Printer Friendly - Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by WiCkEDrOcKS 2012-04-30 22:28:59
Now that the season is over, I compiled my list of favorites and least favorites (save CLYBOURNE PARK and THE COLUMNIST, which I have yet to see)
What are yours?! :)
Best of the season:
1) ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS
Confession: I'm not a huge fan of door-slamming physical-comedy farces. In fact, I may have been the only person who wasn't impressed by Matthew Warchus' BOEING BOEING revival a few years ago. So I was a bit skeptical walking into the Music Box to see this British import. But I can't recall the last time I laughed so hard in a theater. BOOK OF MORMON included. ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS is a start-to-finish runaway train of hilarity. It moves at rapid fire, leaving no comedic stone unturned, and it features one of the best ensemble performances of the last few years. Led by the indescribably funny James Corden (who deserves a Tony), there is not a single weak link in this brilliant cast. They've caught lightning in a bottle at the Music Box and it is an experience that must not be missed.
2) ONCE
By far the best musical of the year raised the bar for film to stage adaptations to soaring heights. ONCE, based on the Oscar-winning indie film, was such a treat Off-Broadway and, oddly enough, is even more of a treat in it's new, larger home on 45th Street. With vivid characters, a charming book, gorgeous songs, and two perfectly-cast leads in Steve Kazee and Cristin Milioti, this show pulled at my heart in such a rare way. It is a transportive exerpeience that shouldn't be missed, by theatergoers and theater cynics alike. And if the finale sequence doesn't at least make you teary-eyed, you better get your pulse checked.
3) PETER AND THE STARCATCHER
As a piece of writing, PETER is as joyful and creative as any great bedtime story. But when brought to life by such a brilliant production team and cast, it's a stunningly beautiful, haunting, and ingenious theatrical experience that transcends the confines of "play" or "musical." PETER simply exists in a category all its own. Creative and innovative in ways that only live theater can be, PETER reminds us of the child in all of us. And for two and a half hours, allows us to let that wide-eyed innocence out in an almost cathartic experience.
4) CARRIE: THE MUSICAL
Critics still bemoaned this infamous flop's flaws and said that Stafford Arima's production was safe and lacked dramatic tension and scares. I couldn't disagree more. I was absolutely shocked at how much I thoroughly enjoyed this expertly designed production. The revised score sounded wonderful and Molly Ranson gave what I thought was the best performance by an actress in a musical this season. I guess it's a simple as a case of "to each his own," but I thought this production had a fantastically strong emotional impact by time it ended. Some of the images still stick with me, particularly the gasp-inducing moment when Ranson stumbles on stage at the end of the second act, soaked in blood.
5) OTHER DESERT CITIES
It might not be the second-coming that some critics seem to think it is, but OTHER DESERT CITIES is certainly one of the most purely enjoyable plays of the 2011-2012 season. For my money, though, the play itself, while good, is taken to soaring heights by one of the most perfectly constructed ensemble casts Broadway has seen as of late. Each performer gives a truly award-worthy performance with gravitas and emotional resonance. Most notably is Judith Light, stealing scenes and nibbling at the scenery as Silda. But to pick the best performer out of this lot is not at all an easy task.
6) SONS OF THE PROPHET
When Roundabout takes chances, instead of dusting off some old chestnut from the '50s, casting Frank Langella in it for the 75th time in five years, and calling it a day, they (more often than not) get it right. And with Stephen Karam's SONS OF THE PROPHET, they certainly did just that. Led by Santino Fontana (always wonderful), this dramady provided its exceptional cast with a cleverly constructed storyline and involving characters, which they each sink their teeth into with relish. And the audience and critics seemed to do the same.
7) HUGH JACKMAN: BACK ON BROADWAY
When Jackman takes the stage, there's truly nowhere else on earth you'd rather be. His latest theatrical venture proved to be his most satisfying yet. Part song and dance show, part audience interaction, part variety show, and part autobiography, Jackman manages to pull every portion of the show off (even if some of it feels uneven) with ease. In a less qualified performer's hands, this show could easily turn to mush. But as a showcase for Jackman's ample talents and stunning stage presence, HUGH JACKMAN: BACK ON BROADWAY was a delight. And the segment about the indigenous people of Australia was simply breathtaking.
