Posted: 9/27/16 at 5:46pm
The 2009 revival of RAGTIME remains one of the best things I've ever seen on Broadway. Still bummed I never got to see the original, but overjoyed that we got such a first-class revival.
Posted: 9/27/16 at 6:16pm
That wonderful recreation of Gower Champion's staging of Hello, Doily!
Posted: 9/27/16 at 10:31pm
Musical candidates:
-- Chicago
-- The Harold Prince / Susan Strowman Show Boat
-- Cabaret
I think any one of these would be an acceptable win, but -- even though I enjoyed Chicago the most of the three -- it was the least 'reimagining' of the original material, so I would argue for the Show Boat or the Cabaret being the all-time best.
Non-Musical Candidates:
-- Moon for the Misbegotten with Jason Robards and Colleen Dewhurst...maybe the single best of anything. period.
-- I also agree with the Jason Robards-lead You Can't Take It With You. As Much as I loved the revival last season, it could not come close to generating the warmth that that production did.
-- The RSC Cyrano de Bergerac with Derek Jacobi.
Honorable Mention:
-- (Ineligible) A Streetcar Named Desire with Cate Blanchette, cause it never made it to Broadway
Posted: 9/27/16 at 10:41pm
I would throw the Rylance Shakespeares out there.
Posted: 9/27/16 at 10:45pm
Another vote for the 1999 Kiss Me, Kate revival with Marin and Stokes!
Posted: 9/27/16 at 10:54pm
Gotta give props to Chicago having lasted strongly for 20 years, and it is a well-done show.
Color Purple though...damn!-- what an incredible show that was done this time.
As for plays: A view From the Bridge
Honorable mentions to Blackbird (which had me totally awestruck) and Hedwig--not sure if those count because they were initially only done off-Broadway.
Posted: 9/27/16 at 10:56pm
In the same season, Spring Awakening and Color Purple were major "most improved" contenders in their revival productions.
Posted: 9/27/16 at 11:08pm
Pippin, Cabaret, Color Purple, and South Pacific.
Posted: 9/28/16 at 2:14pm
PROMISES, PROMISES...the 2010 Broadway revival.
Posted: 9/28/16 at 8:33pm
BroadwayGuy12 wrote: The 2009 revival of RAGTIME remains one of the best things I've ever seen on Broadway. Still bummed I never got to see the original, but overjoyed that we got such a first-class revival.
The original production was far superior to the revival. I wish you had seen it... I'm mostly talking about the physical production; amazing sets and all...but that original cast was something else, too!
Posted: 9/29/16 at 3:38am
South Pacific is the finest live, The best in video format is Sunday in the Park with george,
Posted: 9/29/16 at 2:26pm
The Color Purple, not only the best revival I've ever seen, one of the best productions I've ever seen, period.
Updated On: 9/29/16 at 02:26 PM
Posted: 9/29/16 at 4:01pm
Broadway: Chicago and An Inspector Calls
West End: My Fair Lady (2001) and An Inspector Calls
Posted: 10/5/16 at 4:23pm
*Musical:
Side Show with Erin Davie and Emily Padgett
Hedwig and the Angry Inch with NPH (and others) (not sure if the OP would count this, since it premiered Off-Broadway)
* I will be seeing The Color Purple later this year, and based on what I've heard/read, that may potentially end up changing this answer.
Play:
You Can't Take It With You with James Earl Jones, Annaleigh Ashford, Elizabeth Ashley
Updated On: 10/5/16 at 04:23 PM
Posted: 10/5/16 at 6:44pm
The second show I saw on Broadway was the 94 revival of Damn Yankees (Beauty and the Beast was my first the night before). I don't know what the general consensus was on it at the time, especially considering the revisions to both the book and the arrangements in the score, but I still have very fond memories of it. To be honest, I have a hard time sitting through productions of that show that use the original book and arrangements.
I especially loved, and still do, the new arrangements for "Six Months Out of Every Year" from that revival, and the new arrangements for "Shoeless Joe" and the subsequent ad jingle reprises of it.
Posted: 10/5/16 at 9:13pm
Pippin, Spring Awakening, Color Purple, Cabaret, and Side Show
