Some musical theater videos are exciting because they show one great song.
Others are exciting because they feel like the whole theater world has exploded onto the stage.
This Neil Patrick Harris Tony Awards opening belongs to that second group.
In this 2013 performance, Harris opens the 67th Tony Awards with “Bigger!,” an original number written by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Tom Kitt. The song does exactly what the title promises. It gets bigger, louder, funnier, faster, and more exciting as it goes.
It is a huge love letter to Broadway.
That is what makes this video such a perfect fit for Big City Broadway.
It is not just an awards-show opener. It is a full Broadway celebration packed into one wild, joyful performance.
Watch Neil Patrick Harris Perform “Bigger!” at the 2013 Tony Awards
Why This Tony Awards Opening Feels So Huge
This clip works because it understands what Broadway fans want from the Tony Awards.
They want sparkle.
They want jokes.
They want dancing.
They want surprise guests.
They want big voices, big movement, and that feeling that anything can happen on live TV.
“Bigger!” gives them all of that.
Neil Patrick Harris does not just walk out and sing a simple welcome song. He leads a full-scale Broadway parade. The number keeps growing as more performers join in. The stage gets busier. The jokes get sharper. The energy keeps climbing.
By the end, it feels like Broadway itself has taken over the room.
Neil Patrick Harris Shows Why He Became a Favorite Tony Awards Host
Neil Patrick Harris has a special gift for hosting the Tonys.
He can sing. He can dance. He can land a joke. He can handle a fast-paced live show without making it look too hard. That combination is rare.
In this opening, he uses all of it.
He moves through the number with confidence and charm. He makes the jokes feel quick and playful. He also knows when to step back and let the other performers shine.
That matters because the Tonys are not really about one host.
They are about the whole Broadway community.
Harris understands that. He is the guide, but the number belongs to everyone on that stage.
How “Bigger!” Turns an Awards Show Into a Broadway Party
Most awards shows begin with a monologue.
The Tony Awards can do something better.
They can begin with a musical number.
That is what makes this clip so much fun. Instead of just talking about Broadway, the opening shows us Broadway. It gives viewers dancing, singing, comedy, timing, and stagecraft right away.
The number also celebrates the shows and performers of the season.
Cast members from productions like Annie, A Christmas Story, Bring It On, Cinderella, Kinky Boots, Matilda, Motown, Newsies, Once, Pippin, and Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella are part of the fun. That gives the performance a true “everyone’s invited” feeling.
It is not one show taking the spotlight.
It is Broadway throwing a party for itself.
The Lin-Manuel Miranda and Tom Kitt Spark Behind the Song
Part of the reason “Bigger!” works so well is the writing.
The song was created by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Tom Kitt, two writers who understand theater energy. They know how to build a number. They know how to make lyrics move fast. They know how to mix heart, comedy, and momentum.
That skill is all over this opener.
The song keeps finding new places to go. It teases Broadway. It celebrates Broadway. It jokes about theater kids, famous people, live singing, and the size of the show itself.
But under all the humor, there is real affection.
“Bigger!” is funny because it loves Broadway so much.
Why Theater Kids Still Love This Performance
One of the sweetest parts of the number is how it speaks to theater kids.
The performance is big and flashy, but the heart of it is simple. It says that Broadway is a place where big dreams make sense. It is a place where kids who love singing, dancing, acting, costumes, lights, and drama can see a future for themselves.
That is why this clip still gets shared by musical theater fans.
One online fan said they did not even know much about musicals, but the “perfection and professionalism” of this performance still blew them away. That kind of reaction shows how strong the number is. You do not have to be a Broadway expert to feel the excitement.
You just have to watch the room come alive.
What to Watch For in the Performance
When you watch the clip, pay attention to how carefully the chaos is built.
It may look wild, but it is extremely planned. People enter at just the right time. Jokes land in rhythm. Dancers move through busy stage pictures without losing the shape of the number.
That is Broadway craft.
Also watch Harris as the center of the storm.
He keeps the number moving while everything grows around him. That takes serious timing. He has to sing, move, react, joke, and still make the audience feel safe inside the madness.
Then watch the final build.
The number keeps raising its own stakes until it becomes a full-stage celebration. That is what makes the ending feel so satisfying. The song promises “bigger,” and then it delivers.
Why This Tony Awards Clip Belongs on Big City Broadway
Big City Broadway celebrates musical moments wherever they appear.
Sometimes that means a Broadway stage. Sometimes it means a movie musical, a concert, a live TV special, or an awards-show opening that reminds everyone why theater people are a different breed.
This clip belongs here because it shows Broadway at full speed.
It has star power.
It has comedy.
It has choreography.
It has live performance energy.
It also gives casual viewers an easy way into musical theater. You do not need to know every nominated show from 2013 to enjoy it. You just need to feel the joy, the timing, and the size of the moment.
That is the good stuff.
A Tony Awards Opening Worth Watching Again
Neil Patrick Harris’ “Bigger!” opening number is still worth watching because it is fast, funny, and full of Broadway life.
It turns an awards show into a stage spectacular.
It also reminds us why the Tonys can be so exciting. When they are at their best, they do not just hand out trophies. They show the world what live theater can do.
Watch the video above, enjoy the chaos, and see why this 2013 Tony Awards opening still feels like one of Broadway’s biggest TV moments.