8 ) THE LYONS
Linda Lavin, Linda Lavin, Linda Lavin. There's three good reasons to see Nicky Silver's black comedy about the most f*cked up family Broadway has seen in a while (which is saying something). The play is hilarious in and of itself, but with Lavin steering the ship, it's elevated to new heights. She manages to mine raucous laughter from the simplest of expressions, playing a fed-up mother to a wonderful Michael Esper and a somewhat out-of-her-element Kate Jennings Grant. Dick Latessa provides fine support and the show flies by. Some have taken issue with the second act, but I thought the show sustained a great story the entire time and I laughed equally during both acts. It may have benefited from one final revision and a few added scenes to flesh out the characters a bit more, but as it is, it's a riot.
9 -TIE-) NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT
As bubbly and fizzy as a glass of champagne, this new musical featuring some of the Gershwins' best tunes is my guilty pleasure of the year. It has it's flaws, for sure (mainly in that wobbly first act), but it's an undeniable throwback thrill to hear such a beautiful score orchestrated so lushly and sung so strongly. Kelli O'Hara proves her versatility playing against the ingenue-type many seem to box her into (not sure why) and for once, Matthew Broderick's stoic awkwardness sort of works. What a surprisingly sweet late-season surprise.
FAT CAMP
Another bubbly, bright, energetic show, FAT CAMP trumped a majority of the Broadway musicals that opened this season with a lively score, funny book, and a cast that seems game for just about anything. There hasn't been this endearing a group of young kids onstage since SPELLING BEE. FAT CAMP may not land all of its jokes (and it may feel a bit long) but when you have a cast giving their all and working overtime to breathe life into an already lively piece of theater, attention must be paid.
10) EVITA
Many cynics seem to take issue with the lack of dramatic "oomph" in Michael Grandage's production (and I completely understand this complaint, especially in Ricky Martin's horribly misdirected Che). But for what it's worth, I thought it was the best musical revival of the year. What it lacks in dramatic tension, it makes up for in gorgeous entertainment and production values. Elena Roger may not have the lung power required for most of the heavy lifting the titular character does in the first act, but she more than makes up for it with a subdued, beautifully acted second act performance that ultimately won me over.
Honorable Mentions: END OF THE RAINBOW, SILENCE! THE MUSICAL
Worst of the year:
1) GODSPELL
I almost put GODSPELL at number two on my list and had GHOST at number one. Until I asked myself, which show would I rather gouge my eyes out than sit through again. The answer is GODSPELL. Inarguably the most irritating production of the year (even when compared to LYSSIE JONES), this is some jaw-droppingly bad theater. It plays like a community theater show directed by an acid-addict. Ugly costumes, horrible orchestrations, annoying performances, "AREN'T WE CLEVER" script changes to reference current events, and cringe-worthy audience interactions, GODSPELL has it all. You could argue that it at least takes risks, unlike GHOST, but when literally every single one of those risks fails miserably, you realize you'd rather sit through GHOST a thousand times over than see GODSPELL one more time.
2) GHOST: THE MUSICAL
Committing the ultimate sin of musical theater, in my mind, the slavishly translated GHOST: THE MUSICAL is about as boring as boring can be (a similar trend in my "worst of" list). If you're gonna produce a show like this, at least make it entertainingly bad. GHOST doesn't even achieve this feat. It has no dramatic arc whatsoever, every single one of the songs sounds the same, and the ugly LED set is seizure-inducing. The cast is vanilla as vanilla can be. Befitting for a show that is so painstakingly rote in almost every way. You can tell GHOST thinks its being innovative and awe-inspiring, but its nifty special effects can't distract you from the fact that it's just not a good show at all.
3) MAGIC/BIRD
Lacking ANY kind of dramatic tension whatsoever, this play about the unlikely friendship between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson plays like a performance of a Wikipedia page. And its cheesy projections and sets don't help the matter. I rather enjoyed LOMBARDI (even if it was a paint-by-the-numbers stage biography), but at least it had substance. There is a really good stage show somewhere in these two men's friendship, but MAGIC/BIRD isn't it.
4) MAN AND BOY/THE ROAD TO MECCA
Two typical Roundabout slogs starring reputable actors doing what they can. Blah blah blah. Another season, another Roundabout bore. What else can I say?
