Best REGIONAL theaters in or out of the country?- Page 2

[jagfkb]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 7:46am

IU agree on Paper Mill 100%. I live near the theater and from the productions I've seen, I feel as if they are Broadway calibur shows.

[Noel&Cole]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 10:30am

When the Kennedy Center decides to do an in house show it is usually quite spectacular. Like when they did MAME and CARNIVAL. They were both huge beautiful production with Broadway level budgets lavished on them.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 10:37am

Huntington Theater Company (Boston, MA.)

- has received three Tony Award nominations for productions transferred to Broadway and six Elliot Norton Awards (that's like the Tony Awards in Boston) for Outstanding Production.

-The Huntington has produced nearly 50 New England, American, or world premieres.

Shows that Huntington Premiered that went on Broadway or Off-Broadway
1. The 39 Steps (Pre-Broadway Try-out)
2. Streamers (2007 Revival ~that would go to Roundabout's Laura Pel's Theater)
3. Radio Golf (2006)
4. Mauritius (2006)
5. Butley starring Nathan Lane (2003)
6. August Wilson's Seven Guitars (1995)

-The Huntington provides professional training and experience to students in the Boston University School of Theatre. In addition, over the past two decades, the Huntington's nationally-recognized education programs have served more than 200,000 middle school and high school students, and its community outreach programs bring theatre each year to the Deaf and blind communities, the elderly, and other underserved populations in the Greater Boston area.

-The Huntington's expanded efforts to develop new plays for the American theatre include the Breaking Ground Festival of new play readings and the Stanford Calderwood Fund for New American Plays, which allow the Huntington to commission new works from emerging and established writers. The two new theatres in the Calderwood Pavilion serve as the home for the Huntington's new play development.

- Broadway stars like Andrea Martin, Julie White, Brooks Ashmanaks, Victor Garber, Kate Baldwin, Nathan Lane, Lisa Kron, Debra Monk, Kate Burton and so many more , all perfomed at Huntington Stage.

Huntington has three theaters (two are on a lease basis-ones on Calderwoods)

1. Boston University Theater- with 890 seats:



2. Virginia Wimberly Theater (at Calderwoods pavilion in South End) ~on lease basis. with 370 seats (used mostly for NEW PLAYS)

3. Nancy & Edward Roberts Studio (at Calderwoods Pavilion in South End)~on lease basis too with 200 seats (used mostly for NEW PLAYS)

The Calderwoods Pavilion in South End (Boston)


Inside:

The Virginia Wimberly Theater:


The Roberts Studio



BU Theater Interior:


Virginia Wimberly Interior:


RECENT shows that I saw at Huntington ( I did not include STREAMERS & 39 STEPS bec. I did a 10/10 Reports on those)

WELL at BU Theater


KIKI & HERB at Virginia Wimberly Theater


PRESENT LAUGHTER at BU Theater


Check out the Scenic Design-- proof that Huntington is spending a lot of $$$!

Set Designer : Alexander Dodge

PERSEPHONE at Virginia Wimberly Theater at Calderwoods Pavilion:


Check this sets: for a regional productions with two set change-unheard of!

Act 1 Scene : Studio in Florence, Italy


Act 2 Scene : Park in New York City (The park in the was based on Bryant Park)


End of the Play:


Set Designer: David Korins

Now why this Boston's Regional Company hasn't won any TONYS yet for Best Regional Production? I say.... nominate it and hopefully it will win the 2009 Tonys for Best Regional Theater!

J*


Updated On: 8/7/08 at 10:37 AM

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 10:41am

Alley Theatre is definitely in the top 10.

[walkedthroughmany]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 11:05am

Besides what has already been mentioned...
the Ogunquit Playhouse in Ogunquit, ME.

[sanda]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 11:14am

Shakespear Theatre Company in DC.

When you have Patrick Stewart doing a racial-reverse version of "Othello", you know it's doing serious business.

http://www.shakespearedc.org/

Studio Theatre in DC

I saw "Caroline, or Change", "Shining City" and "Souvenir" there. All productions are spetacular.

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 11:17am

All 4 Chicago Regional Tony Winners (Steppenwolf, Goodman, Victory Gardens and Chicago Shakespear) are spectacular and constantly do fantastic work. Im very surprised that Mariott Lincolnshire has never won. The work they do is always incredible. This season they re-invisioned (SP?) Les Mis for the round and will probably win the majority of Jeff Awards. Mariott has recently put on brand new works that get beautiful world premieres. Northlight in Skokie which premired L5Y but I personally dont like the theatre but they do good work.

