Glee’s season 6 premiere featured a great performance of a Broadway classic which got us reminiscing about the show’s best moments from musical theater.
Glee returned to our screens on Friday for its sixth and final season, and amidst all the drama and excitement of new stories, new characters, catching up with old favorites, and the obligatory Frozen homage, there was a fantastic performance of a Broadway classic, for no real reason we can make out other than it sounded amazing.
We’re talking, of course, about Rachel and Blaine’s cover of “Suddenly Seymour” from Little Shop of Horrors, an early musical by famed Disney composor Alan Menken. This song takes place after the twin-soul divas, both recovering from a real low point, swear a vow of friendship and solidarity.
Glee has never done a song from Little Shop before, it’s never used this antique-store location before, and this number, frankly, doesn’t really need to be in the episode, but we’re very glad that it is. Rachel plans to pursue her Broadway dreams once more this season so it’s great to hear her singing this genre again, Seymour is a role that Darren Criss should probably play in real life one day, and this whole performance is just sounds so damn perfect.
“Suddenly Seymour” was a highlight of the Glee season 6 premiere and easily one of their best Broadway moments in the whole series, which got us thinking about the show’s history with musical theater songs. Take a look back at some of Glee’s best Broadway renditions over the past five seasons.
Season 1
‘Maybe This Time’ from ‘Cabaret’
Broadway legend Kristin Chenoweth was one of Glee’s first ever guest stars, and here her character April Rhodes proves her worth to the skeptical New Directions while Rachel rehearses the same song for the school production of Cabaret. It was a bold move to pit Glee’s new leading lady against a veteran star so early in the show.
‘And I Am Telling You’ from ‘Dreamgirls’
This performance was Amber Riley’s first real showstopper of the series, when Mercedes proves that she’s just as much of a powerhouse as Rachel and earns herself a Sectionals solo. Unfortunately, due to sabotage, this song was stolen by another team, but at least we got this choir room version. Praise hands emoji.
Season 2
‘What I Did For Love’ from ‘A Chorus Line’
The best thing about this number is that Glee uses the song in its original context – in the Broadway show, it’s sung by the dancers about what they sacrificed for their craft, but in the movie adaptation, it’s changed to be about a character’s romance. Here, Rachel reflects on pulling some really dodgy stuff in order to stay on top.
‘For Good’ from ‘Wicked’
There’s no way this one wasn’t making the cut. Filmed on the real Gershwin stage in New York, it features an ethereal Kurt channeling Glinda the Good Witch, and Rachel hardening her ambition to make it on Broadway. It’s an emotional moment that also cements the Hummelberry relationship as one of the show’s most important.
On Page 2: The best of Broadway from Glee seasons 3, 4 and 5
Season 3
‘America’ from ‘West Side Story’
From Blaine’s audition with “Something’s Coming” to Mike Chang’s determined take on “Cool,” season 3’s coverage of West Side Story was by far the most consistently impressive out of any the annual McKinley High school musicals, but this fully staged performance of “America,” lead by Santana, was the best of the best.
‘Buenos Aires’ from ‘Evita’
Competition numbers from rival clubs always present an opportunity for a highly polished performance with an outstanding guest vocalist. In this case, it’s Lindsay Pearce, a finalist from The Glee Project, taking on a high-energy Webber/Rice classic that, despite Rachel’s wishes, wouldn’t ever be a good fit for New Directions.
Season 4
‘Beauty School Dropout’ from ‘Grease’
McKinley’s version of Grease was a tad less engaging than the previous season’s West Side Story, but this performance made up for it. Has there ever been more perfect fictional musical theater casting in history than Sugar Motta as Frenchy and Blaine Anderson as the Teen Angel? Aside from the angsty Klaine moment, this is flawless.
‘Getting Married Today’ from ‘Company’
This complicated Company number, probably not so familiar to most Glee viewers, is an exciting and appropriate song to write a storyline around. It’s just right for Emma’s character, personality wise, and Jayma Mays absolutely nails the fast-paced delivery. It also has the added bonus of making Will Schuester look like a bozo.
Season 5
‘Seasons of Love’ from ‘Rent’
Right from Glee’s beginning, fans wondered when this song would appear. We always knew that it was coming, one day. Fans theorized that it might be how they won Nationals, or even used as the final number of the whole series, but sadly, it found a home in a more important moment, in tribute to the late Cory Monteith.
‘Don’t Rain On My Parade’ from ‘Funny Girl’
We could have just as easily included Rachel’s first iconic rendition of this number, but season 5 is where Funny Girl really takes center stage, and this moment – Rachel, having finally secured the role of Fanny Brice on Broadway, watching Santana steal her old moves in order to audition as her understudy, is fantastically full circle.