Best performances you've seen — Page 2

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#26

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 7/30/07 at 9:47am

Carol Channing in HELLO, DOLLY!
Pearl Bailey in HELLO, DOLLY!
Patti LuPone in GYPSY
Elizabeth Ashley in CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF
Angela Lansbury in DEAR WORLD
Angela Lansbury in GYPSY
Gwen Verdon in SWEET CHARITY
Liza Minnelli in CHICAGO
Zoe Caldwell in MASTER CLASS
Patti LuPone in MASTER CLASS
Angela Lansbury in MAME

Robert Goulet in THE HAPPY TIME
Richard Kiley in MAN OF LA MANCHA
John Cullum in SHENANDOAH
George Hearn in LA CAGE AUX FOLLES
Jeremy Irons in THE REAL THING
Alec Baldwin in A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
Eric McCormack in THE MUSIC MAN
Jerry Orbach in PROMISES, PROMISES
Martin Short in THE GOODBYE GIRL
Morris Carnovsky in THE TEMPEST
James Earl Jones and Christopher Plummer in OTHELLO

"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)

Updated On: 7/30/07 at 09:47 AM

#27

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 7/30/07 at 9:50am

Ok, these are my faves from what I have seen on Broadway and Off Broadway
In no particular order…

Patti LuPone in Sweeney Todd
Bernadette Peters in Gypsy
Tammy Blanchard in Gypsy
Sutton Foster in The Drowsy Chaperone
Julie White- Little Dog Laughed (so so good!)
Dennis O'Hare – Take Me Out (loved him!)
Christine Baranski in Regrets Only
Christina Applegate in Sweet Charity
Blythe Danner in Suddenly Last Summer
Julianne Moore in The Vertical Hour
Ashley Judd in Cat On A Hot Tin Roof

#28

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 7/30/07 at 9:58am

female Male
Christine Ebersole in Grey Gardens Raul Esparza in Company
Lachanze in The Color Purple David Hyde Pierce In Curtains
Audra Mcdonald in 110 in the Shade Hadley Fraser in The Pirate Queen
Idina Menzel in Wicked Gavin Lee In Mary Poppins
Kristen Chenoweth in Wicked Matthew Morrison in Piazza
Victoria Clark in Light In the Piazza Hugh Jackman in Boy from Oz
Sutton Foster in The Drowsy Chaperone Norbert Leo Butz in Dirty Rotten
Marissa Jaret Winokur in Hairspray John Lithgow in Dirty Rotten
Bernadette Peter in Gypsy Nathan Lane in The Producers
Debra Monk in Curtains Matthew Broderick In Producers

Current Avatar:The sensational Aaron Tveit in the soon to be hit production of Catch Me If You Can.

#29

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 7/30/07 at 10:01am

I only came up with 7 of each. They may not make sense to you, but they do to me. In no order other than how they popped into my head. And yes, I included off-Broadway in a couple of places.

Male:
Andrew Scott ~ The Vertical Hour (I give it to him over Bill Nighy because of the growth in Philip over the course of the show's run. Bill was pretty much the same from preview #3 to closing.)
Steve Kazee ~ 110 in the Shade (Again, superb growth through the run.)
Frank Langhella ~ Frost/Nixon
Michael Sheen ~ Frost Nixon
Michael Ceveris ~ LoveMusik
Bob Martin ~ The Drowsy Chaperone
Steve Blanchard ~ Beauty and the Beast

Female:
Julianne Moore ~ The Vertical Hour (Again, growth through the run. And when you really got the character, you understood WHY she was "subdued" during Act I.)
Eve Best ~ A Moon For the Misbegotten
Vanessa Redgrave ~ The Year of Magical Thinking
Audra McDonald ~ 110 In The Shade
Donna Murphy ~ LoveMusik
Nilaja Sun ~ No Child...
Rutina Wesley ~ In Darfur

Experience live theater. Experience paintings. Experience books. Live, look and listen like artists! ~ imaginethis
LIVE THAT LESSON!!!!!!

Updated On: 7/30/07 at 10:01 AM

#30

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 7/30/07 at 10:16am

These include both West End and Broadway.