5) LYSISTRATA JONES
Devoid of laughs and with a score that sounded like a HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 5 rip-off, I found LYSSIE JONES to be an utter chore to sit through, and looking back on it, I have found less and less to compliment it on. It played like an "insert laugh HERE" production, where the audience felt inclined to force a laugh where they felt a (poorly delivered) punchline was. It may have played better off-Broadway, in a smaller venue, but the Walter Kerr swallowed it alive and it proved to be almost unbearably irritating. Everything about this show rang false to me, starting with its false energy and WAY over-the-top exuberance from its cast, featuring some really bad performances (especially from the guys).
Dis-honorable mention: PRIVATE LIVES
Yet to see:
CLYBOURNE PARK
THE COLUMNIST
Some of my favorite performances: (in no particular order)
Tracie Bennett, END OF THE RAINBOW
James Corden, ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS
Molly Ranson, CARRIE: THE MUSICAL
Linda Lavin, THE LYONS
Steve Kazee, ONCE
Cristin Milioti, ONCE
Kelli O'Hara, NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT
Audra McDonald, PORGY AND BESS
Hugh Jackman, HUGH JACKMAN: BACK ON BROADWAY
Spencer Kayden, DON'T DRESS FOR DINNER
Jeremy Jordan, NEWSIES
Jessie Mueller, ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER
Condola Rashad, STICK FLY
Christian Borle, PETER AND THE STARCATCHER
Judith Light, OTHER DESERT CITIES
Stockard Channing, OTHER DESERT CITIES
Tom Edden, ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS
Tyne Daly, MASTER CLASS
Philip Boykin, PORGY AND BESS
Nina Arianda, VENUS IN FUR
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by madbrian 2012-04-30 22:35:03
My favorite show of the year was Once. My favorite individual performance was Judith Light in Other Desert Cities. My favorite ensemble was the cast of Follies.
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by WithoutATrace 2012-04-30 23:22:21
My favorite shows this year were FOLLIES and OTHER DESERT CITIES.
My favorite performance of the year was Stockard Channing in OTHER DESERT CITIES.
The worst performance of the year was David Turner in ON A CLEAR DAY.
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by After Eight 2012-04-30 23:31:27
My favorites were Don't Dress for Dinner, One Man..., and The Visit on Broadway. The Maids, Lucky Guy, and Rx, off-Broadway.
The worst were, at the bottom of a very large heap, Lysistrata Jones, Once, Queen of the Mist, and the unendurable Sons of the Prophet.
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by muscle23ftl 2012-05-01 03:22:46
I haven't had time to see everything, but out of what I've seen:
The worst:
-Bonnie & Clyde
-On A Clear Day
-Once
-Queen of the Mist
-Private Lives
-Leap of Faith
-Pipe Dream
The Best:
The Absolute Best-Merrily We Roll Along
and -Aspects of Love at the Walnut Theatre in Philadelphia
I also enjoyed:
-Nice Work If You Can Get it
-Porgy & Bess
-Follies
-Godspell
-Carrie, The Musical
Best Performances: Terri White(Follies), Kelli O'Hara(Nice Work), Matthew Broderick(Nice Work), Jennifer Hope Wills(Aspects), Danielle Herbert(Aspects), Colin Donnell(Merrily), Elizabeth Stanley(Merrily), Molly Ranson(Carrie), Marin Mazzie(Carrie).
Worst Performances: Elena Roger(Evita) and Jessie Mueller(On A Clear Day).
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by dramamama611 2012-05-01 06:03:39
Best of the season: Once. I loved it myself downtown, and equally so uptown. Add to that the way it touched my nearly 100 HS students -- priceless. This is the only new musical I actually loved this year, I LIKED a few others -- but not many.
Also LOVED Peter and the Starcatcher and One Man, Two Guvnors.
Worst? Bonnie & Clyde, or maybe Leap of Faith.
Note: I have not seen EVERYTHING, but I have seen a heckuvalot!
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by goldenboy 2012-05-02 08:35:11
Hated:
Venus in Fur
Wit
Peter and the Starcatcher
Pipe Dream (they had bad musicals in the 50's go figure)
Loved.. Gee that's a hard one this year.
I really liked some plays:
Other Desert Cities
The Lyons
Chinglish (or was that last year?)
