Favorite Roundabout Production
Favorite Roundabout Production
#1Favorite Roundabout Production
Posted: 9/13/09 at 5:55pm
There have been so many wonderful productions, yes there have been major disappointments throughout the years, of so many wonderful musicals from Roundabout. What is your favorite.
Nothing can top their groundbreaking Cabaret for me. Sunday, Assassins, and 110 are also tops on my list.
#2re: Favorite Roundabout Production
Posted: 9/13/09 at 6:05pm
ASSASSINS.
Almost made up for FOLLIES. Almost.
P
#3re: Favorite Roundabout Production
Posted: 9/13/09 at 6:09pmI adored every minute of PAL JOEY. I thought the production was a dark, brooding masterpiece. Martha was perfection, Stockard broke my heart and I though Matt Risch was wonderful as the broken playboy with a past. I thought the staging and songs were gorgeous. I saw it twice. I wish they recorded it.
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#4re: Favorite Roundabout Production
Posted: 9/13/09 at 6:17pm
I also actually thought that Pal Joey, for the most part, was a very strong production...EXCEPT for Matthew Risch, who was unfortunately the star. He wasn't terrible, but the word "mediocre" was created for his performance. I liked the rest of the cast and I really, really liked the set. I liked the tone they brought to the show.
I also loved their Threepenny Opera, which was not very popular, either.
The first act of Apple Tree was wonderful, but the rest of it sucked simply because the rest of the material sucks. You can't start off with something that poignant and then go the way that show goes...
I wish I had seen Roundabout's Assassins, I love the recording and would probably be my favorite of their musical productions. As is, I guess it is Threepenny.
EDIT: Somehow forgot about Sunday in the Park...but does that really count, as a transfer?
EDIT: Forgot 110 in The Shade. Good production of a totally forgettable show.
Not counting plays here...
Updated On: 9/13/09 at 06:17 PM
bwaylvsong
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/28/05
#6re: Favorite Roundabout Production
Posted: 9/13/09 at 7:08pmWhile I highly enjoyed last season's WAITING FOR GODOT, my favorite production from RTC remains TWELVE ANGRY MEN.
#7re: Favorite Roundabout Production
Posted: 9/13/09 at 7:18pmShe Loves Me, Cabaret, Assassins, The Pajama Game and Sunday in the Park with George were all wonderful productions, in my opinion.
"Sing the words, Patti!!!!" Stephen Sondheim to Patti LuPone.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#8re: Favorite Roundabout Production
Posted: 9/13/09 at 7:45pm
She Loves Me was great, and seems to have been kinda forgotten. I'm not sure Sunday counts IMHo though I suppose technically it does (I didn't see it though I did see the same production with a diff cast in Seattle and loved it). Pacific Overtures didn't work as well for me (maybe because I've seen the film fot he original magnificent Hal prince production too many times) but that was in many ways a transfer too wasn't it? Or is it more like their revival of Cabaret which used the Mendes/Donmar production as a starting point?
If the Cast album is any repsresentation, I have to say I would not haveliked the Assassins production though I know i'm in the minority--bad miscasting, etc
Obviously Follies has to go near the bottom of the list--while far far from perfect the fact that Papermill's was SOO much better speaks volumes. Their 95 Company was better if maybe lacking in a certain feeling of energy or vision--it seems to have been kinda forgotten despite a good cast album as well.
Didn't they do a notoriously awful Bacharach Revue with Anne Reinking? And are we only talking about their musicals here?
Updated On: 9/13/09 at 07:45 PM
RockabyeHamlet
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/1/05
#9re: Favorite Roundabout Production
Posted: 9/13/09 at 7:56pmAssassins and Sunday in the Park with George
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Chrysanthemum62001
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/14/04
#10re: Favorite Roundabout Production
Posted: 9/13/09 at 8:30pmCabaret and Assassins. Though Sunday in the Park with George wouldn't be far behind. I was actually thinking about Cabaret today.
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Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#11re: Favorite Roundabout Production
Posted: 9/13/09 at 8:33pmHave only seen a few but Pajama Game was my favorite.
#12re: Favorite Roundabout Production
Posted: 9/13/09 at 8:42pmI've only ever seen Sunday, but that was pretty darn good.
