00:00No one mourns the wicked, now at last she's dead and gone.
00:07Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the closing numbers that leave us
00:12with chills strong enough to carry us down the aisles and out of the theaters after the curtain
00:16falls. Since these songs come at the end of the show, plot points will be discussed, so this is
00:22your spoiler warning.
00:43If this musical were a puzzle, Flying Away would be the final crucial piece that reveals the big
00:48picture. You can't help but be moved when our protagonists unite in breathtaking harmony,
00:53piecing together some of the show's most poignant moments.
01:09As each snapshot flashes by and every note hits just right, it's almost impossible not to feel
01:14every emotion that swirls inside of Allison. After all, it taps into something we all crave,
01:20acceptance of ourselves and others, and peace of mind. It all comes together when Allison finally
01:25captures a major core memory, and let us tell you, those goosebumps will want to give her a standing ovation.
01:32Fly, I'm so high.
01:38Number nine, Children Will Listen, Into the Woods. Fairy tales, come for the magic and wishes,
01:44stay for the moral teachings, are we right? Children will look to you for which way to turn
01:52to learn what to be. In Into the Woods, the theme that threads through the narrative is that often
02:00what goes around comes around. As the characters gather for one last song, they reflect on the
02:05journey that brought them here, with all its twists and turns. Sometimes people leave you
02:12halfway through the world. Do not let it grieve you. No one leaves for good. It's a haunting melody
02:25that sticks with you, reminding you to carry those lessons into the real world and to be the light
02:29you want to see. The ensemble unites for this bittersweet finale, marking the end of one chapter
02:34and the start of a new one, as the baker shares this tale with his baby. Careful the tale you tell,
02:41that is the spell. Children will listen. Number eight, Finale B, Rent. There's only us, there's only
02:54this. Forget, regret, or life is yours to miss. If Rent teaches us anything, it's to live for today
03:04and never take tomorrow for granted. As Mimi pulls through, the gang celebrates another day together.
03:10Their harmonies, as they revisit songs heard throughout the show, drive home the importance
03:14of living in the moment. As Angel rejoins them on stage, we feel our hearts might explode. It all
03:33hits even harder when you remember that the show's creator, Jonathan Larson, never got to see his show
03:38open off-Broadway or enjoy the phenomenon it would become. As the story goes, after the first
03:43performance, one audience member broke a long silence by calling out, Thank you, Jonathan Larson.
03:48Thank you, Jonathan Larson, indeed. Number seven, The Flesh Failures, Let the Sunshine In, Hair.
04:14Set in the Vietnam War era, Hair focuses on a counterculture quote-unquote tribe
04:19rallying against violence and advocating freedom and equality. The mood grows heavy as Claude,
04:24one of their own, gets drafted, leading to a bittersweet ending. Yet, the creators wanted
04:30to leave the audience with a ray of hope, urging them to let the sunshine in.
04:34Audience participation during the curtain call has become a tradition, inviting anyone who wants
04:39to stand up for unity and activism to raise their voice alongside the cast. Whether you're dancing
04:44in the theater or at home, this rallying cry will inspire you to grow out your hair,
04:48grab your placard, and fight for a brighter future.
05:04Number six, Falsettoland Reprise, Falsettos.
05:16It's hard to imagine anything more emotionally gripping than What Would I Do? That is,
05:23until you hear the final number, Falsettoland Reprise. After all, earlier on, Mendel welcomed
05:29us to Falsettoland with such joy and optimism that we couldn't imagine anything like it.
05:33Falsettoland Reprise is a tribute to Falsettoland, a band that has been around for a long time.
05:38It's a tribute to the Falsettos, a band that has been around for a long time.
05:42with such joy and optimism that we couldn't imagine anything going wrong.
05:46However, that all changes when Whizzer gets sick and ultimately succumbs to AIDS.
06:02Chills ripple through in the show's final moments as we reflect on all the happy moments
06:06that preceded this one, and our frustration at society's tendency to sweep the AIDS epidemic
06:11under the carpet. If you're left with sorrow and anger bubbling up inside you,
06:15then the number has truly struck the right chord.
06:34Number five, Finale Ultimo, Old Man River, Showboat.
