Top 10 Broadway Opening Songs That Break the Fourth Wall

These opening songs make the audience part of the show. Welcome to MsMojo, and today, we’re counting down our picks for the show tunes that make the audience part of the show right from the first note. Our countdown includes "Ex-Wives," "Road to Hell," "A Cautionary Tale," and more! What’s YOUR favorite fourth wall-breaking show tune? Let us know in the comments!

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#Broadway #Musical #Songs #FourthWall #Music

[AudreyAnimates]

My favorite fourth wall break is the very beginning of Hamilton when king George says turn off your phones and then says thank you, and enjoy MY show.

[shood]

Fiddler. One of my all-time favorites. When I first saw it live my jaw dropped right from the opening number. It was magical.

[ajkleipass]

By the way, Come From Away was and is difficult to listen to as a New Yorker whose mother worked for city government at the time. There's just a visceral reaction to Welcome to the Rock that melts away the decades and I'm in my apartment again, talking to my mom (the personal assistant to the head of the Brooklyn Dept. of Buildings) describing the news coverage of a plane having crashed into the north tower and then BAM! The south tower is hit. Her office would become the center of government until a new command center could be established. She wouldn't be home for hours, by which time the smoke, the papers in the wind, and the smell of the fire was throughout our neighborhood. 😢

It's a day I can never forget. It's an experience I hope will never again be experienced by anyone in the world. 😢

[NewRomantics.]

Percy Jackson Musical:

Prologue: The Day I Got Expelled

Breaks the 4th wall so amazingly

[jonathangriffin]

I really enjoyed the opening song "Seasons of Love" from the musical "Rent" where the main characters break the 4th wall and sing the song to open the Broadway show as well as the film adaptation. R.I.P. Jonathan Larson. From one Jonathan to another, you are surely missed and you have created my favorite musical. You have inspired me to write a musical of my own. Thank you for this gem of a musical!

[What_Makes_Climate_Tick]

You briefly mentioned "A Funny Thing...Forum" but I love that it's a show within a show. During Comedy Tonight, everyone on stage is an actor in the comedy that's about to start, and they're setting the stage.

[angelajanusauskas]

I was excited to see where "Welcome to the Renaissance" was on your list. 🤨 I'd put it pretty high up there as it introduces a show AND a whole era!

Also love "There You Are" from Edwin Drood because it sets the mood of the cheeky play within a play so well.

[constanzagoldschmidt]

I thought "Willkommen" would be on this list ngl.

[geraldineclarke]

At least you mentioned "Comedy Tonight". Adding that to the opening of "A Funny saved the show.

[brittanyclayton]

From Cats: “there’s a man over there with a look of surprise…”
Also, from Joseph: “… but if by chance you are here for the night…” this directly mentions the audience.

[noahhornberger]

The opening to The Mystery of Edwin Drood should have been mentioned, it's such an underrated show as a whole

[andersonfamily]

Yay Come From Away!! Such an incredible show. Should of won the tony in 2017 over Evan. 🇨🇦 🌎 ✈️

[oqxqcce]

i love to see the great comet rep, thanks msmojo :)

[ceebee]

So glad Pippin and Fiddler were in the video ( I played King Charles and one of the Poppas in high school productions).

[jimmaul]

I can't believe you didn't mention the opening number from Ragtime . One of my favorites.

[ajkleipass]

You overlooked a few. What about RENT, Ragtime, Doonesbury, LesMiz, Phantom of the Opera, or Wicked?

[sarrasponda]

Was hoping "The Whole Being Dead Thing" would be in here, glad to see it was! Even if it's technically the second song, it's definitely still part of the opening. There's quite a few shows in here I've been lucky enough to see in person, but Beetlejuice was a surprise favorite.

[lydiasworld]

I love all the fourth wall breaks in the outsiders, I saw it front row and they were constantly talking to me and Ponyboy talks to the audience the whole time

[greatdelmondo]

Surprised Lion King wasn't there and being British I don't know if it ever was on Broadway but Greatest showman also drags you straight in

[sresnick]

I like how the the very first song of Rock of Ages talks about the owner and Drew to the audience