What is the highlight of your theatre going experiences? — Page 3

1. Auntie Mame -- Sylvia Sydney (Bus n Truck co)

2. The Music Man -- Preston and Cook

3. The Producers -- Original Co

4. Les Miz -- Original Co--Tryout

5. Mame -- 2nd perf in Philly -- Tryout

6. Gypsy --- Merman, Lansburrry, Daly, Peters, LaPone

7. My One and Only -- Tryout

8. 42nd Street -- original tyrout

Updated On: 9/15/22 at 10:39 PM

Skip23 said: "HIGHLIGHTS:

1. Ann Miller in MAME. In that gold lamé outfit!!!

2. Ethel Merman in HELLO DOLLY! Her perf was meh, but it was ETHEL MERMAN up there!!!

3. Jim Dale in SCAPINO

4. Phil Silvers in A FUNNY THING... Still one of the funniest performances I've ever seen on Broadway!

5. Seeing Original FOLLIES 6 times. That curtain raiser!!! Collins, Loveland, And the Mirror number got me every time.

6. Bacall in APPLAUSE. What a hoot!

7. Original NIGHT MUSIC! Sublime perfection.

8. SUNDAY

9. NICHOLAS NICKELBY! Probably my highlight.

10. Original COMPANY. I think it's my favorite musical.

11. Ann Miller in tour of ANYTHING GOES. Still the best Reno Sweeney.

12. "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going" original. I've never seen an audience erupt quite the same way.

13. Anthony Hopkins in EQUUS.

14. Derek Jacoby in CYRANO and MUCH ADO.

15. PRODUCERS - all of it.

16. Elizabeth Ashley in SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH (in DC) - wait...THIS was my highlight. And her CAT.

17. Lea Salonga as Eponine in LES MIZ. On My Own - I've never experienced an audience holding their breath for a whole number.

18. FOLLIES at Lincoln Center (Cook singing In Buddy's Eyes!!!! Lee Remick live!!! Stritch's BB, Patinkin's Buddy's Blues!)

19. Donna Murphy in ANYONE CAN WHISTLE at Encores! In fact, the whole production.

20. BETTY'S SUMMER VACATION (original Off Broadway cast)

Loved your list…brought back great memories, especially of Jim Dale, Phil Silvers, and Derek Jacobi in Cyrano. I would also add Irene Worth in Sweet Bird to my list.

Kimberly Akimbo The Musical

Elaine Stritch At Liberty

How I Learned to Drive (2022)

American Buffalo (2022)

So many shows for this old bird. But these are the shows that stick to my soul:

- Amadeus with Ian McKellan and Tim Curry. What a night that was -- and that set!

- Nicholas Nickelby: It was an event, getting a box dinner between the parts, could have watched it 10 times again it was such good theatre.

- Conference of the Birds at La Mama with Peter Brooks' company. A one-hour show, with three Persian carpets as a set. Sitting on cushions on the floor in the front row -- brilliant, heartbreaking theatre.

- Pippin: My first broadway show, sitting dead center first row with Michael Rupert and Northern Calloway and that luxurious Bob Fosse production. Changed my life. Saw it many times.

- Cabaret with Alan Cumming and Natasha Richardson -- electric!

- And although the show was good, being at the RSC production of Antony Sher's Richard III and friend in the company getting me a seat in the director's box next to Sir Alec Guinness -- that was pretty memorable!

- Frank Langella in Dracula: He was brilliant and the show was wonderful fun. Did standing room several times (when it was available -- and 5 bucks) and one night a man next to me asked me if I was enjoying the show and I told him I loved it. He was the producer, the lovely John Wulp.

Interestingly, I don't have more recent shows that compare with these -- shows that if money were no object, I would go back to see again and again. Maybe that's just getting older and not being such a fanatic about things. Or maybe not.

2016: I saw "Chicago". After the show ended, I had a backstage visit with Jason Patrick Sands. It was a fantastic experience !

Two spring to mind instantly for me:

- Seeing "Hamilton" when it was a REALLY hot ticket. I could feel the jealousy from people passing by on the street as I was standing in line and it really felt like an "event' in a way no show has before or since.
- Seeing Bernadette Peters in Dolly. I don't think she was incredible in the role but I grew up wearing out the Into the Woods tape so seeing Peters live (the only time I've been able to) was a childhood dream come true.

RagtimeRay said: "Love this thread. I've had so many phenomenal theatre going experiences, and previous posters reminded me of quite a few of them. Here are five that stand out for me:

Sweeney Todd with Angela Lansbury and Len Cariou

Gypsy with Angela Lansbury - She was a tour de force.

Purlie with Cleavon Little and Melba Moore (a highlight was watching Joyce Brown conducting)

Promises, Promises with Jerry Orbach

Hello, Dolly! with Pearl Bailey"

Seeing these list makes me think 'oh, yeah, that too'. I LOVED Purlie, if not as much as my top 5, and almost get goosebumps when I think of Melba Moore singing 'I Got Love'. One of the great non-production number show-stoppers. Such a shame she had probems that prevented her from being a megastar. She was incredible.

Back in 1998 my college choir went to London for spring break. Bunch of us went to see The Buddy Holly Story, a revival of which was playing on the West End. The lead playing Buddy was a dead ringer and really embodied the man. Don't have to take my word for it either. That was the exact verdict offered by the real-life Buddy Holly's widow. Who was there that day. None of us knew that was going to happen. It was cool.