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#51

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 8/8/07 at 1:47pm

Female
1. Sutton Foster - Thoroughly Modern Millie
2. Sutton Foster - The Drowsy Chaperone
3. Lea Salonga - Les Miserables (Fantine)
4. Megan McGinnis - Les Miserables
5. Beth Leavel - The Drowsy Chaperone
6. Bernerdette Peters - Gyspy
7. Karen Zeimbra - Curtains
8. Jill Paice - Curtains
9. Patti LuPone - Sweeney Todd
10. Laura Bell Bundy - Legally Blonde


Male
1. David Hyde Pierce - Curtians
2. Edward Hibbert - Curtains
3. Christian Borle - Legally Blonde
4. Hunter Foster - The Full Monty (Regional theatre)
5. Alexander Gemignani - Les Miserables
6. Robert Hunt - Les Miserables
7. Christian Borle - Thoroughly Modern Millie
8. Marc Kudish - Thoroughly Modern Millie
9. Jason Tam -A Chorus Line
10. Adam Jacobs - Les Miserables

Also, I loved the ENTIRE cast of A CHORUS LINE and CURTAINS as a whole.

~Darci
#52

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 8/8/07 at 4:15pm

Female :
Irene Worth - Sweet Bird of Youth
Rosemary Harris - Pack of Lies
Eva La Gallienne - Royal Family
Julie Harris - Belle of Amhurst
Tammy Grimes - Tatuffe
Amanda Plummer - Agnes of God
Swoosie Kurtz - 5th of July
Maureen Stapleton - The Little Foxes
Jane Alexander - The Heiress
Judith Ivey - Steambath

Male-
Murray Abraham - Cyrano
Anthony Hopkins - Equus
Ian Mckellan - Bent
Judd Hirsch - Tallys Folly
Robert Preston - Sly Fox
John Wood - Rosencrantz .....
John Malkovich - True West
Johnathan Hadary - Angels in America
Barnard Hughes - Da
Raul Julia - Nine

(For those interested, there is only one performance from a musical that makes my list.)


#53

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 8/8/07 at 4:25pm

South Fl Marc - You saw Anthony Hopkins? He's such an amazing actor on TV. How was he in person? Did you get to meet him? *is majorly jealous*.

~Darci
#55

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 8/8/07 at 4:40pm

Not that I've seen too many amazing performances, but...


Male:

Manoel Felciano in Sweeney Todd
Boyd Gaines in Gypsy
Norbert Leo Butz in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Michael Cerveris in Sweeney Todd

Female:

Patti LuPone in Gypsy
Christine Ebersole in Grey Gardens
Laura Benanti in Gypsy
Mary Louise Wilson in Grey Gardens
Patti LuPone in Sweeney Todd
Sherie Rene Scott in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.

Updated On: 8/8/07 at 04:40 PM

#56

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 8/8/07 at 5:06pm

Kristin Chenoweth- The Apple Tree
Orfeh- Legally Blonde
Kate Shindle- Legally Blonde
Janine LaManna- Sweet Charity
Jaime Lee Kirchner- Rent
Celia Keenan-Bolger- Spelling Bee
Laura Bell Bundy- Legally Blonde


Marc Kudisch- The Apple Tree
Brian d'Arcy James- The Apple Tree
Barret Foa- Spelling Bee
Denis O'Hare- Sweet Charity
Andy Senor- Rent
#57

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 8/8/07 at 5:10pm

Wizard, what role did Mary Louise Wilson play in Gypsy? I thought she was pretty good in Flora The Red Menace re: Best performances you've seen
#58

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 8/8/07 at 5:15pm

Whoops, I meant Grey Gardens. Though, Mary Louise DID play Tessie Tura in the 1973 revival of Gypsy and understudied for Rose. I would have LOVED to see that production.
I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.
#59

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 8/8/07 at 5:33pm

Mary Louise Wilson played Tessie Tura and Miss Cratchitt in Lansbury's GYPSY.
"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)
#60

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 8/9/07 at 4:42am

Hugh Jackman in The Boy From Oz - the best individual performance I've ever seen on Broadway and in Australia!