[Calvin]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 11:25am

Jerby's right -- The Alley in Houston consistently does top-notch work. And it's where "...Gamma Rays...Marigolds" got its start, among others.

[morosco]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 11:30am

Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA

[jaystarr]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 12:26pm

Everytime~ We go on vacation, we usually see shows from Regional Theaters. This year ~2008: We went to Atlanta, GA and San Francisco, CA. Of course, as a broadway enthusiast its A MUST that I visit their Regional Theaters:

and here's the TWO REGIONAL THEATERS that I visited in 2008.


1. Alliance Theater (Atlanta, GA)

2007 Recipient of Tony Awards for Best Regional Theater

-Alliance Theater of Atlanta, GA. has premiered three broadway shows-The Color Purple, Aida & The Last Night of Ballyhoo. Now in its 39th season and the recipient of the 2007 Regional Theater Tony Award is considered the leading theater in the Southeast. Alliance Theater has almost 200,000 patrons and members.

-The Alliance Theater is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization commited to new work as demonstrated with the launch of the Kendeda Graduate Playwrtting Competition.

-The Alliance Theater is housed at The Woodruff Arts Center with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Theater next door.

LIST OF THEIR PRODUCTIONS THAT END-UP ON BROADWAY:

The Color Purple [Original, Musical, Drama]
World Premiere Produced by The Alliance Theatre Company
Dec 1, 2005 - Feb 24, 2008

Aida [Original, Musical, Drama]
Originally developed at The Alliance Theatre Company
Mar 23, 2000 - Sep 5, 2004

The Last Night of Ballyhoo [Original, Play, Comedy]
This play was commissioned for the 1996 Olympic Arts Festival by The Alliance Theatre Company
Feb 27, 1997 - Jun 28, 1998

So Long on Lonely Street [Original, Play, Comedy]
Produced by arrangement with The Alliance Theatre Company;
Originally presented by The Alliance Theatre Company
Apr 3, 1986 - May 18, 1986

****LAST NIGHT OF BALLYHOO won the Tony Awards for Best Play in 1997


note: my camera date stamp is wrong- its suppposed to be 1/17/2008!

















Alliance has two theaters in Woodruff Arts Center:


A. The Alliance Theater -with 800 seats


B. The Hertz Stage -with 200 seats


The Show that we saw at Alliance Theater:






2. America Conservatory Theater (San Francisco, CA)

1979 Recipient of Tony Awards for Best Regional Theater

-was founded in 1965 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by theatre and opera director William Ball. By invitation from San Francisco philanthropists and officials, Ball relocated the company to San Francisco and astonished the theatre world by presenting twenty-seven fully staged productions in rotating repertory, in two different theatres, during the first 40-week season.

-A.C.T.'s original twenty-seven member acting company featured the talents of Rene Auberjonois, Peter Donat, Richard Dysart, Michael Learned, Ruth Kobart, Paul Shenar, Ken Ruta, Kitty Winn among many others. Ball's mid-1970s productions of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew, starring Marc Singer, and Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac, starring Peter Donat and Marsha Mason were televised by PBS and are available on video.

-In 2007, A.C.T. released a cast album of Perloff's production of the Bertold Brecht and Kurt Weil musical Happy End, produced and mixed by Lucas Arts studios. It includes the full score and is the first English language recording of this musical.


LIST OF THEIR PRODUCTIONS THAT END UP ON BROADWAY:

The Good Body [Original, Play, Solo]
Produced in association with American Conservatory Theatre of San Francisco
Nov 15, 2004 - Dec 19, 2004

Wrong Mountain [Original, Play, Comedy]
Produced by American Conservatory Theatre of San Francisco
Jan 13, 2000 - Feb 5, 2000

High Society [Original, Musical, Comedy]
Originally produced by American Conservatory Theatre of San Francisco
Apr 27, 1998 - Aug 30, 1998

Golden Child [Original, Play, Drama]
Produced in association with American Conservatory Theatre of San Francisco
Apr 2, 1998 - May 31, 1998

Seven Guitars [Original, Play, Drama]
Produced in association with American Conservatory Theatre of San Francisco
Mar 28, 1996 - Sep 8, 1996

