sunday in the Park with George.
04:33Remember, George!
04:38Order!
04:39This song marks the calm after the storm. As several of Act 1's most dramatic plot points
04:44come to a head, artist Georges Seurat restores some calm so he can finish his famous painting.
04:49As Georges steps back to look at the big picture,
04:52everyone sings about his artistic touches and techniques.
04:55Yet beneath this artistic chatter lies a deeper truth. Georges sees the man he yearns to be but
05:01feels unable to become. Meanwhile, we're reminded that this idyllic scene is a mere facade.
05:06On the grave, or inside the grave,
05:10I'll be waiting for you.
05:12George is a man of many talents, but he's also a man of few words.
05:16He's a man of many talents, but he's also a man of few words.
05:20If that isn't enough to get your spine tingling, just wait until the whole ensemble
05:25comes together for those final notes. This song really is a work of art.
05:40Number 6. The Crescendo.
05:42I gave you my music, made your song take flight.
06:00I gave you my music, made your song take wing.
06:14Is there anything that can make your arm hair stand up faster than hearing a love song turned
06:19into a heartbreaking tale of unrequited love and revenge? The Phantom seethes with anger
06:24and betrayal after overhearing Christine and Raoul profess their love. His reprise adds a
06:28sinister edge to what was just moments ago a heart-melting tune.
06:47The haunting echoes of the couple's love song linger, deepening the Phantom's torment.
06:51His sorrow erupts into furious rage, promising vengeance that could shake the very foundations
06:56of the opera house. The iconic chords build as the chandelier crashes down, sending shivers
07:13through every audience member. We're just surprised the auditorium doesn't vibrate every night.
07:18Number 5. Till We Reach That Day. Ragtime.
07:33This musical may have premiered decades ago, but its message remains painfully relevant today.
07:38Following the tragic death of Sarah, a black woman at the hands of authorities,
07:42the community unites in mourning. They sing about wanting a world where such tragedies never happen
07:47again, a world that's fairer for everyone. The anger, sadness, and fear in every note and lyric
08:08are hard to ignore. Although the musical is set at the start of the 20th century,
08:12these lyrics belong just as much in today's headlines.
08:24In fact, knowing that we have yet to reach that day intensifies the song's impact
08:29and sends chills down our spines.
08:42Number 4. Tonight Quintet. West Side Story.
08:52Hold on to your seats for this Act 1 finisher. It's packed with drama, high emotions,
09:12and incredible music. The Jets and Sharks gear up for their big rumble, Anita looks forward to a
09:18steamy night with Bernardo, and Tony and Maria revisit their earlier love song. Each group starts
09:23with its own story, but then their melodies intertwine, building to a powerful crescendo
09:28with breathtaking harmonies. You can practically feel the tension in the air gripping the entire
09:44audience. As we head towards the climactic rumble, it feels like we're all holding our breath,
09:49waiting for the explosive moment that will shape the rest of the show.
10:05Number 3. And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going. Dreamgirls.
10:20After missing several performances, Effie is blindsided when she finds out she's been replaced
10:25in the group. To make matters worse, the man she loves has also betrayed her. She channels all that
10:31pain into one of the most soul-stirring songs in musical history. The music and lyrics hit deep,
10:48but it's her powerhouse vocals that truly knock you off your feet. Actresses like Jennifer Holliday
10:53and Jennifer Hudson have delivered spine-tingling renditions, making us feel Effie's pain as if we
10:58were living it ourselves. Even if you're not the type to jump up for ovations, the sheer
11:17electricity of this performance will propel you to your feet.
11:21Number 2. Defying Gravity. Wicked.
11:36After finding out the wizard isn't as wonderful as he's made out to be,
11:52Elphaba decides she's done playing by everyone else's rules. This song speaks to anyone who's
11:57ever felt like they were stuck in a society-enforced box that never fit quite right.
12:06It celebrates the power of embracing your true self to create positive change.
12:17Of course, as fans of the show know, nothing compares to the electrifying moment when
12:22Elphaba defies gravity, soaring above the stage with her cape billowing behind her.
12:36It culminates with a soaring finish in every sense. When that final riff hits,
12:41our chills surge so powerfully that we almost expect to start defying gravity ourselves.
12:54Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
12:58Gold. Once. We wouldn't trade the feeling this number gives us for gold.
13:16Esmeralda. The Hunchback of Notre Dame. No moment of this song isn't filled with high-stakes drama.
13:28Santa Fe. Newsies. Extra, extra, where's Santa feeling our hairs rising as the curtain falls?
13:59I'd Give My Life For You. Miss Saigon. Brace yourself for a mother's love that
14:05melts even the iciest heart and foreshadows the finale.
14:09No one can stop what I must do. I swear I'd give my life for you.
14:25You Will Be Found. Dear Evan Hansen,
14:27you will be finding us covered in goosebumps throughout Intermission.
14:40The morning is breaking and I'll be soon, I'll be soon.
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15:04Number One. One Day More. Les Miserables.
15:07These men who seem to know my crime will surely come a second time.
15:11One day more. I did not live until today.
15:16This scene really sets the standard for first act endings. It brilliantly pulls together all the
15:21storylines so far, wrapping up each character's journey into one big picture. The use of
15:26counterpoint at this pivotal moment is phenomenal.
15:40Multiple interlocking melodies amplify the emotions and add a sense of urgency,
15:44leading to a climactic finale where everyone unites in an epic heart-pounding crescendo.
15:49It's so captivating that, for a moment, we're completely swept up and forget what's coming next.
15:56We just know we're ready for someone to pass us one of those flags. The tingles we
16:05get from this performance are strong enough to rally a revolution on their own.
16:12Which act one finale had you shook? Let us know in the comments.
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