Easy: Merman in Gypsy.
Broadway Star Joined: 5/9/15
Ditto to Sweeney Todd
Laurette Taylor in The Glass Menagerie
markypoo said: "I fortunately saw Dear World, Parade, Taylor & Burton in Private Lives, and...
the OC of A Chorus Line about a week after its official opening.
Those Were The Days. Sigh.
LOL. That's for sure!
"
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/13/09
Like others have said, it would be extremely hard to narrow down to just one. My answer would definitely vary based on my mood and what I was currently listening to, but I think the answer I would probably give the most would be the original production of A Little Night Music. That remains one of my all-time favorite shows, and the original cast recording maintains a pretty permanent spot in my listening patterns. There are stunning photos from it of course, and I would love to see that Boris Aronson set in action, having read so much about the sliding panels of trees.
^ Of the shows I have seen in their original production, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC is the show I'd put first to go back and relive with my grown up eyes, rather than the eyes of an easily bored 17-year-old sitting way up in the rear balcony of the Shubert Theater in 1973. The first Act dragged all the way up until "A Weekend in the Country", when the entire theater came to life. The reveal of the chateau at the song's climax was pure ecstasy. Act II fired on all cylinders culminating in Glynis John in her stunning red dress sitting on that canopied bed warbling "Send in the Clowns" -- absolute bliss.
I'm lucky enough (and I guess old enough) to have seen several of the previously mentioned shows. So, I'd have to go with the original cast of Gypsy with Merman.
Camelot with Julie Andrews, Richard Burton, Robert Goulet, John Cullum, Roddy McDowell...
Swing Joined: 1/21/17
Either Fun Home OBC ( I know it's new but I didn't get to see it)
or Into The Woods OBC
Featured Actor Joined: 2/4/11
The Life. Always regretted missing it.
Featured Actor Joined: 12/31/69
OBC Jesus Christ Superstar
Only slightly related but Sondheim is at Comet tonight and that makes me think about the deep, unquestionable connections of things that have past and seem gone with the current/new things we love.
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/10/11
One of the few benefits or reaching a certain age: about the only things listed so far that I didn't see with their original cast list are MFL, Gypsy, Camelot, Glass Menagerie and Oklahoma (YUK!!!), every one of which I have seen in at least three separate productions; so, I'd go for something less likely to be revived and viewable: I would choose Bells Are Ringing with Judy Holiday. I would love to have seen her in person...she was such a charismatic personality.
Non-musical: Katherine Hepburn in The Philadelphia Story.
Of all the ones listed -- I am surprised that no-one has mentioned MAME with Angela Lansbury -- the one that I remember with the most fervor is the original production of Follies. Over the years, I have become convinced that Harold Prince, Michael Bennett and Boris Aronson were as much responsible for Follies' success as Sondheim. The one I continue to believe let the other ones down was Goldman (right this minute, I can't remember which brother).
Jarethan said: "...The one I continue to believe let the other ones down was Goldman (right this minute, I can't remember which brother)."
The brother is James (Lion in Winter) Goldman. And I have to add that he really redeemed the property in Cameron Mackintosh's 1986 London production. The major structural change was having the young ghosts follow the four principles as normal in the first act, but end the act with the older characters suddenly recognizing their younger selves. In the second act the characters bicker with their ghosts about the choices they made and who they have become, until things dissolve into Loveland.
Leading Actor Joined: 5/9/05
I've been avidly going to Broadway shows since freshman year in high school (1980). I've seen all the great ones (and not so great ones) since then and still love the feeling of excitement I get each time I take my seat eagrly awaiting for the curtain to rise.
Anyhow, prior to 1980 I would have loved to of seen the original productions of: Gypsy, Funny Girl, My Fair Lady, West Side Story, Chicago,Company, Night Music, Follies, Sweet Charity, Mame. Also, too many plays to list, but first on the list is Street Car Named Desire.
Shows I missed after 1980: Nicholas Nickelby, The Little Foxes (Liz Taylor), Lena Horne, Strange Interlude, Foxfire, Plenty, Carrie, They're Playing Our Song, To Grandmothers House We Go, Aren't We All, Have Fever (Rosemary Harris), Medea (Zoe Calldwell). There's more, but my brain just froze.
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/1/08
Play: A Streetcar Named Desire
Musical: South Pacific
There are many runners up! For those others have mentioned that I did see (Nicholas Nickelby, Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, Pacific Overtures and Sweeney Todd in particular), I will always be grateful. Yes. They were all that.
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/1/08
Duplicate message of the one directly above.
Updated On: 6/14/17 at 09:18 PM
That's easy: STARMITES.
LOL
Seriously, I would love to have seen CARRIE. I saw the revised version a few years ago at Ray of Light in San Francisco and loved it. I was addicted to the Marin Mazzie recording and listened to it nonstop for quite a while. I'd like to see what made the original such an alleged disaster and compare the original and revised productions.
Chorus Member Joined: 1/26/17
OBC of Rent for sure. Second would be The Little Mermaid
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/10/11
CallMeAl2 said: "Jarethan said: "...The one I continue to believe let the other ones down was Goldman (right this minute, I can't remember which brother)."
The brother is James (Lion in Winter) Goldman. And I have to add that he really redeemed the property in Cameron Mackintosh's 1986 London production. The major structural change was having the young ghosts follow the four principles as normal in the first act, but end the act with the older characters suddenly recognizing their younger selves. In the second act the characters bicker with their ghosts about the choices they made and who they have become, until things dissolve into Loveland.
Amazing...I saw it twice in London and don't even remember; of course, even that is 25 years ago or so. Could that have been the director's contribution (I seem to remember it was Mike Ockrent, but I wouldn't bet on it).
"
Oh golly. Probably Man of La Mancha or Titanic, if we're talking older shows. The latter more so; I'd give anything to see Brian d'Arcy James and Martin Moran perform "The Night Was Alive/The Proposal" live. Otherwise, more recently I missed the Falsettos revival and with every listen to the cast recording I grow to resent that fact more and more. Stephanie J. Block and Brandon Uranowitz are something else.
Updated On: 6/14/17 at 09:52 PM
Chess, the original London production. But I'd be tempted to choose Dude, or possibly Candide, just for the experience.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
The original HELLO DOLLY! I love the new production but you know where my heart lies!
Nothing new to add but to play along,the original casts/Broadway productions of:
Evita
My Fair Lady
Mame
A Little Night Music
Sweeney Todd
Musical:
OBC of My Fair Lady or South Pacific (tied)
Play:
OBC of Little Foxes with Tallulah Bankhead
Videos