The Definitive Production

[BroadwayMan5]

Posted: 4/1/18 at 11:47pm

Reading the Jesus Christ Superstar thread got me to thinking about what you think is the definitive production of musicals that have been done many times professionally whether it be Broadway, West End, National Tours, Movies, Live TV Specials, etc.

So with that in mind, what do you think are the definitive versions of some well loved musicals? I listed a few below to get started that have had many reincarnations but feel free to add your own!
 

42nd Street

Annie Get Your Gun

Anything Goes

Carousel

Company

Fiddler on the Roof

Follies

Grease

Guys & Dolls

Gypsy

Hello Dolly

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

Into the Woods

Jesus Christ Superstar

The King and I

Kiss Me, Kate

The Music Man

My Fair Lady

Oklahoma!

She Loves Me

The Sound of Music

South Pacific

Sweeney Todd

Sunday in the Park with George

West Side Story

Updated On: 4/1/18 at 11:47 PM

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 4/1/18 at 11:55pm

Gypsy- 2008 Revival

Patti Lupone and Laura Benanti were unbeatable. After seeing that production, I felt like I never needed to see another production of Gypsy ever again.

[DigificWriter]

Posted: 4/2/18 at 12:03am

These are some of my personal "definitive" musical presentations, in no particular order:
- The 2006 London Palladium Revival of The Sound of Music starring Connie Fisher

- NBC's Peter Pan Live starring Allison Williams, Christopher Walken, Christian Borle, and Taylor Lauderman

- NBC's Jesus Christ Superstar Live In Concert starring John Legend, Sara Bareilles, and Brandon Victor Dixon

- The 1999 Broadway Revival of Annie Get Your Gun starring Bernadette Peters

- The 2004 Broadway Revival of The Fiddler on the Roof starring Alfred Molina

- The 2002 Broadway Revival of Into the Woods starring Laura Benanti and Vanessa Williams

- The 2000 Broadway Revival of The Music Man starring Craig Bierko and Rebecca Luker

- The 2005 film adaptation of The Producers featuring Uma Thurman as Ulla and Will Ferrell as Franz

- The 2005 film adaptation of RENT featuring Rosario Dawson as Mimi and Traci Toms as Joanne

Updated On: 4/2/18 at 12:03 AM

[bwayobsessed]

Posted: 4/2/18 at 12:06am

Out of your list I feel most strongly:

Anything Goes-2011 with Sutton
Hello Dolly-Donna Murphy
Oklahoma-UK with Hugh
Sweeney-OBC

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 4/2/18 at 12:07am

Gypsy (2008) for sure. One of the all-time greatest productions in Broadway history.

I'd also suggest that She Loves Me (2016) was a pretty definitive production.

If you're including live TV broadcasts in the mix, add Fox's 2016 broadcast of Grease to the list.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 4/2/18 at 12:10am

DigificWriter said: "These are my personal "definitive" musical presentations, in no particular order:
- The 2006 London Palladium Revival of The Sound of Music starring Connie Fisher

- NBC's Peter Pan Live starring Allison Williams, Christopher Walken, Christian Borle, and Taylor Lauderman

- NBC's Jesus Christ Superstar Live In Concert starring John Legend, Sara Bareilles, and Brandon Victor Dixon

- The 1999 Broadway Revival of Annie Get Your Gun starring Bernadette Peters

- The 2004 Broadway Revival of The Fiddler on the Roof starring Alfred Molina

- The 2002 Broadway Revival of Into the Woods starring Laura Benanti and Vanessa Williams

- The 2000 Broadway Revival of The Music Man starring Craig Bierko and Rebecca Luker

- The 2005 film adaptation of The Producers featuring Uma Thurman as Ulla and Will Ferrell as Franz

- The 2005 film adaptation of RENT featuring Rosario Dawson as Mimi and Traci Toms as Joanne"

 

April Fools?

[gypsy101]

Posted: 4/2/18 at 12:19am

most people on the board are probably unprepared to name the definitive production considering most have not seen the original productions of the shows being discussed.