Bonnie and Clude
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by followspot 2012-05-02 09:42:32
Best:
1. ONCE
2. SWEET & SAD
3. PORGY & BESS
4. SEPTIMUS & CLARISSA
5. THE CHERRY ORCHARD
Worst:
1. RELATIVELY SPEAKING
2. PAINTING CHURCHES
3. GHOST
4. WE LIVE HERE
5. DON'T DRESS FOR DINNER
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by themysteriousgrowl 2012-05-02 09:51:04
I missed a lot and still have a lot to see, but ROAD TO MECCA was a pretty trying experience, and DEATH OF A SALESMAN was absolutely transportive in every way.
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by AC126748 2012-05-02 10:02:09
The best male and female musical performances were Will Chase in Pipe Dream and Mary Testa in Queen of the Mist
The best male and female dramatic performances were James Earl Jones in The Best Man and Judith Light in Other Desert Cities.
The year's best new work was Sweet and Sad. I won't count Clybourne Park or Other Desert Cities, as they're not technically new. The year's best revival was The Maids at Cocteau Rep.
The one performance that everyone loved and I still don't get was Jessie Mueller in On a Clear Day You Can See Forever.
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by WhizzerMarvin TrinaJasonMendel 2012-05-02 10:26:13
Mary Testa was in one of the best and one of the worst this year. The best being Queen of the Mist and the worst being Tricks the Devil Taught Me. Easily one of the more trying plays this season.
Best Stuff:
Follies, Other Desert Cities, Once, Peter and the Starcatcher, One Man, Two Guvnors
Worst Stuff:
Road to Mecca, Man and Boy, Relatively Speaking, On a Clear Day (especially David Turner)
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by showchoirguy 2012-05-02 10:37:43
BEST
Porgy and Bess
Carrie
Godspell
NEEDED WORK
Ghost
Relatively Speaking
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by taboo123 2012-05-02 10:40:49
BEST
Follies
Peter and the Starcatcher
Worst
Leap of Faith - hands down
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by tmbyru 2012-05-02 11:33:33
LIKED (Shows I found Entertaining)
Jesus Christ Superstar
Evita
Ghost
Once !!
Other Desert Cities
Stickfly
Godspell
Lysistrata Jones
Bonnie and Clyde
DISLIKED (Shows I wanted to leave at intermission)
Seminar
Leap of Faith
Hair (does this one count?)
Follies
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by GottaHaveAGimmick 2012-05-02 11:44:02
Favorite this year: Follies (my head exploded several times.)
Least favorite: Elaine Stritch at Town Hall (Yes, I know, this is not a Broadway Tony-eligible show. I try not to see the clunkers, but I wept for Ms. Stritch and her inability to recall lyrics.)
Honorable mention: Other Desert Cities (Very well acted by all.)
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by Emmaloucbway 2012-05-02 12:24:04
Liked:
Follies, Newsies, Bonnie and Clyde
Disliked:
Lysistrata f**king Jones. By far one of the worst shows i've had to sit through in my entire life.
Godspell was "meh." Didn't despise it, but didn't like it either.
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by Marianne2 2012-05-02 12:33:24
I really have not seen much of this season yet.
Best: Follies
Liked: Carrie and Venus in Fur
Worst: Magic/Bird
I have tickets to see Evita in June. I want to see others too.
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by Mystic Pasta 2012-05-02 18:10:35
Best:
Peter & The Starcatcher (primarily for Christian Borle)
Clybourne Park (who needs stars to tell a great story)
Fat Camp (the entire cast and the songs are winners)
Porgy & Bess (beautiful from start to finish)
Bonnie & Clyde (wish is was running now since Laura Osnes was excellent)
Chinglish (no one saw this but Mike Daisey can learn from Hwang)
Worst:
Ghost (terrible waste of money and time)
Evita (please don't hire someone to play Evita who should be playing Professor Higgins)
Leap of Faith (two good songs and 10 uninspired tunes)
Newsies (worst book but interesting set)
Other Desert Cities (everyone over 70 loved it - maybe I will see it again at that time)
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by GatorNY 2012-05-02 18:24:22
BEST (worth paying FULL PRICE to see): Once, Hugh Jackman, Back on Broadway, Follies.