DONNA MURPHY in Lovemusik
MARIA FRIEDMAN in Passion
ANGELA LANSBURY in Sweeney Todd
BERNADETTE PETERS in Gypsy
VICTORIA CLARK in The Light In The Piazza
KRISTIN CHENOWETH in Wicked
SUSAN EGAN in Cabaret
MARIN MAZZIE in Ragtime
MARIN MAZZIE in Kiss Me, Kate
BERNADETTE PETERS in Annie, Get Your Gun

MICHAEL CERVERIS in Sweeney Todd
BRENT CARVER in Kiss Of The Spider Woman
PHILIP QUAST in The Fix
DANIEL EVANS in Grand Hotel
DANIEL EVANS in Sunday In The Park With George
PHILIP QUAST in South Pacific
RAUL ESPARZA in Company
MICHAEL CERVERIS in Lovemusik
BARRETT FOA in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
BARRETT FOA in Avenue Q

THEATRE 2020: CURTAINS**** LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE GIRLS***** WICKED***** KEITH RAMSAY TAKING NOTES WITH EDWARD SECKERSON***** KAYLEIGH MCKNIGHT CONCERT***** RAGS***** ON MCQUILLAN'S HILL** DEAR EVAN HANSEN***** THE JURY***

#31

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 7/30/07 at 10:22am

Tonya Pinkins in Caroline or Change
Bernadette Peters in Gypsy
Christine Ebersole in Grey Gardens
Victoria Clark in Light In the Piazza
Donna Murphy in Follies
Patti LuPone in Gypsy

Happy...Everything! Kaye Thompson

Updated On: 7/30/07 at 10:22 AM

#32

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 7/30/07 at 10:32am

Angela Lansbury in GYPSY
Carol Channing in HELLO DOLLY!
Imelda Staunton in INTO THE WOODS
Julia Mackenzie in FOLLIES
Colm Wilkinson in LES MISERABLES
Gwen Verdon in CHICAGO
Chita Rivera in KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN
Bernadette Peters in SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE
Colleen Dewhurst in WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF

Hal Holbrook in KING LEAR
Jerry Ohrbach in CHICAGO
Mandy Patinkin in SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE
George Hearn in LA CAGE AUX FOLLES

#33

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 7/30/07 at 10:35am

Wow, incredibly difficult. I'm sure my answers would change if you asked me tomorrow! Limiting my responses to 10 performers in musicals (plays is a whole 'nother list!)

Men:
Tim Shew in Les Miserables (Valjean)
Raul Esparza in Company
Brian Stokes Mitchell in Sweeney Todd (Sweeney, Kennedy Center), Man of La Mancha, Kiss Me Kate and Ragtime
Boyd Gaines in She Loves Me
Gregory Hines in Jelly's Last Jam
John Lloyd Young in Jersey Boys
Matthew Broderick in the Producers
Nathan Lane in The Producers, Forum, Guys and Dolls
Hugh Panaro in Les Miserables (Marius)
Wilson Jermaine Heredia in Rent

Ladies:
Victoria Clark in Piazza
Christine Ebersole in Grey Gardens
Lea Salonga in Miss Saigon and Les Miserables (Fantine)
Faith Prince in Guys and Dolls
Donna Murphy in Wonderful Town, Passion
Laurie Beechman in Les Miserables (Fantine)
Kelli O'Hara in Piazza
Randy Graff in City of Angels
Audra McDonald in Carousel, Ragtime and 110
Sally Murphy in Carousel

"This is wanting something, this is reaching for it, This is wishing that a moment would arrive. This is taking chances, this is almost touching, what the beauty is." --The Light in the Piazza

#34

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 7/30/07 at 10:38am

Hooray for Tom148502, Dollypop, and philcrosby who have actually seen some of the legendary performances on the American stage. Reading the other lists just makes me feel old and kinda sad (I mean, really, what kind of world is it that Christina Applegate can be compared to Colleen Dewhurst?)

'Our whole family shouts. It comes from us livin' so close to the railroad tracks'

#35

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 7/30/07 at 11:03am

Hushpuppy,i was thinking the same thing.

Best12bars you got to see Geraldine Page in Agnes of God, may god what a treat that would have been.

Philcosby and Dollypop you guys have seen some perfomances that i would have killed to see.

But let me add the cast of Angels in America to the list.

Well I didn't want to get into it, but he's a Satanist. Every full moon he sacrifices 4 puppies to the Dark Lord and smears their blood on his paino. This should help you understand the score for Wicked a little bit more. Tazber's: Reply to Is Stephen Schwartz a Practicing Christian

Updated On: 7/30/07 at 11:03 AM

#36

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 7/30/07 at 11:23am

The single best performance I've ever seen on any stage (from Broadway to Regional) is Natasha Richardson in CABARET. Astonishing, astonishing, astonishing.

"I'm so looking forward to a time when all the Reagan Democrats are dead."

#37

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 7/30/07 at 11:28am

Hooray for Tom148502, Dollypop, and philcrosby who have actually seen some of the legendary performances on the American stage.

I don't know why you say "hooray." It's not like any of us have a choice for when we were born.