Nathan Lane - The Producers
Gary Beach - The Producers
Gary Beach - La Cage Aux Folles
Brian Stokes Mitchell - Man of La Mancha
Robert Morse - Sugar
Anthony Hopkins - Equus


#61

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 8/9/07 at 5:50am

WOMEN:
Christine Ebersole GREY GARDENS
Patti LuPone GYPSY
Tonya Pinkins CAROLINE, OR CHANGE
Anika Noni Rose CAROLINE, OR CHANGE
Jennifer Colby Talton RENT
Audra McDonald 110 IN THE SHADE
Mary Louise Wilson GREY GARDENS
Megan Hilty WICKED
Julia Murney WICKED
Beth Leavel THE DROWSY CHAPERONE

MEN:
John Gallagher Jr. SPRING AWAKENING
Bob Martin THE DROWSY CHAPERONE
Rick Faugno JERSEY BOYS
Norbert Leo Butz DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS
Ano Okera RENT
David Hyde Pierce CURTAINS
Steven Blanchard BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Howard McGillin THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
Randall Keith LES MISERABLES
Anthony Rapp LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
Now all I see are cute boys with short haircuts in a maze of their own...
#62

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 8/9/07 at 11:54am

Here are my in no particular order

1. Idina Menzel in WICKED
2. Victoria Clark in LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA
3. John LLoyd Young in JERSEY BOYS
4. Christian Hoff in JERSEY BOYS
5. Liev Schrieber in GLENGARY GLEN ROSS
6. Raul Esparza in COMPANY
7. Raul Esparza in TABOO
8. Euan Morton in TABOO
9. Stephen Lynch in THE WEDDING SINGER
10. Marissa Jaret Winokur in HAIRSPRAY
11. Norbert Leo Butz in DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS
12. John Lithgow in DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS
13. Billy Crudup in THE PILLOWMAN
14. David Hyde Pierce in CURTAINS
15. Adam Pascal in CABARET
16. Beth Leavel in THE DROWSY CHAPERONE
17. Sutton Foster in THE DROWSY CHAPERONE
18. John Gallagher Jr. in SPRING AWAKENING
19. Entire OBC in 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE
20. Gary Beach in LA CAGE AUX FOLLES
21. Bill Irwin in WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOLF
22. Kathleen Turner in WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOLF
23. Entire cast of 2006 Revival of A CHORUS LINE
24. Jarrod Spector in JERSEY BOYS
25. Erich Bergen in JERSEY BOYS
26. Karmine Alers in RENT
27. Jeremy Kushnier in RENT
"I wish the stage were as narrow as the wire of a tightrope dancer, so that no incompetent would dare step upon it." Goethe

Updated On: 8/9/07 at 11:54 AM

#63

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 8/9/07 at 12:05pm

Being picky, I could narrow it down to 10:

Women:
1. Christine Ebersole, Grey Gardens and 42nd Street-unlike the vast majority of people here, I believe she deserved her first Tony-I saw the show 3 weeks before the Tonys and predicted she would win. It was an excellent performance. (not the same impact as GG, but still a wonderful job.)
2. Mary Louise Wilson, Grey Gardens
3. Bernadette Peters, Gypsy
4. Laurie Beechman, Les Miserables (Fantine)-My first Broadway experience and she was memorable.
5. Betty Buckley, Sunset Boulevard and Triumph of Love-really thought Triumph was a great role for her-she stopped the show with "Serenity" (great song)-too bad they insisted on putting her in the leading actress category that year-she'd have had a better shot at featured.
6. Raul Esparza, Company-didn't love the show, loved his performance.
7. The cast of History Boys-best straight play I've ever seen
8. Cast of Coast of Utopia-Didn't expect to love the trilogy-couldn't wait for each installment after the first.
9. Alan Cumming, Cabaret-Can't wait to see him in the role again.
10. Donna Marie Asbury, Evita on tour-I really was blown away by her performance. She was quite young when I saw her do this awhile back-amazing job. Still memorable.
"A birdcage I plan to hang. I'll get to that someday. A birdcage for a bird who flew away...Around the world." "Life is a cabaret old chum, only a cabaret old chum, and I love a cabaret!"-RIP Natasha Richardson-I was honored to have witnessed her performance as Sally Bowles.
#64

