What/who is on everyone's TOP 10 list for theater in 2008?- Page 2

[jordangirl]

Posted: 12/10/08 at 12:31pm

My list ~ done Letterman Top 10 Style...

Productions...
10. The Seagull
9. A Tale of Two Cities
8. Fifty Words
7. Gypsy
6. Shrek
5. Next to Normal ~ the 2econd Stage edition
4. Equus
3. In The Heights
2. Next to Normal ~ the Arena Stage edition
1. Sunday In The Park With George

Performances Male...
5. Lin-Manuel Miranda ~ In The Heights
4. Brian d-Arcy James ~ Shrek
3. Daniel Evans ~ Sunday In The Park With George
2. J. Robert Spencer ~ Next to Normal (Arena Stage edition)
1. Aaron Tveit ~ Next to Normal (both editions)

Performances Female...
5. Kristin Scott Thomas ~ The Seagull
4. Elizabeth Marvel ~ Fifty Words
3. Laura Benanti ~ Gypsy
2. Jenna Russell ~ Sunday In The Park With George
1. Alice Ripley ~ Next to Normal (both editions)

The performances were all very close. The shows not necessarily as close as it might look from numbers.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 12/10/08 at 2:50pm

Bump

[Brick]

Posted: 12/10/08 at 4:17pm

In no particular order:

Sunday in the Park with George
Passing Strange
In The Heights
Gypsy
South Pacific
Macbeth
A Catered Affair
The Seagull
Billy Elliot: the Musical
Liza's At The Palace...!

[vinnylin]

Posted: 12/10/08 at 4:40pm

1-South Pacific
2-Gypsy
3-In The Heights
4-Sunday in the Park with George
5-Prayer for My Enemy
6-Speed-the-Plow
7-Farragut North
8-All My Sons
9-Next to Normal
10-Port Authority

Honorable Mention: [title of show]

[colorandlight2]

Posted: 12/10/08 at 4:52pm

(in no particular order)

August: Osage County
Sunday in the Park with George
[title of show]
The Visit (Signature Theatre)
A Little Night Music (Centerstage-Baltimore)
Joe Turner's Come and Gone (Centerstage- Baltimore)
Next to Normal
Grey Gardens (Studio Theatre)
Boeing-Boeing
Gypsy

Performances:
Chita Rivera- The Visit
George Hearn- The Visit
Polly Bergen- A Little Night Music
Patti Lupone- Gypsy
Boyd Gaines- Gypsy

I threw in the large amount of brilliant regional musical theatre that I saw over the past year. I'm sure I will have to include E. Faye Butler's portrayal of Caroline Thibodeaux in Caroline, or Change from Centerstage's production!

[matty159]

Posted: 12/10/08 at 6:00pm

In no particular order (and I am including DC productions)....

The Visit (DC)
Kiss of the Spider Woman (DC)
Ace (DC)
Billy Elliot
Adding Machine
Boeing Boeing
Passing Strange
Sunday in the Park With George
A Catered Affair
[title of show]

I am not including local productions in Richmond, VA, but if I did, I would have to include Stage One's production of TICK TICK BOOM.

Updated On: 12/10/08 at 06:00 PM

[B3TA07]

Posted: 12/10/08 at 8:01pm

In no order


Adding Machine
Passing Strange
Shrek The Musical
In The Heights
South Pacific
[title of show]
Billy Elliot: the Musical
Sunday in the Park with George


...I don't want to pick two more that I don't even care about.

[EugLoven]

Posted: 12/10/08 at 8:41pm

BEST OF BROADWAY
(in no particular order)
The 39 Steps
A Catered Affair
Billy Elliot: the Musical
Boeing-Boeing
Gypsy
South Pacific
Sunday in the Park with George
[title of show]


BEST OF OFF-BROADWAY
Adding Machine
Dead Man's Cell Phone
Fault Lines
The Four of Us
From Up Here
Hair
The Marriage of Bette and Boo
Next to Normal
On The Town
Streamers

[minicko88]

Posted: 12/10/08 at 11:15pm

Awww, No love for Natalie Toro from A Tale of Two Cities?

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 12/11/08 at 1:04pm

Bump again..

[minicko88]

Posted: 12/11/08 at 1:45pm

What you didn't think Natalie Toro did an excellent job of Madame Defarge? She wasn't the best in the show... James Barbour's Sydney Carton was unbelievable, but she did an excellent job as well... AND NEEDS TO GET SOME CREDIT...

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 12/11/08 at 1:55pm

...I was bumping the thread to the top of the board. I wasn't commenting on your post.