Diversions and Delights [Original, Play, Solo]
Originally presented by the American Conservatory Theatre of San Francisco
Apr 12, 1978 - Apr 22, 1978

-Two of its Productions was nominated at the TONY AWARDS:

1998 Tony Award® Best Play
Golden Child [nominee]
Produced in association with American Conservatory Theatre of San Francisco

1996 Tony Award® Best Play
Seven Guitars [nominee]
Produced in association with American Conservatory Theatre of San Francisco

THE AMERICAN CONSERVATORY THEATER (Geary Theater)












The Play that we saw at ACT:


Interesting INFO about the Theater and ACT: ( I scanned this leaflet)






I am hoping to visit more REGIONAL THEATERS in the future. I am hoping to visit Steppenwolf in Chicago and Papermill in New Jersey next!

I love Regional Theaters! They are the backbone of Broadway and some of the great shows started there like this year's 2008 TONYS Best Play- A : OC!

Go see a show and SUPPORT your local regional theaters!

J*





Updated On: 8/7/08 at 12:26 PM

[scaryclowns223]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 1:35pm

Robos,

I don't know what you're talking about, because some of the worst theatre I've ever seen in my life has been at the Actor's Playhouse.

[temms]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 1:41pm

CenterStage in Baltimore does great productions (usually one musical a year), and it's a wonderful place to work. Any actor or designer who has worked there comes away having loved the experience. Their space is an old monestary and they have two theatres - one a permanent proscenium house that seats around 500, and an environmental space that gets reconfigured every couple of seasons.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 3:29pm

American Repertory Theater (Cambridge, MA.)

1986 Recipient of Tony Awards for Best Regional Theater

-It was founded in 1980 by Robert Brustein as a break off group from the Yale Repertory Theatre after a bitter dispute between Yale University and the long-established Yale company.

-In 2003, Time Magazine recognized it as one of the top five regional theaters in the United States.

-prides itself on presenting both American and World premiere productions. Over the years, these have included works by Robert Auletta, Robert Brustein, Anton Chekhov, Don DeLillo, Keith Dewhurst, Christopher Durang, Elizabeth Egloff, Peter Feibleman, Jules Feiffer, Dario Fo, Carlos Fuentes, Larry Gelbart, Leslie Glass, Philip Glass, Stuart Greenman, William Hauptman, Allan Havis, Milan Kundera, Mark Leib, Gideon Lester, David Lodge, Carol K. Mack, David Mamet, Charles L. Mee, Roger Miller, John Moran, Robert Moran, Heiner Müller, Marsha Norman, Han Ong, Amanda Palmer, David Rabe, Franca Rame, Adam Rapp, Keith Reddin, Ronald Ribman, Paula Vogel, Derek Walcott, Naomi Wallace, and Robert Wilson.

Productions that went on Broadway
(from recent)

The Old Neighborhood [Original, Play]
Originally produced by The American Repertory Theatre (Robert Brustein, Artistic Director; Robert J. Orchard, Managing Director)
Nov 19, 1997 - May 10, 1998

Mastergate [Original, Play, Comedy, Satire]
Originally produced by The American Repertory Theatre (Robert Brustein, Artistic Director; Robert J. Orchard, Managing Director)
Oct 12, 1989 - Dec 10, 1989

Big River [Original, Musical, Comedy]
Originally produced by The American Repertory Theatre (Robert Brustein, Artistic Director; Robert J. Orchard, Managing Director)
Apr 25, 1985 - Sep 20, 1987

A Moon for the Misbegotten [Revival, Play, Drama]
This production originated at The American Repertory Theatre (Robert Brustein, Artistic Director; Robert J. Orchard, Managing Director)
May 1, 1984 - Jun 9, 1984

'night, Mother [Original, Play]
Originally produced by The American Repertory Theatre (Robert Brustein, Artistic Director; Robert J. Orchard, Managing Director)
Mar 31, 1983 - Feb 26, 1984

Grown Ups [Original, Play]
Originally produced by The American Repertory Theatre (Robert Brustein, Artistic Director; Robert J. Orchard, Managing Director)
Dec 10, 1981 - Feb 20, 1982

- Two of its production won the TONY AWARDS: Big River-Best Musical in 1985 and Night, Mother-Best Play in 1983

-In 1987, the A.R.T. founded the Institute for Advanced Theatre Training, a five semester professional training M.F.A. program which includes a three month period working and training at the Moscow Art Theatre School in Russia. This program provides training for graduate-level actors, dramaturgs, and voice students. For a time, the Institute included a director-training program, which is currently defunct.