[DigificWriter]

Posted: 4/2/18 at 12:34am

TotallyEffed said: "DigificWriter said: "These are my personal "definitive" musical presentations, in no particular order:
- The 2006 London Palladium Revival of The Sound of Music starring Connie Fisher

- NBC's Peter Pan Live starring Allison Williams, Christopher Walken, Christian Borle, and Taylor Lauderman

- NBC's Jesus Christ Superstar Live In Concert starring John Legend, Sara Bareilles, and Brandon Victor Dixon

- The 1999 Broadway Revival of Annie Get Your Gun starring Bernadette Peters

- The 2004 Broadway Revival of The Fiddler on the Roof starring Alfred Molina

- The 2002 Broadway Revival of Into the Woods starring Laura Benanti and Vanessa Williams

- The 2000 Broadway Revival of The Music Man starring Craig Bierko and Rebecca Luker

- The 2005 film adaptation of The Producers featuring Uma Thurman as Ulla and Will Ferrell as Franz

- The 2005 film adaptation of RENT featuring Rosario Dawson as Mimi and Traci Toms as Joanne"



April Fools?"

 

Why would you think this is an April Fools post?

 

The things I listed are the presentations of those particular shows that I personally enjoy the most and therefore consider to be "definitive".

[blaxx]

Posted: 4/2/18 at 1:25am

Most people here are too young to say what a 'definitive production' is; this will just become a thread of productions YOU liked the most.  How do you know what LuPone had on Merman, Lansbury...please, even Tyne Daly's was a better Gypsy production. 

  DigificWriter's list definitely reads like a joke.

[Itonlytakesajourney]

Posted: 4/2/18 at 1:32am

I am too young to have seen the original production of Hello Dolly, but the ongoing production on Broadway (specifically with Donna Murphy) holds a very large place in my heart that several other Dolly productions I’ve seen have not been able to replicate.
90’s Guys and Dolls is a no-brainer.
I doubt nothing will ever top the level of incredible the original Into the Woods was. I also think most of the Sher revivals are near perfect productions, and definitely deserve to be considered definite.

Updated On: 4/2/18 at 01:32 AM

[DigificWriter]

Posted: 4/2/18 at 2:26am

blaxx said: "Most people here are too young to say what a 'definitive production' is; this will just become a thread of productions YOU liked the most. How do you know what LuPone had on Merman, Lansbury...please, even Tyne Daly's was a better Gypsy production.

DigificWriter's list definitely reads like a joke."

I actually bothered to answer the OP's question, and yet my answers are dismissed as a joke? There's "something rotten in Denmark" here, and it's not my comments.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/2/18 at 8:32am

I think its hard to take your thoughts seriously when so many of them are filmed vs live theater.  Additionally, since many of your choices are considered pretty gawd awful by the masses.

 

You are allowed your opinions, so is everyone allowed their opinion on your opinions.

[Demitri2]

Posted: 4/2/18 at 10:10am

I think the inclusion of PETER PAN (the very worst of all the theatre musical to TV productions) questioned the credibility of that "April Fool's" list. After seeing Sandy Duncan as Peter on stage twice, Allison Williams was an utter embarrassment in comparison. And let's not even compare Christopher Walken to his predecessors. Even the Mary Martin productions (TV adaptations of the original stage show) soars above this turkey and is available on DVD for viewing.

For me, the film versions of FUNNY GIRL and THE MUSIC MAN are two of the most successful since not only did they keep some of the stage stars but they were faithful to the originals.

[lightguy06222]

Posted: 4/2/18 at 11:36am

Digific- Its cute that you believe your answers.....  

Definitive: (adj). (of a conclusion or agreement) done or reached decisively and with authority.

You just listed your favorite versions of those shows...

 

Re: Peter Pan, find a copy of the MARY MARTIN made for TV version from 1956/1960.  It blows Alison Williams out of the water...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVPc4SuoJWE

 

Re: Alfred Molina in Fiddler on the Roof?!?  CMON.  An English Man putting on an American Accent to play an Eastern European Jew?

Check out this video of TOPOL from the 1991 broadway revival.  (He also starred in the film version, which is incredible). Also, Theodore Bikel!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCbfKjxfQGM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrVPyLv5n5o

 

Bernadette in Annie Get Your Gun was great, from what I heard, but I heard Reba McEntire was supposedly INCREDIBLE.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7nB6jVlUh4

Re:2005 RENT, that was UNIVERSALLY panned by audiences and critics alike.  Its sweet you liked it, but DEF not the definitive version.  Did you see "rent filmed live on broadway" at the final broadway performance?  that was MUCH better than the 2005 film.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhG3JTchKDA&t=34s

 

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 4/2/18 at 11:36am

The poster who said that the Rent film was the definitive production of Rent, I’m curious what brought you to that conclusion, besides just subjective opinion ?