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 8/9/07 at 12:45pm

1. Nathan Lane (The Producers)
2. Matthew Broderick (The Producers)
3. David Hyde Pierce (Curtains)
4. Raul Esparza (Company)
5. Anthony Rapp (Rent)
6. Michael Crawford (The Phantom Of The Opera)
7. John Lloyd Young (Jersey Boys)
8. Harvey Feinstein (Hairspray)
9. Cheyenne Jackson (All Shook Up)
10. Adam Pascal (Rent)

1. Christine Ebersole (Grey Gardens)
2. Kristin Huffman (Company)
3. Patti LuPone (Sweeney Todd)
4. Karen Ziemba (Curtains)
5. Debra Monk (Curtains)
6. Elizabeth Stanley (Company)
7. Barbara Walsh (Company)
8. Jill Paice (Curtains)
9. Judy Kane (Mamma Mia!)
10. Donna Murphy (Wonderful Town)
#65

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 8/9/07 at 12:49pm

I will give five best performances I have ever seen, narrows the playing field:

1. Christine Ebersole, Grey Gardens
2. Idina Menzel, Wicked
3. Sherie Rene Scott, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
4. Raul Esparza, Company
5. Norbert Leo Butz, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
I made a list of all your faults, it was quite detailed and lengthy too and when I read it through I missed you. Your like a classic Eagles song, you just cant help but sing along even though it sometimes gets annoying too. I just know I want to be wherever I can wake and see you there next to me. **High Fidelity** Love is what I do **The Wedding Singer** Xanadu - Best NEW Musical of the Season!
#66

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 8/9/07 at 3:43pm

From Live Broadway Shows:
- Lea Salonga, Miss Saigon, Les Miserables Revival, Flower Drum Song & Carnegie Concert
- Sandra Allen, Flower Drum Song
- Megan Hilty, Wicked
- Donna Murphy, Passion
- Heather Headley, Aida
- Sherie Rene Scott, Aida
- Rachel Ward, Victor Victoria
- Rebecca Luker, The Sound of Music Revival
- Ali Ewoldt, Les Miserables

- Will Chase, Miss Saigon
- Jere Shea, Passion
- Raul Esparza, Company
- John Gallagher, Spring Awakening
- Yancey Arias, Miss Saigon
- Lou Diamond Philip, The King and I Revival
- Alan Cumming, Cabaret Revival
- Jonathan Groff, Spring Awakening
- Adam Jacobs, Les Miserables
- Brian Stokes Mitchell, Ragtime

- Entire cast of 2006 Revival of A Chorus Line
"I love acting. It is so much more real than life." Oscar Wilde
"After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music." Aldous Huxley
#67

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 8/9/07 at 3:49pm

I'm not sure if I can break mine down into 10 males/females...so this is how I'm doing it :)


The entire cast of King Lear at the Goodman last fall (Stacy Keach and company)--hands down the most amazing theatre experience I or anyone else in that theatre may ever have.


Katie Clarke in the light in the piazza (final performance of the tour). Just breathtaking.

Stephanie J. Block as Elphaba-made me realize what that role could/should be, and how glorious a soprano belt really is.




I've seen a LOT of amazing performances in my time...but I think these three were really turning points for me as an audience member and more importantly as a performer myself.
and all that I could do because of you was talk of love...