Thoroughly Enjoyed (worth the price of a ticket through TKTS or TDF: Other Desert Cities, Lysistrata Jones, Jesus Christ Superstar, Godspell, Hair, Leap of Faith.
WORST (actually a decent experience, but would've rather seen something else when all was said and done): Private Lives.
Was supposed to see Newsies, but had to go out of town for a funeral. I suspect I would have that in my BEST category.
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by labwyfan 2012-05-02 18:26:16
I've seen a lot this season too. Glad I get to particpate!
BEST:
Evita
Clybourne Park
Other Desert Cities
Godspell
MEH:
Follies
Newsies
WORST:
Once (I just didn't get it)
Ghost (but it WAS fun)
Leap of Faith
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by songanddanceman2 2012-05-02 19:32:01
Not seen as many as i wanted as im in the UK so its just fleeting trips back and forth
Best
OTHER DESERT CITIES
BONNIE AND CLYDE (the hate for this show is hilarious, the score is wonderful and i enjoyed the show)
GHOST (again im shocked how much New York hates this, i thought it was brilliant overblown fluff)
CARRIE(to hell with the critics i enjoyed it, seems the awards nominators did also)
CHINGLISH
VENUS IN FUR
ONE MAN TWO GUVNERS (Saw this in the UK)
worst
GODSPELL
SEMINAR
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by muscle23ftl 2012-05-04 04:11:11
AC126748, I'm with you on Jessie, I truly hope never to see her on a Broadway stage ever again.
I guess I'm the only one that hated Once and thinks it was a cheap bad Off-Broadway show that should have never been transferred.
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by After Eight 2012-05-04 10:17:23
^
Muscle,
You're not the only one.
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by jakebloke 2012-05-04 10:33:29
Include me in the group of people who just didn't get Once. I found it incredibly bland. Yes, there was some beautiful music, however it was sleep inducing at times. Plus, the lead girl (I don't care to search for her name)was so irritating. I found it very unbelievable that the guy would fall in love with her.
I enjoyed Ghost far more. To each his own.
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by newintown 2012-05-04 12:02:58
Best: One Man, Two Guv'nors, easily.
Worst: A difficult tie between equally unbearable pieces of brain-dead garbage: Carrie, Leap of Faith, Ghost, Bonnie and Clyde, Spider-Man, and On A Clear Day.
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by massofmen 2012-05-04 12:57:37
muscle i am RIGHT there with you with "once".
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by After Eight 2012-05-04 13:42:26
"Plus, the lead girl (I don't care to search for her name)was so irritating."
Ain't that the truth. That's one of the main reasons the show is so irritating.
"I found it very unbelievable that the guy would fall in love with her."
In normal circumstances, that would be true. But in this case, the guy is such a wuss that he likes being pushed around. I guess.
SPOILER ALERT
But how much does he really love her, if at all? If, the minute Girl tells him to go back to his ex-girlfriend, he obeys dutifully like the lapdog that he is, his love for Girl couldn't have been that deep then, could it? And the fact that he goes back to someone he doesn't really love shows just what kind of a standup guy Guy is.
What a pair, truly.
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by muscle23ftl 2012-05-04 13:57:46
It certainly doesn't belong on Broadway. I've seen high school productions with more sophistication...
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by hermajesty 2012-05-04 13:59:56
BEST
Jersey Boys/End Of The Rainbow
WORST
None, everyone tries their best to entertain you.
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by WiCkEDrOcKS 2012-05-04 22:28:13
Ugh, I forgot ON A CLEAR DAY. Definitely in my bottom five of the year. Probably number two.
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by followspot 2012-05-04 22:37:19
^^ Agreed - ON A CLEAR DAY was definitely number two.
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by blaxx 2012-05-04 22:51:40
It certainly doesn't belong on Broadway. I've seen high school productions with more sophistication...
Is not that, love. It's that you were born with no taste.
Saying that the musical with the most Tony nominations doesn't belong on Broadway and it's worse than a high school show, then praising a show like Bombay Dreams, well...I'm glad you don't work for the theater.
You DO know what sophistication means, right? Oh, wait, I forgot...
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by muscle23ftl 2012-05-05 14:45:58
You are just like herpes, you keep coming back! Haha. Get a life.