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Dollypop
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#13re: Favorite Roundabout Production
Posted: 9/13/09 at 8:45pm
>>>"I've only ever seen Sunday"<<<
Huh?
"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)
AndAllThatJazz22
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/8/08
#14re: Favorite Roundabout Production
Posted: 9/13/09 at 8:52pm
Cabaret, Cabaret, Cabaret, and Cabaret! That production was a fresh, modern take on a classical musical. It was an innovate update and showed Cabaret in a completely different light. The cast was perfect, the direction was perfect, the updates were perfect, what more can you ask for in a revival?!?! Not only was Cabaret the best Roundabout production, but it was probably one of the best revivals of a musical in theatrical history.
As for a Roundabout show that WASN'T a transfer of another production, I would probably have to go with 110 in the Shade.
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-Danmeg's 10 year old son.
Updated On: 9/13/09 at 08:52 PM
-Danmeg's 10 year old son.
#15re: Favorite Roundabout Production
Posted: 9/13/09 at 8:55pm
Sunday in the Park With George!
I will love Roundabout forever for transferring that beautiful production 
Updated On: 9/13/09 at 08:55 PM
AndAllThatJazz22
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/8/08
#16re: Favorite Roundabout Production
Posted: 9/13/09 at 9:24pmExcuse my ignorance, but was Roundabout a transfer production?
"There's nothing good on. The media hates Christmas. The media loves vampires, though. Maybe they will show a Twilight Christmas."
-Danmeg's 10 year old son.
-Danmeg's 10 year old son.
#17re: Favorite Roundabout Production
Posted: 9/13/09 at 9:27pmYes. The production started at the Menier Chocolate Factory in London, then transferred to the West End and eventually transferred to Broadway with Roundabout.
"Sing the words, Patti!!!!" Stephen Sondheim to Patti LuPone.
#18re: Favorite Roundabout Production
Posted: 9/13/09 at 9:46pm
I haven't seen a huge amount of their productions, but my favorites that I've seen are Sunday in the Park and 110...I was too young for Cabaret and Assassins unfortunately but I wish I could have seen those as well.
I also thought Kristin Chenoweth was great in The Apple Tree but the material sucked.
sipos
Broadway Star Joined: 6/2/04
#19re: Favorite Roundabout Production
Posted: 9/13/09 at 9:50pm
She Loves Me. Judy Kuhn, Boyd Gaines, Sally Mayes, Jonathan Freeman, Brad Kane, Lee Wilkof, Howard McGillin ...
What a wonderful cast.
#20re: Favorite Roundabout Production
Posted: 9/13/09 at 10:20pm
PAJAMA GAME - the production nailed it perfectly!
Several others have been impressive and satisfying, but PJ was about as ideal as it gets.
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#21re: Favorite Roundabout Production
Posted: 9/13/09 at 10:24pmFirst act of Apple Tree was great, second was garbage, third was kind of cute. Kristin did a great job with what they gave her, though.
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#22re: Favorite Roundabout Production
Posted: 9/13/09 at 10:25pmI've only seen a few, but "A Man For All Seasons."
2010
Feb. 28 - Looped, Feb. 28 - Next to Normal, March 4 - Hair, March 11 - A Little Night Music, March 24 - Time Stands Still, April 6 - La Cage Aux Folles, April 10 - Anyone Can Whistle (City Center), April 10 - Looped, May 9 - Enron, May 15 - A Little Night Music, May 15 - A Behanding In Spokane, May 30 - A Behanding In Spokane, May 30 - A Little Night Music, June 20 - A Little Night Music, June 23 - Red, June 23 - Sondheim on Sondheim, July 13 - A Little Night Music, July 18 - The Grand Manner (Lincoln Center)
#23re: Favorite Roundabout Production
Posted: 9/13/09 at 11:24pm
^ Wow, you REALLY must have only seen a few then. And the others must have been Hedda and The Philanthropist.
Roundabout's top production for me will always be The Pajama Game, followed closely by the magnificent production of 110 in the Shade. I missed Cabaret at Studio 54, but I am sure I would have loved that too.
#24re: Favorite Roundabout Production
Posted: 9/14/09 at 10:52am
While I loved CABARET it was a transfer and they do deserve credit for moving it here (the same goes for SUNDAY).
I think one of >THEIR< best productions was NINE.
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