Updated On: 8/9/07 at 03:49 PM

#69

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 8/9/07 at 7:39pm

I haven't seen a lot, but those I did were pretty spectacular:

Raul Esparza - Company
Kelli O'Hara - My Fair Lady
Patti Lupone - Mrs. Lovett
Manoel Felciano - Toby
Brian Stokes Mitchell - Ragtime (saw it in LA, so no Audra sadly)
John Gallagher, Jr. - Spring Awakening
Michael Berresse - Kiss Me, Kate
Barbara Walsh - Company


Dancing through life... For the next ten minutes
#70

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 8/9/07 at 7:43pm

What are the 20 best individual performances (10 male and 10 female) you've seen live?

No particular order...

Male
* Steven Goldsmith, Jersey Boys
* Christopher Kale Jones, Jersey Boys
* Ben Davis, Les Miz (Javert and Enjolras)
* Tyrone Giordano, Big River
* Brad Little, Phantom of the Opera
* Joseph Anthony Foronda, Miss Saigon
* Randal Keith, Les Miz
* Jason Danieley, 110 in the Shade
* Doug Wert, Take Me Out
* Jeremy Kushnier, Rent

Female
* Ma-Anne Dionisio, Les Miz
* Lisa Vroman, Phantom of the Opera
* Maggie Benjamin, Rent
* Sara Inbar, Spelling Bee
* Jackie Seiden, Jersey Boys
* Sutton Foster, Thoroughly Modern Millie
* Kelly Kaduce, La Bohème
* Chloe Wright, La Bohème
* Heidi Blickenstaff, Bat Boy
* Geena Jeffries, Phantom of the Opera
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#71

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 8/9/07 at 7:49pm

Patti LuPone in Gypsy and Sweeney Todd
Donna Murphy in Follies and LoveMusik
Raul Esparza in Company
Laura Benanti in Gypsy
Idina Menzel in Wicked
Bernadette Peters in Gypsy
#72

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 8/9/07 at 7:56pm

I've seen many good performances but the one that I will never forget is Yul Brenner in the King and I.

He was so perfect and I couldn't imagine then, that a Musical on stage could be as wonderful as it was on Television. It changed my point of view forever.
#73

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 8/9/07 at 8:40pm

I cannot limit this to Broadway:
1. Liev Schreiber (Talk Radio)
2. Nina Negri, Vivian Reed, Andrea Jones-Sojola (3 Mo' Divas)
3. Christine Ebersole (GG)
4. Into The Woods (Signature Theatre)
5. Frank Langella (anything he does)
#74

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 8/9/07 at 8:41pm

Female:
Christine Ebersole- Grey Gardens
Mary Louise Wilson- Grey Gardens
Victoria Clark- Light in the Piazza
Bernadette Peters- Gypsy
Audra McDonald- 110 in the Shade
Nilaja Sun- No Child
Tovah Feldshuh- Golda's Balcony

Male:
Jefferson Mays- I Am My Own Wife
Bill Irwin- Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Alan Cumming- Cabaret
Hugh Jackman- The Boy From Oz
Shuler Hensley- Oklahoma!
Billy Crudup- The Pillowman
"Sing the words, Patti!!!!" Stephen Sondheim to Patti LuPone.
#75

re: Best performances you've seen

Posted: 8/9/07 at 8:51pm

(in no particular order)

Christine Ebersole in GG
Victoria Clark in Piazza
Cherry Jones in Faith Healer
Patti Lupone in Sweeney Todd
Mary-Louise Wilson in GG
Tonya Pinkins in CoC

Michael Stuhlbarg in The Pillowman (and in The Voysey Inheritance)
Ian McDiarmid in Faith Healer
Billy Crudup in The Coast of Utopia
David Hyde Pierce in Spamalot
Richard Griffiths in The History Boys
Oliver Platt in Shining City
Domhnall Gleeson in The Lieutant of Inishmore
John Gallagher Jr. in Spring Awakening
Christopher Plummer in Inherit the Wind
Gavin Lee in Mary Poppins
A little swash, a bit of buckle - you'll love it more than bread.

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