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by HeyMrMusic 2012-05-05 15:40:11
I don't get the hate for Once. To me, it's easily one of the best shows, play or musical, to open in quite a few years. And it's the best use of actors as musicians and musicians as actors. Everything about it is pretty brilliant. I'd be happy if it wins all 11 Tonys.
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by Sirius Black 2012-05-07 12:16:23
Best performances in plays:
Tyne Daly - Masterclass
Rosemary Harris - The Road to Mecca
Jim Dale - The Road to Mecca
Worst:
Almost everything else. Saw very little outstanding work this year. Lots of meh plays and meh performances from even the most dependible people (I'm looking at you, Judith Light.)
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by Ejm105989 2012-05-07 17:41:44
BEST:
One Man, Two Guvnors
Mountaintop
Seminar (only because Alan Rickman,IMO, saved it w/ his performance)
Ghost
IN THE MIDDLE (Didn't love it, didn't hate it):
Leap of Faith
Godspell
Follies
Relatively Speaking
WORST:
Lysistrata Jones
Spider-Man
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by MillieDillmount 2012-05-07 20:29:40
My favorite show that I saw this season is hands down: BONNIE & CLYDE. I so wish it was still playing.
Enjoyable (Just a fun night at the theatre):
Nice Work If You Can Get It
Leap of Faith
Newsies (although it didn't live up to the hype for me, I still enjoyed it)
Godspell
Carrie (I really loved this production - great score)
Pipe Dream
Assistance (Off-Broadway play - I was pleasantly surprised about this show!)
Indifferent:
Ghost (I keep forgetting I saw this show)
Relatively Speaking (LOVED the last sketch, hated / didn't understand the point of the first two)
How I Learned To Drive (Incredible performances - the book wasn't a favorite of mine)
Tokio Confidential (an Off-Broadway musical - I saw it four times and I'm still not sure if I liked it ...)
Worst:
Follies
On A Clear Day You Can See Forever (There was many problems with this show)
Other Desert Cities (I saw the ending coming a mile away - I can't stand predictable shows)
Spider-Man (I saw the first version last year - it doesn't belong on Broadway ...)
Merrily We Roll Along
Performances Worth Mentioning:
Melissa van der Schyff (Blanche in Bonnie & Clyde)
Jeremy Jordan (Clyde in Bonnie & Clyde)
Laura Osnes (Bonnie in Bonnie & Clyde)
Jessica Phillips (Marla in Leap of Faith)
Molly Ranson (Carrie in Carrie)
Marin Mazzie (Margaret in Carrie)
Christy Altomare (Sue in Carrie)
Elizabeth Reaser ('Lil Bit in How I Learned to Drive)
Norbert Leo Butz (Peck in How I Learned to Drive)
Jill Paice (Isabella in Tokio Confidential)
Da'vine Joy Randolph (Ode Mae Brown in Ghost)
Virginia Kull (Nora in Assistance)
This is the first year I've seen enough shows in a season to do this! I feel accomplished! :P
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by kyl3fong2 2012-05-07 21:42:57
BEST:
Ghost
Evita
Death of a Salesman
IN THE MIDDLE:
Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark
WORST:
Lysistrata Jones
Leap of Faith
PERFORMANCES I ENJOYED:
Laura Osnes, "Bonnie & Clyde"
Jeremy Jordan, "Newsies" and "Bonnie & Clyde"
Reeve Carney, "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark"
Caissie Levy, "GHOST"
Richard Fleeshman, "GHOST"
Ricky Martin, "Evita"
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by Kad 2012-05-07 22:30:02
Worst performance for me was Christina Kirk in Clybourne Park. One of the worst professional performances I have seen recently.
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by Auggie27 2012-05-07 23:14:59
Most disappointing, or perhaps biggest missed opportunity: the ON A CLEAR DAY revisal. An aesthetically unappealing production, indifferent casting, save Mueller, and a blown chance to turn one of the most exquisite (and for some of us, beloved) scores into something magical. The show so lacked that critical ingredient, magic, of the simplest theatrical type, it was a sad occasion. Late in act two, when several members of the company spread out across to the stage to sing a chamber version of one of the most haunting numbers, "She Wasn't You," we saw but a glimpse of what might've been. Everything else, what was the word I used? Sad.