"This table, he is over one hundred years old. If I could, I would take an old gramophone needle and run it along the surface of the wood. To hear the music of the voices. All that was said." - Doug Wright, I Am My Own Wife

#38

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 7/30/07 at 11:53am

Male
Robert Morse How To Succeed...
Anthony Perkins Equus
Robert Duvall Wait Until Dark
Brian Dennehy Death of a Salesman
Richard Burton Camelot
Brian Stokes Mitchel Kiss Me Kate
Joel Grey George M!
Robert Sean Leonard Long Day's Journey Into Night
Robert Goulet Camelot
Alec Clunes My Fair Lady

Female
Julie Andrews My Fair Lady
Suzanne Pleshette The Miracle Worker
Patty Duke The Miracle Worker
Michele Lee How To Succeed...
Carol Channing Hello, Dolly!
Angela Lansbury Gypsy
Angela Lansbury Mame
Vanessa Redgrave Long Day's Journey Into Night
Lee Remick Wait Until Dark
Julie Andrews Camelot

Lots more!!!

#39

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 7/30/07 at 12:22pm

Raul Esparza in CABARET, TABOO, COMPANY, THE NORMAL HEART

Patti Lupone in GYPSY

#40

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 7/30/07 at 1:03pm

There have been many, many great performances, and many other great moments within performances, but these are the ones that stand out vividly in my memory. I've probably missed more of the great ones than I've seen simply because I don't live in NYC. My list of performances I WISH I'd seen is sadly much too long. Thank goodness PBS has preserved some of them on DVD. Here are my live highlights in no particular order:

Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn, THE GIN GAME
Donna McKechnie, A CHORUS LINE
Rachel York, RAGTIME and DESSA ROSE
Kevin Spacey, MOON FOR THE MISBEGOTTEN
Victoria Clark, LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA
Patti LuPone, GYPSY
Bernadette Peters, GYPSY
Julie Harris, THE BELLE OF AMHERST
Julie Harris, LETTICE AND LOVAGE
Ned Beatty, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF
Jonathan Pryce, DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS

lc

#41

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 7/30/07 at 4:22pm

Patti LuPone in Gypsy
Christine, Mary, and Erin in Grey Gardens
Audra McDonald in 110 in the Shade
Eve Best in A Moon for the Misbegotten
LaChanze in The Color Purple

Raul Esparza in Company
Christopher Plummer in Inherit the Wind
Hugh Panero in The Phantom of the Opera
Brian Stokes Mitchell in Man of la Mancha
Terrence Mann in Beauty and the Beast

#42

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 8/8/07 at 3:13am

Idina Menzel in Wicked
Eden Espinosa in Wicked
LaChanze in The Color Purple
Felicia Fields in The Color Purple
Audra in 110 in the Shade
Tonya Pinkins in Caroline or Change
Capathia Jenkins in Fame Becomes Me
Darlene Love in Hairspray
Diana Degarmo in Hairspray
Sherie Rene Scott in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Cherry Jones in Doubt

Marcus Paul James in RENT
Jason Tam in A Chorus Line
...I wish I can remember some great male performances I've seen, but almost none of them especially stand out for me.

Updated On: 8/8/07 at 03:13 AM

#43

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 8/8/07 at 3:21am

1. Christine Ebersole in Grey Gardens
2. Raul Esparza in The Normal Heart
3. Raul Esparza in Company
4. Brian Stokes Mitchell in Man of La Mancha
5. Michael Ceveris & Patti Lupone in Sweeney Todd

"I really liked the show--Wish I saw Boy's Night...Am I allowed as I am not a boy anymore:)"-duffyny1

#44

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 8/8/07 at 11:23am

I am not limiting to Broadway.

Male performances:
1. Brian Stokes Mitchell - Ragtime (Toronto)
2. Colm Wilkinson - Les Miserables (Toronto)
3. Kevin Gray - Miss Saigon (Toronto)
4. Will Chase - Miss Saigon (2nd National Tour)
5. Matt Rawle - Martin Guerre (London)
6. Colm Wilkinson - The Phantom of the Opera (Toronto)
7. Michael Mattis - Martin Guerre (London)
8. Hadley Fraser - The Pirate Queen (Broadway)
9. Norm Lewis - Miss Saigon (Toronto)
10. Charles Azulay - Miss Saigon (Toronto)

Female performances:
1. Marin Mazzie - Ragtime (Toronto)
2. Audra McDonald - Ragtime (Toronto)
3. Ma-Anne Dionisio - Miss Saigon (Toronto)
4. Stephanie J. Block - The Pirate Queen (Broadway)
5. Megan Hilty - Wicked (LA)
6. Eden Espinosa - Wicked (LA)
7. Joanna Ampil - Jesus Christ Superstar (London)
8. Susan Gilmour - Les Miserables (Toronto)
9. Karen Ziemba - Chicago (National Tour)
10. -------------

#45

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 8/8/07 at 11:43am

Bernadette Peters - Gypsy and Annie Get Your Gun
Norbert Leo Butz - Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Christina Applegate - Sweet Charity
Ashley Brown - Mary Poppins
Diana DeGarmo - Hairspray
Shoshana Bean - Wicked
Lea Salonga - Les Miserables

Updated On: 11/7/07 at 11:43 AM

#46

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 8/8/07 at 12:24pm

I, too, am jealous of some of the performances that others have had a chance to see!