I didn't see A TALE OF TWO CITIES so I can't say...from what I heard she was good but nowhere near as good as some of the other masterful performances that have been given this year. But I didn't see the show so I can't say.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 12/11/08 at 1:55pm

Double post. Updated On: 12/11/08 at 01:55 PM

[homeimp]

Posted: 12/11/08 at 2:05pm

I guess I can play this game, too. I did not see everything as I come from Toronto 2-3 times a year and see 7-9 shows each visit. (Alphabetically)

All My Sons
Billy Elliot
Equus
Farragut North
Gypsy
The Little Mermaid (no apologies for this choice)
Next To Normal
Speed-The-Plough
South Pacific
Sunday In The Park

Special Mention - "13" - It succeeded in doing exactly what it set out to do. And that cast? There's the future of Broadway!

Being from Toronto - Honourable mention - The Sound of Music in Toronto and Caesar And Cleopatra at the Stratford Festival.

Top performances: (again alphabetically)
Laura Benanti - Gypsy
Raul Esparza - Speed The Plough
John Gallagher Jr - Port Authority/Farragut North
Patti Lupone - Gypsy
Kiril Kulish - Billy Elliot
Carey Milligan - The Seagull
Martha Plimpton - Pal Joey
Daniel Radcliffe - Equus
Alice Ripley - Next To Normal
Mark Rylance - Boeing-Boeing
Ensemble - "13"
Mr. Versatile - Brian d'Arcy James - Next To Normal, Port Authority, Shrek
Beyond the call of duty: All 3 Billys - David, Kiril, Trent - I salute you!

[MusicAndPassion]

Posted: 12/11/08 at 2:54pm

1. South Pacific
2. August: Osage County
3. Equus
4. All My Sons
5. From Up Here
6. [title of show]
7. In The Heights
8. A Catered Affair
9. Next to Normal
10. Prayer for my Enemy

Keep in mind these are out of what I've seen. I haven't seen everything.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 12/12/08 at 6:56pm

As of now (I may re-order the list and I may see another new production or two before the year ends) this is my list:

10.) FAULT LINES
9.) NEXT TO NORMAL
8.) IN THE HEIGHTS
7.) SOUTH PACIFIC
6.) A CATERED AFFAIR
5.) HAIR
4.) GYPSY
3.) BILLY ELLIOT: THE MUSICAL
2.) AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY (I know it opened in 2007 but I saw it in 2008...)
1.) LIZA'S AT THE PALACE...!

And I'm having a lot of trouble putting together a list for the best performances which include Anika Noni Rose in CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, the cast of AUGUST, Lin Manuel Miranda in IN THE HEIGHTS, Eisa Davis in PASSING STRANGE, Daniel Evans & Jenna Russell in SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, Noah Emmerick in FAULT LINES, Kelli O'Hara & Paolo Szot in SOUTH PACIFIC, Faith Prince & Tom Wopat in A CATERED AFFAIR, Sean Hayes in DAMN YANKEES, Mary McCormack in BOEING-BOEING, Kristin Scott Thomas & Carey Milligin in THE SEAGULL, the three boys of BILLY ELLIOT, Liza in LIZA'S AT THE PALACE...!, Boyd Gaines, Patti LuPone, and Laura Benanti in GYPSY, and the best performance on stage of 2008 was (in my mind) Alice Ripley in NEXT TO NORMAL.

Updated On: 12/12/08 at 06:56 PM

[tytonius]

Posted: 12/13/08 at 6:23am

Here it goes:

1. South Pacific
2. Gypsy
3. Sunday in ark with George
4. A Man for All Seasons
5. Billy Eliot
6. Equus
7. The Visit
8. Boing-Boing
9. The Occupant
10.August: Osage County

And my top 5 performances were:
1. Patti LuPone (Gypsy)
2. Paulo Szot ( South Pacific)
3. James Barbour
4. Mark Rylance (Boeing Boeing)
5. George Hearn (The V

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 12/13/08 at 7:36am

This is in not particular order.

Best Shows:
In The Heights
Sunday In The Park With George
[Title of Show]
Gypsy
BIlly Elliot
August Osage County (I have not seen it but I can't think of anymore great shows I have seen)
Boeing Boeing (Ditto^^)
13 (I know I may get in trouble for this but I thought it was pretty good)
Xanadu
Shrek

As I look back I saw a bunch of not so great shows, sorry about my list. It's pretty bad, just look at the first 5 because I saw those and they deserve to be on the list.

Performances:
Patti Lupone- Gypsy
Laura Benanti- Gypsy
Karen Olivo- In The Heights
Lin Manuel Miranda- In The Heights
Robin De Jesus- In The Heights
Eden Espinosa- Rent
Renee Goldsberry- Rent
Daniel Evans- Sunday in the Park With George
Jenna Russle- Sunday in the Park With George
Heidi Blickenstaff- [title of show]
Susan Blackwell- [title of show]
Hunter Bell- [title of show]
Jeff Bowel- [title of show]
Trent Kowalik- Billy Elliot
Kiril Kulish- Billy Eliot
David Alverez- Billy Elliot
Allie Trimm- 13
Ariana Grande (Mostly basing this on the bootleg video of her singing Lamest Place in the World)- 13

[RockabyeHamlet]

Posted: 12/13/08 at 11:15am

The fact that someone put 13 on their list and only put Sunday "close behind" makes my soul cry.

