hmmm...I'd have to say (in Boston, MA) either 'Hairspray' at Reagle Music Theatre or 'Man of La Mancha' at the Lyric Stage. Reagle always does outstanding work -- always has a full orchestra, several stars, great sets and costumes inspired by the b'way productions. And it's always a great mix of Broadway, local (equity), and non-equity (college, HS, community, etc.) talent.
Cabaret currently running and Kansas City Rep. It's amazing.
"People that excel in the arts understand that the journey is the reward...the result an added bonus. Every day I act or train is a blessing and a dream come true. If Broadway beckons so be it. I have a personal definition of success that is unshakable by a possibly unobtainable goal." -HamletWasBipolar
1776, Damn Yankees and Les Mis at Marriott and Ragtime at Drury Lane Oakbrook in Chicago. Some of the very best Chicago theatre I have seen.
<------ Me and my friends with patti Lupone at my friends afterparty for her concert with audra mcdonald during the summer of 2007.
"I am sorry but it is an unjust world and virtue is only triumphant in theatricle performances" The Mikado
In 2004 the Seattle Rep did a production of The Time of Your Life that I thought was spectacular. Their production of Take Me Out was also stellar.
The 2008 production of She Loves Me that played the Huntington and the Williamstown Theatre Festival takes the cake for me though. Brooks Ashmanskas and Kate Baldwin were the leads. It's criminal it wasn't recorded or brought to New York. It would've been perfect for the Roundabout if they hadn't already done it in the early 90s.
The production of Hair at Arizona Theatre Company in January of 2009 was outstanding! The cast starred Kyle Harris (Tony in the current WSS tour) as Claude, Rashidra Scott (Sister Act, Hair revival, and Finian's Rainbow) as Dionne, Michael Buchanan (The Addams Family And Cry Baby) as Woof, and Morgan James (Wonderland and The Addams Family) as Sheila. An outstanding, touching production I'll remember for a very long time. There are videos of it on that site if anyone cares to check it out.
OnMyWay, glad to hear that Cabaret is as good as the pictures I've seen look. All in all, it seems that Eric Rosen has been producing some pretty high quality work since taking over at the Rep. I'm kind of sad that I missed him (I finished my MFA at UMKC during Peter Altman's final seasons, and haven't worked there since I left KC after working on Doubt in 2007).
I saw the Boston productions of Drood and Man of La Mancha mentioned above and would like to add Parade at Speakeasy Stage, and Follies at Lyric Stage to the mix.
Dean: Can I tell you something?
Lorraine: That depends on what it is.
Dean: I think you're really really pretty.
Lorraine: (after a pause) Ok, you can tell me that.
M. BUTTERFLY at Arizona Theatre Company (I think Dan Sullivan may have directed)
TIME OF YOUR LIFE at Seattle Repertory Theatre/Steppenwolf (Directed by Tina Landau)
TITUS ANDRONICUS at the Intiman Theatre (Directed by Bart Sher)
"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”
~ Muhammad Ali
HAMLET at Oregon Shakespeare Festival was the most brilliant production of anything I have ever seen. SOOOO many bold directing and acting choices that COMPLETELY worked. It was incredible. Here is the video preview but it does not even come close to doing justice to the production.
I definitely second Parade at Speakeasy Stage, and can't believe I forgot it the first time around.
When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain.
-Kad
As far as regional theatre goes, I tend to only go to Papermill in NJ and Walnut Street in Philly. They are the most accessible from my home. However, I have taken the trek down to Virginia to see three absolutely phenomenal productions at Signature; THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK, CHESS and SUNSET BLVD. That's 3 for 3 on the "Amazingness Scale"! As far as Paper Mill, hands down their production of FUNNY GIRL with Leslie Kritzer was mind-blowingly good. It's a shame that production never transferred. I was actually at the performance that was taped for the Lincoln Center Archives. Their RAGTIME was wonderful as well, but I think (correct me if I am wrong) that was the American premier of the London version. I thorughly enjoyed their BABY, THE BAKER'S WIFE, 1776 and FULL MONTY as well. And while not my favorite show, ON THE TOWN was pretty damned good. For the Walnut, they are typically hit and miss and you end up leaving thinking, "That was ok". But I do recall a few productions that far exceeded my expectations; 1990's SUPERSTAR with LaChanze as Mary Magdelene (and YES, she actually appeared at the performance I saw), their CATS in 200-something, 2006's GODSPELL. Walnut Street's RAGS was far superior to Paper Mill's. Their A CHORUS LINE back in the late 90's was far better than the atrocious 2006 B'way revival. I wanted to like last Christmas' OLIVER! but it was one of those "it was ok" moments.
Midnight Production's Jesus Christ Superstar at The Keswick Theatre in Glenside, PA. They perform every Easter time and it's a wonderful production with such a talented cast. Already got my tickets for this year!
