The Weding Singer- Gateway Playhouse
Miss Saigon- Gateway Playhouse
I've never seen anything at papermill but i really want to!!
This probably isn't considered regional but the new Les Miz tour? I saw it in Philly after the new production began (in the U.S.) at the Papermill
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
The best regional production I've ever seen of a big musical was Miss Saigon at the Marriott Lincolnshire (near Chicago) about 10 years ago. It was an intimate production - it's an in-the-round theatre seating about 500 - and they did the helicopter scene brilliantly - without a helicopter. There was a metal latter that came down from the catwalk above the stage, and there were flashing lights, lots of fog/smoke, and the ear-shattering sound of the copter as the actors climbed up the latter and disappeared above the stage.
Signature Theater in Arlington, Virginia did a production of Chess that was absolutely mindblowing. I loved it.
Although everything I saw at the Huntington was fantastic, the stand-out was probably the 2008 production of She Loves Me. Also in Boston, I saw a fantastic production of Drood at SpeakEasy Stage.
Hands down. Les Miz. Papermill Playhouse. Absolutely phenomenal, enough to persuade me to renew my Papermill subscription. I have the privelege of living very close to the theater and plan to visit more frequently.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
Trinity Repertory in Providence did Angels in America in '96. Directed by Oskar Eustis. It's one of my favorite theater memories.
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/19/06
I saw an absolutely terrific production of Funny Girl at Lyric Stage in Irving, TX. Full orchestra, and a Fanny that was just fantastic.
Floyd Collins at Actors Theatre of Louisville was awesome, and had an amazing set.
They also did a kick ass production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch a few years ago.
Ragtime at the Kennedy Center
Ragtime at the Drury Lane Theater in Oakbrook, IL really stands out in my mind. It was definitely better than the recent revival of that show.
Girlfriend at Berkley Rep
THE VISIT at Signature was damn well perfect with Chita and George Hearn giving TONY caliber performances. Why New York has not seen this show just boggles my already addled brain.
Updated On: 3/21/11 at 11:40 PM
I don't think it's entirely fair to call Les Miz at Papermill a regional production. It was essentially the first stop on the national tour. Papermill did nothing but host the production for a month and a half. They had nothing to do with putting it up.
Trinity Rep's '05 production of EDWIN DROOD was absolutely fantastic.
I dont know if it's considered "Regional" but Bristol Valley Theater in Naples, NY puts on amazing shows with actors from NYC during the summer months. Had the great fortune of being an apprentice from the age of 10 to 15 and every show I saw/part of was top notch.
These are some of the best productions I have ever seen:
She Loves Me and A Streetcar Named Desire (directed by David Cromer) at Writer's Theatre in Chicago
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf at Steppenwolf
Company, Othello, and Funny Thing at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park
The Tempest, Cymbeline, and The Glass Menagerie at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company
God of Carnage currently playing at the Goodman is the best production I've seen in Chicago since The Goat or Who Is Sylvia (also at the Goodman). Jekyll and Hyde at the Alley and at Theatre Under the Stars was sensational before it was entirely reworked. And I don't remember the name of the theatre, but I never forgot the production I saw of Hair in Dallas in 1989 at a little store front amateur theatre in a strip mall. It was perfection. I liked the Broadway revival, but it didn't have the same intimacy, heart and immediacy of that little production in Dallas. The way they staged the finale was both devastating and glorious.
Follies at the Papermill
Noises Off at NJ Shakespeare
My Fair Lady at the Papermill
Merrily We Roll Along in a barn (literally) in Langhorne, Pa.
Summer and Smoke at Paper Mill
A Streetcar Named Desire at NJ Shakespeare
I agree that Ragtime at the Drury Lane Theater, Miss Saigon at Marriott, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf at Steppenwolf, Company at Cincinnati Playhouse were all great. The best production for me was Follies at Candlelight in the early 80's. I'm looking forward to seeing Chicago Shakespeare's Follies this fall. Chicago Shakespeare's productions of A Little Night Music, Pacific Overtures, and Passion were great too. Yesterday I saw The Big Meal at ATC. It's one of the best shows I've seen in a while and it will be produced by Playwrights Horizons in their 2011-2012 season. Watch for it.
The best I've ever seen just happened this past week.
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM at the Orlando Shakespeare Theater. Such a new, fresh, beautiful and flat out HILARIOUS production. Better than most shows I've seen on Broadway even. The cast was top notch, the direction of the show and modern music added into it was genius. Just picture Midsummer with Star Wars and Christopher Walken jokes, and Pink Floyd and Lady Gaga music - and it works beautifully. Here's a trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFo9kvhUHlI
The music in the trailer takes away from it, I think. But anyways. :)
"Lydia" - Denver Center Theatre Company
"A Prayer for Owen Meany" - Denver Center Theatre Company
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