Overtures with staging?

[aces25]

Do you know of any productions that use staging during the overture (i.e. The Fantasticks)?

[henrikegerman]

A Little Night Music (sort of). Carousel, if you consider the Waltz an overture.

[sparepart973]

Chicago revival.

[wdwfreak]

Wicked

[supersam1026]

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (the second half of it)

[ljay889]

Promises, Promises (Revival)
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

[CATSNYrevival]

Jesus Christ Superstar. At least, the last two revivals did. I'm not sure about the original production.

Also, Cats, of course.

[E.Davis]

Kiss me Kate

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Jesus Christ Superstar. At least, the last two revivals did. I'm not sure about the original production.

The original production had some staging, but I'd be hard-pressed to discover what it was.

[Quiche2]

THE ADDAMS FAMILY at the very end, the ancestors go "aahhhhAHHHHHHH ahhhhhAHHHHHHH aahhhhAHHHHHHH"

[artscallion]

Follies

[justoldbill]

The Tyne Daly GYPSY had action going on during the Overture behind a scrim. MOST distracting and irritating.

[Ceej]

As I recall Tommy had quite a bit going on during the Overture. I thought that opening was really well staged.

[bwayphreak234]

Phantom has the chandelier
Love Never Dies
The King and I revival

[Johnnycantdecide]

"Jesus Christ Superstar. At least, the last two revivals did. I'm not sure about the original production.

The original production had some staging, but I'd be hard-pressed to discover what it was."

I know!
Okay, The pre-show curtain turned out to be a wall. That started to lower backwards to become the main stage playing area. As it started to lower. Two figures (who had to climb up the catwalks and lie in nets until the show started) began to appear on top and wiggle/dance in time with the music until it was lowered. Then, Jesus' followers filled the stage. Finally, a giant gold cup (that looked the the holy grail) came from a trapdoor and Jesus was in it. A ramp came down from the cup, Jesus walked down it, and Heaven on Their Minds started.

[NotAnotherSN]

"Nine," I believe, does.

[justoldbill]

The revival of THE KING AND I didn't use the Overture, although, given the scenic design and promo artwork, it probably could've used the Overture to JUMBO.

[best12bars]

Guys and Dolls starts with "Runyonland," which is a staged/choreographed overture featuring many of the songs in the show.

[Jon]

The Harold Prince version(s) of Candide.

[justoldbill]

GUYS AND DOLLS has a non-staged Overture that bleeds into the staged "Runyonland" sequence.

And then, there's ME AND JULIET, which has two Overtures, the second Overture being performed for the show within the show. This Overture is "staged" in that the "conductor" is constantly looking over his shoulder for a non-existent lady "fan" he's been lied to about.

And, yes, there's the sung Overture to NINE.

[SNAFU]

The Original Jesus Christ Superstar started with a wall. As the overture played the cast appeared at the top of the wall and started to climb over as the wall tilted back. Then ended up sort of rolling to the deck as the wall finally leveled with the floor.

[jayinchelsea]

ON A CLEAR DAY (at least in the original) has the chorus sing the entire title song during the overture.
THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY (on the recording, also in the show?)

[EponineAmneris]

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. I have always thought of the drapes and curtains parting as the orchestra plays one of the mot dramatic and recogizable pieces of music ever to finally reveal Carlotta as staging.

[Iheartchipotle]

All of the Boublil & Schoenberg shows: Les Mis, Miss Saigon, Martin Guerre. Not sure about Marguerite?

[Starship]

Mary Poppins.

[bdn223]

Mary Poppins isn't so much a staged overture than a prologue