Not limiting to Broadway and in no particular order:

Brian Stokes Mitchell (RAGTIME & KISS ME, KATE)
Christopher Plummer (INHERIT THE WIND)
Bill Irwin (WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?)
Billy Crudup (PILLOWMAN & THE ELEPHANT MAN)
Michael Stuhlbarg (PILLOWMAN)
Jefferson Mays (I AM MY OWN WIFE)
David Hyde Pierce (CURTAINS)
Manoel Felciano (SWEENEY TODD)
Raul Esparza (MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG)
John Cameron Mitchell (HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH)

Kathleen Turner (WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?)
Marin Mazzie (RAGTIME & KISS ME, KATE)
Victoria Clark (THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA)
Julie White (THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED & BAD DATES)
Christine Ebersole (GREY GARDENS)
Mary Louise Wilson (GREY GARDENS)
Kathleen Chalfant (WIT)
Cherry Jones (DOUBT)
Audra McDonald (RAGTIME)
Marian Seldes (too many shows to name)

Also:
Original Broadway Cast of 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE
Original Broadway Cast of CURTAINS

Updated On: 8/9/07 at 12:24 PM

#47

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 8/8/07 at 12:29pm

Christine Ebersole in Grey Gardens
The entire cast in the Actors' Fund production of Chess
Sherie Rene Scott in The Last 5 Years
Nathan Lane in The Producers
Hugh Jackman in The Boy from Oz
Norbert Leo Butz in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

subject to change as I think about it some more

(formerly bronte604) "You really just love money and power and capitalism? You know they're never going to love you back." "Things happen for the best...I don't even believe that myself."

#48

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 8/8/07 at 12:43pm

Bernadette Peters- Sunday in the Park with George (even though this is purely of the DVd, since I wasn't alive when the original run. but boy, do I wish I did!)
George Maguire- Billy Elliot
Travis Yates- Billy Elliot
Sarah Saltzberg- Spelling Bee (purely of --------)
Emma Williams- Sex, Chips, Rock and Roll.
musicalfan07

#49

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 8/8/07 at 12:54pm

in no particular order, and not limited to broadway

Ladies:
1. Marin in Ragtime
2. Marin in Kiss me, Kate
3. Audra in Ragtime
4. Cherry Jones in Doubt (final performance of national tour)
5. Heather Headley in Aida
6. Victoria Clark in Light in the Piazza
7. Leslie Uggams in "Stormy weather: the story of Lena Horne"
8. Bernadette in Gypsy
9. Kaitlin Hopkins in Batboy
10. all the girls in the OBC of Spelling bee

the men:

1.Stokes in Ragtime
2.Stokes in Kiss me Kate
3.Eugene Fleming in Dreamgirls
4. Chris Sarandon in Piazza
5. AAron Lazar in Piazza
6. Boyd Gaines in Journey's End
7. Mark Jacoby in Ragtime
8. Michael Mulherin and Lee Wilkof in Kiss me Kate
9. Deven May in Batboy
10. All the Guys in Spelling Bee

"I'm an American, Damnit!!! And if it's three things I don't believe in, it's quitting and math."

#50

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 8/8/07 at 1:43pm

Fun thread!

Mine are obviously not limited to Bway:

Kenneth Branagh - Henry V
Ian McKellen - Richard III and Bent
Simon Russell Beale - Volpone
Jonathan Pryce - Miss Saigon
Davis Gaines - Phantom
John Lloyd Young - Jersey Boys
Jefferson Mays - I Am My Own Wife
Kevin Kline - The Pirates of Penzance
Bill Irwin - Virginia Woolf
Stephen Spinella - Angels in America
Alan Rickman - Dangerous Liaisons
Raphael Sbarge - The Twilight of the Golds

Kathy Bates - Frankie and Johnny
Emma Thompson - King Lear
Cherry Jones - The Heiress
Lillian Garrett-Groag - The Kentucky Cycle
Cynthia Mace - The Goat, or Who is Sylvia
Patti LuPone - Evita
Lea Salonga - Miss Saigon
Maggie Smith - Three Tall Women
Jodi Thelen - The Twilight of the Golds

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