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by Buddy Plummer2 2012-05-08 02:12:20
Best:
1 Merrily We Roll Along at ENCORES
2 Follies
3 One Man Two Guvnors
4 Once
5 Newsies
6 Peter and the Starcatcher
7 Jesus Christ Superstar AND Evita (Two truly outstanding productions, IMO)
8 Nice Work If You Can Get It
9 Silence! The Musical & Queen of the Mist
10 Carrie (It certainly was not perfect, but it was still truly outstanding)
Honorable Mention- Mary Zimmerman's Candide at Huntington Theatre Company (Really one of the most incredible theatre experiences I've ever had)
Favorite Moments in Theatre:
1 The final half hour of "Merrily" at Encores. I swear I've never been moved that deeply by a production.
2 The entirety of Jenn Harris's performance in Silence, a true master class in comedic acting.
3 The final curtain call of the final performance of Huntington's Candide... The one that lasted a full ten minutes.
4 Jan Maxwell spitting acid eight times a week during "Could I Leave You?" in Follies
5 NYTW tie: The opening pre show of Once and Christian Borle having his hand chopped off
6 The look on each of the newsie's faces at the end of "Seize the Day", and the rapturous ovation that ensues
7 The unfurling of the Chrysler Building in Spider-Man, one of the most incredible stage pictures I've ever seen.
8 Kelli O'Hara flipping backwards repeatedly on a bed, Jennifer Laura Thompson's never ending gown, and Judy Kaye's chandelier acrobatics making Nice Work officially the most divalicious new musical
9 Sam disappearing in the middle of the stage during the finale of Ghost... seriously... I STILL don't know how it's done.
10 "We Beseech Thee"- I'm sorry, but those trampolines... I do have problems with this show, but that scene was so well done)
Honorable Mention: Hugh Jackman's "Tenderfield Saddler"... my god he's a gifted performer
(And my votes for the Tonys this year: Newsies and Once TIE, Follies, One Man, Two Guvnors, and Master Class)
Worst:
5 Love Never Dies (Gorgeous set... but those lyrics... WTF?)
4 On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
3 Beau Bridges in H2$ (Perhaps the most unprofessional thing I've ever seen... ever)
2 Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark 2.0 (I actually quite enjoyed 1.0... it was a mess... but what an enjoyable mess 
)
1 Leap of Faith
and I'll go one more:
Most Excited for in 2012/13:
Matilda
Into the Woods at SitP
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by somethininthestars 2012-05-08 04:15:30
Dear labwyfan, muscle23ftl, aftereight, jakebloke, and massofmen:
i could weep for joy!
i am not the ONLY person in the world who really really really disliked ONCE. (Just, apparently, the only person i've ever met in real life.)
thank you.
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by choitoy 2012-05-08 06:30:12
I hate living on the other side of the country sometimes.
But I did see Follies in DC. It gets both my best and worst.
The whole show was magical, and I loved it.
Except Regine gave the worst ever performance I have ever seen on a professional stage in my whole 20 years of regular theater attending. I'm sorry love, but it was a disaster of epic proportions. I can't wait to get to LA to see Mary Beth give a better performance of Solange.
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by Smaxie 2012-05-08 08:10:14
Where are all of these high schools with better than Broadway productions? I keep hearing about them.
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by Gypsy9 2012-05-08 08:45:55
Ky13fong2: I am glad that you enjoyed EVITA and the performance by Ricky Martin. It's nice to finally read something positive about Ricky Martin and EVITA in general. I, too, enjoyed seeing Ricky Martin and was overall impressed with the production. However, I did not care for Elena Roger's singing-- it was pinched and nasal.
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by HeyMrMusic 2012-05-08 13:54:59
Where are all of these high schools with better than Broadway productions? I keep hearing about them.
I'd also like to know. Now, I will humble myself and say that the best of my high school's productions cannot even match the worse that I've seen on Broadway.
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by Sauja 2012-05-08 15:20:48
Ill do favorite and least favorite instead of best and worst because I know myself well enough to be aware that I enjoy a monstrosity of failed ambition much more than a show or performance that is simply mediocre.
Favorite show on Broadway: Once
Off-Broadway: Sons of the Prophet or born bad (the former for being so sprawling and fun and thoughtful and exciting. The latter for being tight, controlled, and devastating.)
