Happiest Finales?

[GlindatheGood22]

I remember when I saw In the Heights I just sat through the finale with the biggest smile on my face. I don't usually go for feel-good shows, but I do love a joyful finale. So. What are some of your favorites?

[FindingNamo]

You Can't Stop the Beat.

[Kad]

Yeah, I was thinking the same, Namo. It's hard to think of a more upbeat, joyous finale.

[dramamama611]

I had the same exact thought!^

[TheatreDiva90016]

Ditto...

[darquegk]

The finale to A Very Potter Musical, though sloppy in its original run, carries an undeniable JOY of writing and performing with it- listening to the album or seeing the video there is an unmistakeable feeling of triumph and shared glee in that performance.

As far as finales that in and of themselves are immediately happy and leave you feeling buzzed, if you can make it through "The Time Warp Reprise" at the end of Rocky Horror without laughing, cheering and feeling like you just had the time of your life, the cast did the show wrong. Also, the Les Mis finale will either make you cry, or leave you beaming with your heart beating.

[RENT_is_Wicked2]

Who Loves You from Jersey Boys, You Can't Stop The Beat from Hairspray, Spread The Love Around from Sister Act, Finale/A New Dawn from Spider-Man.

[LuminousBeing]

"Let Your Garden Grow" from "Candide" absolutely did me in with joy. (I refer to the tour with Lauren Molina, which is the only production I've seen.)

[Marianne2]

I know this won't be very popular, but I love the Act II Finale of Spamalot. Though, I do agree I loved You Can't Stop The Beat despite not liking the show as a whole as much as I thought I would.

[GavestonPS]

I agree with Namo, Kad and company that "You Can't Stop the Beat" is one of the all time great finales.

For a show that ends without a true finale number, you can't do much better than THE MUSIC MAN, imo. There's something about the excitement of the parents that is every bit as moving as the reconciliation of Harold and Marian.

[My Oh My]

Definitely the Hairspray finale. It had the theatre going nuts!

Actually, I found the whole show to be so fun and upbeat, when they began to get serious in act two it actually bothered me!

I laughed so hard at the second act opener, my tummy began to hurt.

[ratherbewhaling]

You can't not think of "you can't stop the beat" and is it weird to think of "Light" from N2N as a happy ending?

[darion]

American Idiot without a doubt! Billy joe and comp came out after the show and did a bunch of greenday songs

[Visceral_Fella]

Once on this Island end on a pretty high note, even though Ti Moune didn't end up with Daniel. Why we tell the Story can be feel good. I loathe that show though.

Drowsy Chaperone ends on a high note as well although not nearly as festive as You Can't Stop the Beat.

[Mercades]

VF- and timoune DIES.

[Visceral_Fella]

I am aware. They celebrate her life. The actress playing Ti Moune always looks pretty damn happy when she's pretending to be a tree.

[RENT_is_Wicked2]

Ratherbewhaling, Light from N2N is like a bitter sweet ending. It really doesn't end on a really high note.

[AEA AGMA SM]

I adore the end of Crazy for You. Polly coming out to meet Bobby in her gorgeous gown that, if budgeted and designed well, looks like it came right off of Ginger Rogers and the stage opening up to reveal the whole Ziegfeld-esque tableau. Just pure spectacle and magic.

[GavestonPS]

American Idiot without a doubt! Billy joe and comp came out after the show and did a bunch of greenday songs

On that note, we should give "Honorable Mention" to the mini-Abba-concert at the end of MAMMA MIA! The only part of that show worth watching, imo.

[Kelly2]

The "Omigod You Guys" reprise at the end of Legally Blonde, Xanadu, and "The Writing on the Wall" from Edwin Drood is more hopeful than happy, but it always leaves me smiling and feeling a bit more optimistic about the world.

[GlindatheGood22]

I disagree. I don't think the ending of Next to Normal is bittersweet at all.

[Kelly2]

Maybe it's because I saw the Off-Broadway version of it, but the finale of Next to Normal to me was not happy at all. Then again, I wasn't a huge fan of the show, but what with the dad seeing the son and Diana leaving them...I dunno. I just got the impression their family was gonna be pretty miserable for quite some time.

Then again I also found the show's representation of mental illness to be reprehensible and gross, but that's another thread. :)

[After Eight]

When it comes to finale euphoria, Hello, Dolly!'s is the apogee.

But Milk and Honey, Mame, and Dear World's are all beyond wonderful.

All American's finale is jubilant; The Boy Friend's is truly a gladsome thing, so too Little Mary Sunshine's; the finales to Wildcat, The Unsinkable Molly Brown and Ankles Aweigh fill me with joy.

[bjh2114]

I always find the One (reprise) from A Chorus Line to be incredibly joyous, even though there's the underlying commentary about all of the individuals fading into the background. Still, it's an excellent closing number.

[Visceral_Fella]

Oh, how could I forget Sister Act

[rhdery]

Tomorrow Looks Good From Here at the end of One Man Two Guvnors to add to the list s bit. It was really great. I feel happy now just remembering it.

I also love Tomorrow is a Latter day from Book of Mormon.