-ART has been associated with Harvard University since 1979.


ART has two theaters

1. Loeb Drama Center -has 556 seats:









2. Zero Arrow Theater - has 300 seats:







Two Recent shows I saw at ART in Cambridge, MA:

at Loeb Drama Center-THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST


at Zero Arrow Theater-DONNIE DARKO-which I did a 10/10 Report:




Updated On: 8/7/08 at 03:29 PM

[jaystarr]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 5:05pm

So Paper Mill Playhouse in Milburn, NJ never won any TONYS neither for Best Regional Theater Production?

per IBDB
http://www.ibdb.com/person.php?id=102461

and only had two shows that went on Broadway? that's interesting!

J*
Updated On: 8/7/08 at 05:05 PM

[jaystarr]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 5:08pm

Btw- Chicago, IL is the city that won the MOST TONYS for Regional Theater Awards- A total of 4~ wow!

Steppenwolf, Goodman, Victory Gardens and of course last year, Chicago Shakespeare!

J*
Updated On: 8/7/08 at 05:08 PM

[nealb1]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 5:34pm

Hey, Jay...... I tried to PM you, but it won't let me do it for some reason. Been wanting to email you...always enjoy your theatre reviews and the like. PM me with your email address.. Would be nice to chat.

neal

[kooky]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 5:41pm

The Guthrie

[njohn]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 7:19pm

I forgot about the Lookingglass Theatre in Chicago. Updated On: 8/7/08 at 07:19 PM

[The Bearded Lady]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 9:29pm

jay- i love reading your contributions to this thread. you dont only love broadway, but also regional theaters- you are the epitome of a true theater lover! a very well rounded person! such a joy reading all your threads & posts. you are one valuable poster here! keep posting!

Updated On: 8/7/08 at 09:29 PM

[Flaunt It]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 11:03pm

North Shore Music Theater.

I know Jay will disagree, but as someone who sees all their shows I can say without a doubt some of the best theatre in New England.

I love how the intimacy of the round, and the elimination of "spectacle" can really highlight the script and score instead of distract with flashy sets.

If you missed BYE BYE BIRDIE you missed one hell of a night of clever, fun, genuine musical comedy.

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 11:05pm

Trinity Repertory in Providence.

[Patash]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 11:29pm

"What is the one in Seattle? 5th Avenue? You know."

Isn't Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre just a venue -- mainly for touring productions? Do they actually produce plays as a regular theatre company?

[uncageg]

Posted: 8/8/08 at 1:19am

I too will mention The Denver Center Theatre Company. I was a Volunteer Chair tehere for 8 years. Kev mentioned our new Artistic Director, Kent Thompson, who does have a great vision for the Company. His past season included Wendy Wasserstein's last play, Third. We also commissioned Theresa Rebeck's plat called Our House along with Octavio Solis' "Lydia" (Which is a devastating play if anyone has the chance to see it). My only wish is that Mr. Thompson would have kept on track with presenting August Wilson's cyle of plays in order and all directed by Israel Hicks. Our former Artistic Director was friends with Mr. Wilson and said that he was going to present them all in order. Had we done this as planned, we would have been the first and only theatre company to do this. But it didn't happen. He is continuing the tradition of presenting a play by Shakespeare each season which is very nice. With 4 stages, one in the round, the whole facility is amazing.

[dented146]

Posted: 8/8/08 at 7:49pm

Just couldn't let this thread pass without puttng in a good word about the La Jolla Playhouse and the The Old Globe in San Diego. Both have a long history of creative and experimental theatre as well as a long list Tony Award nominated plays and musicals. The Old Globe is in a beautiul setting in Balboa Park. The Playhouse is actually on the University of California San Diego campus and is a complex of several theatres.

It is a rare year, indeed, when Broadway is absent at least one production without a connection to one of those regional theatres.

[KChenowethfan]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 1:32pm

In addition to Signature, which someone mentioned up thread, the DC area also has a couple of other quite well-known regional theatres. They include Arena Stage and one of my personal favorites, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company. Studio Theatre also has an excellent reputation.