Least favorite show on Broadway: Private Lives (heres why I didnt go with best/worst. For me this production was just joylessat least at Ghost I got a great laugh out of the subway rap)
Least favorite show Off-Broadway: Dreams of Flying Dreams of Falling (okay, this was actually just the worst)
Favorite performance on Broadway: Nina Arianda in Venus in Fur
Off-Broadway: Taylor Mac in Midsummer Nights Dream (did this squeak by in this season? Regardless, I adored him in it)
Least favorite performance on Broadway: Elena Roger in Evita
Off-Broadway: Katherine Waterston in The Cherry Orchard and Dreams of Flying, Dreams of Falling
And shows that provoked responses that most baffled me:
Leap of Faith (Not an extraordinary musical, but compared to so much of what's out there, I found it so innocuous and was entertained enough to find it passable) And Gatz (I'd rather read the book).
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by keb2 2012-05-08 16:01:35
Adored:
Newsies
Lysistrata Jones
Liked a lot, but didn't love as much as the above:
Peter and the Starcatcher
Anything Goes with Stephanie J Block
Liked in spite of flaws:
Death of a Salesman (I really hate the play itself, heresy, I know)
Spider-Man
How to Succeed with Darren Criss (apparently I saw one of his better/best performances? His first Wednesday matinee)
Our Town (off-Broadway production from a couple years ago came to LA with a new (?) cast and was wonderful! But I still don't like the play)
Didn't love because of flaws, but had some good elements:
Bonnie & Clyde
Clybourne Park (in LA)
Seminar
Porgy & Bess (it was still really good, I just didn't love it)
Asuncion (off-Broadway)
War Horse (finally got around to seeing it!)
Godspell
Bring It On
Can't wait to see:
Once
One Man, Two Guvnors
and I saw some very wonderful theatre in LA, but I doubt most people reading this care about that.
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by jv92 2012-05-08 20:28:56
From what I've seen this season-- still to see THE LYONS and two others probably.
BEST PRODUCTIONS
1) THE LADY FROM DUBUQUE (Signature)
2) OTHER DESERT CITIES (Booth)
3) NEWSIES (Nederlander)
4) FOLLIES (Marquis)
5) MYTHS AND HYMNS (Prospect Theater Co.)
BEST PERFORMANCES
1) Danny Burstein in FOLLIES
2) Jane Alexander in THE LADY FROM DUBUQUE
3) Jan Maxwell in FOLLIES
4) Tyne Daly in MASTER CLASS
5) Stockard Channing in OTHER DESERT CITIES
I'm feeling positive. No Worst list.
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by WiCkEDrOcKS 2012-05-10 22:44:17
Another alteration to my list! I finally saw CLYBOURNE PARK last night. And with the divide on here over it, I was very skeptical. I must admit, though, that I really loved it. It would definitely place somewhere on my top ten list. Christina Kirk is giving an absolutely horrific performance, but everyone else is spot-on and sure, the writing is a bit heavy-handed, but I found it to be a fulfilling, satisfying, topical, and funny play that I have no issue in saying, hope wins the Tony Award for Best Play this season.
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by ZoeTheGoat 2012-05-11 05:04:36
Best Broadway:
Once
Clybourne Park
Death of a Salesmen
Streetcar Named Desire
Hugh Jackman Back on Broadway
Best Off-Broadway:
Silence!
Carrie
Lonely, I'm Not
Not so good:
Godspell
Chinglish
Magic/Bird (No story)
Leap of Faith (The book was bad, great performances)
Lysistrata Jones
Not so good Off-Broadway:
CX/CQ
Still haven't seen One Man or The Lyons. Across the board this kinda seems like what most people thought.
Your BEST & WORST shows/performances of the 2011-12 season?
Posted by ZoeTheGoat 2012-05-11 05:04:54
Best Broadway:
Once
Clybourne Park
Death of a Salesmen
Streetcar Named Desire
Hugh Jackman Back on Broadway
Best Off-Broadway:
Silence!
Carrie
Lonely, I'm Not
Not so good:
Godspell
Chinglish
Magic/Bird (No story)
Leap of Faith (The book was bad, great performances)
Lysistrata Jones
Not so good Off-Broadway:
CX/CQ
Still haven't seen One Man or The Lyons. Across the board this kinda seems like what most people thought.