The best performances I saw were Michael Cerveris in Road Show (surprised aren't you?) and Patti LuPone in Gypsy.

[RyToast1]

Posted: 12/13/08 at 2:19pm

TOP TEN SHOWS
1. Gypsy
2. No, No Nanette (Encores!)
3. Sunday in the Park with George
4. On The Town (Encores!)
5. [title of show]
6. In The Heights
7. Cat On A Hot Tin Roof
8. Irving Berlin’s White Christmas
9. The Marriage of Bette and Boo
10. Boeing-Boeing

TOP TEN PERFORMANCES
1. Patti LuPone- Gypsy
2. Jenna Russell- Sunday in the Park with George
3. Tony Yazbeck- On The Town
4. Laura Benanti- Gypsy
5. Beth Leavel- No, No Nanette
6. Boyd Gaines- Gypsy
7. Susan Blackwell- [title of show]
8. Daniel Evans- Sunday in the Park with George
9. Anika Noni Rose- Cat On A Hot Tin Roof
10. Sierra Boggess- The Little Mermaid
Updated On: 12/13/08 at 02:19 PM

[scaryclowns223]

Posted: 12/13/08 at 2:35pm

1. Hair in Central Park
2. [title of show]
3. Passing Strange
4. In the Heights
5. South Pacific
6. The 39 Steps
7. Speed-the-Plow
8. Gypsy
9. Boeing-Boeing
10. Road Show

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/13/08 at 2:50pm

Here are mine, in no order beyond alphabetical:

FAVORITE SHOWS THAT OPENED IN 2008:
Billy Elliot
Boeing-Boeing
Equus
Gypsy
Hair (Central Park)
Macbeth
Next to Normal
South Pacific

FAVORITE SHOWS TO RETURN TO:
August: Osage County
Legally Blonde
Spring Awakening
Wicked

TEN BEST PERFORMANCES- MALE (includes replacements)
Blake Bashoff, Spring Awakening (replacement)
Jon Groff, Hair
Kiril Kulish, Billy Elliot
Daniel Radcliffe, Equus
Mark Rylance, Boeing-Boeing
Hunter Parrish, Spring Awakening (replacement)
Christopher Seiber, Shrek
Patrick Stewart, Macbeth
Paulo Szot, South Pacific
Aaron Tveit, Next to Normal

TEN BEST PERFORMANCES- FEMALE (includes replacements)
Laura Benanti, Gypsy
Sandy Duncan, No, No, Nanette (Encores)
Kate Fleetwood, Macbeth
Haydn Gwynne, Billy Elliot
Bailey Hanks, Legally Blonde (replacement)
Patti LuPone, Gypsy
Mary McCormack, Boeing-Boeing
Missy Pyle, Boeing-Boeing (replacement)
Julie Reiber, Wicked (standby)
Alice Ripley, Next to Normal



Updated On: 12/13/08 at 02:50 PM

[philly03]

Posted: 12/13/08 at 5:15pm

Top 10 Shows- (Broadway, Tours, regional..etc.)
1. A Tale of Two Cities
2. Sunday in the Park with George
3. Gypsy
4. South Pacific
5. In the Heights
6. Legally Blonde National Tour
7. Boeing-Boeing
8. EVITA (Non-Eq. Tour, for reasons both good & laughable!)
9. Ace
10. Tie: [tos], A Catered Affair

Top 10 Favourite Performances- (including Replacements (Haha one))
1. Patti LuPone- Gypsy
2. Jenna Russell - Sunday..
3. Bailey Hanks - Legally Blonde
4. James Barbour - A Tale of Two Cities
5. Natalie Toro - A Tale of Two Cities
6. Daniel Evans - Sunday..
7. Mary McCormack - Boeing-Boeing
8. Brandi Burkhardt - A Tale of Two Cities
9. Paulo Szot - South Pacific
10. Tie: Allie Trim - 13, Jeff Bowen - [tos]

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 12/13/08 at 10:51pm

Add Bailey Hanks in LEGALLY BLONDE to my list as well.

There were a LOT of wonderful performances this year...

[sanda]

Posted: 12/13/08 at 11:43pm

Best Shows
1.Sunday in the park with George
2.Billy Elliot
3.Kiss of the Spider Woman(Signature theatre,DC)
4.South Pacific
5.Macbeth
6.Les Miserables (Walnut theatre, Philly)


Best Performances
1.three Billys
2.Frank Langella (A man from all seasons)
3.Daniel Evans (Sunday in the park with george)
4.Paul Szot (South Pacific)
5.Patrick Stewart (Macbeth)