06:41Showboat is a groundbreaking musical that delves into themes of love,
06:55race, and societal change in the American South. It follows the lives of those who
06:59work aboard the Cotton Blossom Showboat. Old Man River, particularly in the Finale Ultimo,
07:04sung by Joe, a black stevedore, shines a harsh light on the challenges faced by African-Americans
07:09against the unyielding current. However, there's still a glimmer of hope and healing.
07:27Some of our characters come to grips with their pasts and look ahead with cautious optimism.
07:32Despite its age, songs like this one make us face up to historical injustices that still matter
07:37today. It'll give you all of the chills. Number four, Light, Next to Normal.
07:57Next to Normal took Broadway by storm with its candid exploration of mental illness.
08:09The show treated the subject with the utmost care and consideration,
08:13and continues to update its plot as more is learned about conditions like bipolar disorder.
08:18However, the show ends on perhaps the most important message it can offer its audience,
08:22hope. As each member of the family comes to terms with their grief,
08:35they're finally able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's a poignant reminder that pain
08:40is real and can't be ignored, but is often temporary. These lyrics, sung by the cast
08:45with heartfelt emotion, resonate deeply, leaving us a mess of tingles and tears.
08:52Number three, You'll Never Walk Alone Reprise, Carousel. When Rogers and Hammerstein decided
09:07to turn Ferenc Molnar's 1909 play Lilium into a musical, they thought it could do with a happier
09:14ending. Set during Louise's graduation, Billy finally finds redemption.
09:35As You'll Never Walk Alone Reprise fills the air, he ascends to heaven. It's not a flawless ending,
09:41needless to say it certainly wouldn't fly had it been written today, but it's powerful.
09:46The song has even transcended its roots to become a global symbol of hope.
09:59The harmonious voices alone can stir something deep within us. As it reaches its climax,
10:04it effortlessly sends shivers down our spines and taps into something deep inside,
10:09reaching straight for our souls.
10:32Number two, Finale, The Old Red Hills of Home, Parade.
10:40Parade tells the true story of the trial and lynching of Leo Frank,
10:47a Jewish man wrongly accused of murder in early 20th century Georgia.
10:51It opens with The Old Red Hills of Home, a soldier's parade for Confederate Memorial Day.
10:55By the time we circle back to it in the finale,
10:58we've been through a sob fest with songs like All the Wasted Time and Shma.
11:10As the show draws to a close, the ensemble, led by Frankie Epps,
11:14sings about yearning for the familiarity of home, yet they acknowledge that innocence
11:18is lost forever after the tragedy of Frank's death. The song doesn't offer closure,
11:23just a raw reflection on the lingering pain and injustice.
11:39Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
11:43Climb Every Mountain Reprise, The Sound of Music. The ethereal voices of the ensemble
11:48send the von Trapps to safety and the audience back to their worlds.
12:09Anatevka, Fiddler on the Roof, a devastating ending as the community
12:15looks back on what was once their sanctuary.
12:34Finale, Come from Away, a poignant reflection on the days that have passed.
12:40The Impossible Dream Reprise, Man of La Mancha. It might not be happy,
12:56but it will move you down to your very bones.
13:09The Song of Purple Summer, Spring Awakening,
13:15sending audiences away with the hope of a better tomorrow.
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13:42Number 1. Epilogue, Valjean's Death, Do You Hear the People Sing Reprise, Les Miserables.
14:00Few finales have an easier time sending our chills into overdrive than this striking final curtain.
14:06As Valjean's story comes to a close, he takes stock of his life. He then reunites with Fantine
14:11and Eponine, who help him transition to the afterlife with some of the most heavenly
14:15harmonies you'll ever hear. Honestly, you could sprout wings just listening to it.
14:37Just as you think your nervous system can't take anymore,
14:40the company joins in for a deeply stirring reprise of Do You Hear the People Sing.
14:44The anthem's echoes grow louder as it carries its message beyond the show's confines
14:48to touch the hearts of all who hear it.
14:51to touch the hearts of all who hear it.
15:05Which musical finale gives you the chills?
15:07Share your thoughts in the comments.
15:16Do you agree with our picks?
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