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 4/2/18 at 11:37am

Phantom4ever said: "The poster who said that the Rent film was the definitive production of Rent, I’m curious what brought you to that conclusion, besides just subjective opinion ? "

Horrible taste.

[Sondheimite]

Posted: 4/2/18 at 11:50am

John Cameron Mitchell with a cast on at the Belasco with Lena Hall (especially at a late night show) was the definitive way to see Hedwig. 

[DigificWriter]

Posted: 4/2/18 at 11:56am

lightguy06222 said: "Digific- Its cute that you believe your answers.....

Definitive: (adj).(of a conclusion or agreement) done or reached decisively and with authority.

You just listed your favorite versions of those shows...

 

Re: Peter Pan, find a copy of the MARY MARTIN made for TV version from 1956/1960. It blows Alison Williams out of the water...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVPc4SuoJWE



Re: Alfred Molina in Fiddler on the Roof?!? CMON. An English Man putting on an American Accent to play an Eastern European Jew?

Check out this video of TOPOL from the 1991 broadway revival. (He also starred in the film version, which is incredible). Also, Theodore Bikel!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCbfKjxfQGM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrVPyLv5n5o



Bernadette in Annie Get Your Gun was great, from what I heard, but I heard Reba McEntire was supposedly INCREDIBLE.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7nB6jVlUh4

Re:2005 RENT, that was UNIVERSALLY panned by audiences and critics alike. Its sweet you liked it, but DEF not the definitive version. Did you see "rent filmed live on broadway" at the final broadway performance? that was MUCH better than the 2005 film.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhG3JTchKDA&t=34s

"

1) Which is what the OP asked for

2) I've listened to the Mary Martin/Cyril Richard OBCR of Peter Pan dozens of times... and still prefer NBC's production in terms of presentation and score

3) I've seen the film version of Fiddler - starring Topol - more times than I can count... and still prefer Molina's Tevye

4) I've never heard Reba's turn as Annie, but what makes the 1999 Revival "definitive" for me is the reorchestration of the score moreso than Peters' performance (although she's amazing)

5) There is a lot of material in the stage version of RENT that is, IMO, unnecessary, and which the film wisely excises. I also infinitely prefer Rosario Dawson to the original Broadway Mimi, and feel that her voice is more suited to the material, particularly Out Tonight

Updated On: 4/2/18 at 11:56 AM

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 4/2/18 at 1:04pm

Anyone who claims the 2002 INTO THE WOODS revival is definitive must be deaf dumb and blind. 

[DigificWriter]

Posted: 4/2/18 at 1:52pm

IdinaBellFoster said: "Anyone who claims the 2002 INTO THE WOODS revival is definitive must be deaf dumb and blind."

It's called an opinion.... and I'm entitled to it.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/2/18 at 1:55pm

But you are ignoring the DEFINITION of  definitive as already provided to you:

 

Definitive: (adj). (of a conclusion or agreement) done or reached decisively and with authority.



No where does that say personal preference.

[DigificWriter]

Posted: 4/2/18 at 2:06pm

dramamama611 said: "But you are ignoring the DEFINITION of definitive as already provided to you:



Definitive: (adj).(of a conclusion or agreement) done or reached decisively and with authority.



No where does that say personal preference."

In the context of the OP's question, the clinical definition doesn't apply.

[nmlhats]

Posted: 4/2/18 at 2:08pm

dramamama611 said: "But you are ignoring the DEFINITION of definitive as already provided to you:



Definitive: (adj).(of a conclusion or agreement) done or reached decisively and with authority.



No where does that say personal preference."

The original post clearly asks for a personal preference. I don't love that list, either, but the OP states, "...what do you think are the definitive versions of some well loved musicals?" That is asking for an opinion from people on the thread. 

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 4/2/18 at 2:29pm

DigificWriter said: "IdinaBellFoster said: "Anyone who claims the 2002 INTO THE WOODS revival is definitive must be deaf dumb and blind."

It's called an opinion.... and I'm entitled to it."

[Rainah]

Posted: 4/2/18 at 3:19pm

You know in some ways a mass consumption not great version of a show may be the definitive version. It's not the best version, but it's the version the majority of people will think of when you mention the show and it will be what new productions will be compared to.

 

Not wading into any specific examples because this calls for WAY more years watching theatre than I have. I'd love to hear people's thoughts on Les Mis though. Usually the version I hear everyone reference is the 10th anniversary concert, it being both mass produced and actually pretty good. Until it comes to specific roles/performances, in which case Colm's Valjean and Tveit's Enjolras seem to be the ones everyone goes for.