Top 10 Most Satisfying Broadway Musical Kisses

This ensemble cast features many love stories, including scholarship student Ninas romance with her fathers employee, Benny. For the most part, though, Usnavi and Vanessas rocky relationship is the focus of the show, with both of them trying to make each other jealous. When Vanessa learns that Usnavi helped her get her apartment, Vanessa finally realizes her feelings towards Usnavi. The song Champagne is a sweet comic number as Vanessa flirts with an oblivious Usnavi and tries to persuade him not to go to the Dominican Republic. Finally, Vanessa gives up on subtlety and goes for it during the musical pause. Talk about musical perfection.

Carousel

This is a nod to a classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. This bench scene in particular is one of the most famous of all musical theater. Here, Julie and Billy hide their attraction to each other even in song, culminating in the poignantly sweet If I Loved You. When the instrumental reprise of the melody swells up, the two finally close the scene with a kiss. The relationship between a steel mill worker and carousel barker is definitely problematic by any modern definition. But the power of Rodgers music can never be overstated.

The Phantom of the Opera

Sorry, Christine and Phantom shippers. While Christines redemptive kiss to the Phantom is unforgettable and definitely significant, were looking for high romance here. And so the prize belongs to Christine and Raoul in their beautiful love duet, All I Ask of You. Raoul giving comfort to Christine amid the Phantoms reign of terrorand her requiting his feelingsleads to this passionate kiss. The sweeping romance of this moment, coupled with the orchestral reprise of Andrew Lloyd Webbers melody, is an undeniably winning one. Its a marvelous duet, and of course the newly made lovers kiss again at the end.

Waitress

Some romances are messier than others. Waitress Jennas life is not a bed of roses. When she finds herself pregnant by her boorishly abusive husband, Earl, she schedules an appointment with Dr. Pomatterwhos sympathetic to her situation and charmed by her epic pie-making skills. While Jenna develops a plan to leave her husband by entering a pie-making contest, she and Pomatter are unable to resist their attraction to each other. Their comic number Bad Idea, all about how wrong it is for them to have an affair, also features a truly passionate kiss. Without question, it was a good idea to have this number.

Rodgers & Hammersteins Cinderella

Rodgers and Hammerstein struck again with their musical version of this classic fairytale. In true musical fashion, Cinderella and her prince meet during the ball and share a sweet Rodgers waltz, Ten Minutes Ago. But its really in their proper love duet that things start to get really romantic. At the end of the number, they share a kiss. The musical has been adapted for the stage and changed drastically throughout the years, from its libretto to its song order. But this beautiful moment is an indelible part of the show that never fails to move us.

Rent

This bohemian couple gives us all the feels. One of the most popular love songs from musical theater, Ill Cover You, is a duet with drag queen Angel and anarchist professor Collins. In it, they promise to love and support each other through thick and thin. Fun and uplifting, Angel and Collins impeccable harmonies make this song even sweeter. And of course, in true musical theater fashion, it ends with a tender kiss. Its a heartwarming love song that gets a heart-wrenching reprise in Act Twobut lets not talk about that. Lets just enjoy the moment while it lasts.

The Sound of Music

With so many musical love songs, we still return to Rodgers and Hammerstein, this time their Sound of Music, adapted from the Broadway stage into a blockbuster film. The relationship between Maria and Captain Georg von Trapp has always been fraught with tension, usually of the erotic kind. In this scene, they finally give into each others attraction in a sweeping orchestral reprise of the title song. The film also replaces An Ordinary Couple with an original song, Something Good. Whichever song it is, the end result is the same: a cathartic kiss between the two. This is no ordinary couple, but its definitely something good.

West Side Story

Of course, these Romeo and Juliet analogs would have one of the most memorable kisses. Interestingly enough, Tony and Marias written kisses are few and far between. There is their meeting kiss during the Dance at the Gym, for one thing. But to us, the most powerful kiss comes in the film version of the musical, where Tony and Maria sing the classic Somewhere as a love duet, omitting the dream ballet entirely. Romance-wise, its a great change, allowing Tony and Maria to envision a world of peace, away from the violence, where they can both be free. They kiss amidst Bernsteins funeral procession underscoring, making this scene a bittersweet one indeed.

Little Shop of Horrors

This horrific shop has a killer love duet and, of course, kiss. Seymour and Audrey are working together in a plant shop when Seymour discovers a carnivorous plant that quickly grows sentient. When Audreys terrible boyfriend, Orin, becomes the plants latest food, Audrey confesses her guilty relief at his demise. She and Seymour express their romantic feelings for each other in this duet. Seymour promises to protect Audrey, and they seal their love with a kiss in the climax. It goes to show that love can blossom even in the midst of alien plant terrorism. So romantic.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Were Suckers for a Well-Placed Mid-Number Kiss

We Cant Stop This Kiss & We Dont Want To

Come What May, This Kiss Will Haunt Us Until Our Dying Day

Well Always Say Theyre in Love

This Kiss Awakens Something in Us

Wicked

Fiyeraba shippers, rejoice! Like many musical couples, Elphaba and Fiyeros relationship is filled with both dissension and tension as they realizeand hidetheir attraction to each other. When they reunite years later, Elphaba is an outlaw activist and Fiyero leads the hunt for her capture. But Fiyero does the right thing and escapes with her, breaking off the engagement with Glinda. Now fully together, Elphaba and Fiyero confess their love for each other in this steamy forbidden love duet. The song builds to a great finish, but its Elphabas confession and subsequent kiss that truly make this scene. Its a satisfying arc that never fails to get the audience cheering.

Which other Broadway kiss had you believing in love? Let us know in the comments down below!