Best touring production you have ever seen?

[Mike Barrett]

Since not all of us can make ti to Broadway often/every season, I thought this would be a fun thread to discuss some of the overall best touring productions you have seen in your lifetime. This can come down to however you judge it because well, art is purely subjective. Here's a few of my most memorable performances: 

- Memphis: While this may have not been everyones favorite show, 15 year old me loved it back when it played the Colonial in Boston. Just insanely strong  and passionate performances throughout, vivacious score, and it really solidified my love for the theatre. 

- Hello Dolly w/Betty Buckley: Again, such a treat! I honestly enjoyed this more than the Bernadette production. Maybe it was because I saw a Wed matinee that day with that crew, but this was just a glorious afternoon at the theatre. Betty was quite strong as Dolly, minus maybe a few comedic chops. Lewis J Stalden IS Horace. The rest of the supporting cast I find quite enjoyable as well. Really great stuff. 

- Dear Evan Hansen: Another one from this season, but this entire cast pretty much just transferred to Broadway. I think that alone should speak to the quality of performances. I know e everyone has love for Ben Platt, but I simply can't picture anyone else as Evan than Ben Levi Ross. A performance for the record books for me. Takes a lot for me to cry at any play/film and he got me. While I find the plot itself to be a little ridiculous, the character moments and reactions are just so genuine. Thats what makes this show for me. 

- Something Rotten: Again, may just have to do with the quality of cast here. But I'll never forget this one. 

- 1st and 2nd Natonal Tour of Jersey Boys. Jersey Boys began my love for theatre, and I've seen the show nearly 10 times across each company. They all will always hold a special place in my heart. Plus, hey, its a wicked fun show! 

 

 

So how about you guys? Im only 23 so my theatre going experience is not as long as others, but id love to hear everyone's thoughts. Our Broadway in Boston season starts next week with Come From Away, one of my all time favorites. Should be another wonderful season! 

[MattieIce2018]

I completely agree about Something Rotten. That touring cast was incredible.

[magictodo123]

Come From Away. From the moment the lights went down and the music started, I was almost about to cry. They had me crying one moment and laughing the next. I fell in love with the show all over again. Absolutely recommend trying to see it if it comes by you. 

[Mike Barrett]

magictodo123 said: "Come From Away. From the moment the lights went down and the music started, I was almost about to cry. They had me crying one moment and laughing the next. I fell in love with the show all over again. Absolutely recommend trying to see it if it comes by you."

Saw it on Broadway with the OBC, and seeing it again next week on tour. I cannot wait!!! 

[magictodo123]

Mike Barrett said: "magictodo123 said: "Come From Away. From the moment the lights went down and the music started, I was almost about to cry. They had me crying one moment and laughing the next. I fell in love with the show all over again. Absolutely recommend trying to see it if it comes by you."

Saw it on Broadway with the OBC, and seeing it again next week on tour. I cannot wait!!!"

The touring cast is amazing. I hope you love it! I'm already looking into getting Broadway tickets for my birthday--which is six months away!! I just love it so much. 

[Mike Barrett]

magictodo123 said: "Mike Barrett said: "magictodo123 said: "Come From Away. From the moment the lights went down and the music started, I was almost about to cry. They had me crying one moment and laughing the next. I fell in love with the show all over again. Absolutely recommend trying to see it if it comes by you."

Saw it on Broadway with the OBC, and seeing it again next week on tour. I cannot wait!!!"

The touring cast is amazing. I hope you love it! I'm already looking into getting Broadway tickets for my birthday--which is six months away!! I just love it so much."

My mother's sister and family lives not far from Gander, so this should be special! We bought group tickets, 16 total for this performance lol. 

[magictodo123]

Mike Barrett said: "magictodo123 said: "Mike Barrett said: "magictodo123 said: "Come From Away. From the moment the lights went down and the music started, I was almost about to cry. They had me crying one moment and laughing the next. I fell in love with the show all over again. Absolutely recommend trying to see it if it comes by you."

Saw it on Broadway with the OBC, and seeing it again next week on tour. I cannot wait!!!"

The touring cast is amazing. I hope you love it! I'm already looking into getting Broadway tickets for my birthday--which is six months away!! I just love it so much."

My mother's sister and family lives not far from Gander, so this should be special! We bought group tickets, 16 total for this performance lol."

Oh my goodness. I hope you all plan on bringing BOXES of tissues! Honestly, whenever I go to Penn Station and I see the line for Canada, I want to get on line and get a ticket to go there! I don't care how long the trip is--I want to go. But wow. That should be really special for all of you! I look forward to your review! 

[Mike Barrett]

magictodo123 said: "Mike Barrett said: "magictodo123 said: "Mike Barrett said: "magictodo123 said: "Come From Away. From the moment the lights went down and the music started, I was almost about to cry. They had me crying one moment and laughing the next. I fell in love with the show all over again. Absolutely recommend trying to see it if it comes by you."

Saw it on Broadway with the OBC, and seeing it again next week on tour. I cannot wait!!!"

The touring cast is amazing. I hope you love it! I'm already looking into getting Broadway tickets for my birthday--which is six months away!! I just love it so much."

My mother's sister and family lives not far from Gander, so this should be special! We bought group tickets, 16 total for this performance lol."

Oh my goodness. I hope you all plan on bringing BOXES of tissues! Honestly, whenever I go to Penn Station and I see the line for Canada, I want to get on line and get a ticket to go there! I don't care how long the trip is--I want to go. But wow. That should be really special for all of you! I look forward to your review!"

Thanks!! Ive been trying to get them to see this since I saw it over a year ago now. Hoping the cast lives up to the OBC, but we shall see. 

[IdinaBellFoster]

Hard question, but i'll echo that the SOMETHING ROTTEN tour cast was pretty spectacular. I saw the second last stop with the original principles, and you could just tell they loved the show.

[DottieD'Luscia]

The Angelica company of Hamilton is pretty spectacular.  That was the most recent touring production I've seen.  But the excellent productions I've seen outweigh the underwhelming one's.

[dmwnc1959]

WICKED with Ginna Claire Mason and Mary Kate Morrissey. They were SUPERB!!!

[markypoo]

The 2000 tour of PARADE; with David Pittu, Andrea Burns, and some members of the OBC.
Saw it in Cleveland.

[markypoo]

The 2000 tour of PARADE; with David Pittu, Andrea Burns, and some members of the OBC.
Saw it in Cleveland.

[TheSassySam]

The Play That Goes Wrong was incredible in Chicago. 

 

I also really enjoyed a non-equity production of 42nd Street that came through here a few years ago. 

 

My first musical was the touring production of Spamalot with Gary Beach as King Arthur in Oklahoma City. I didn't get into musicals until I picked up a copy of The Producers on DVD from my local Blockbuster. So, teenage Sam, was FLOORED that I was actually seeing Gary Beach on stage. 

[Skip23]

Sandy Duncan’s PETER PAN

[Highland Guy]

AN AMERICAN IN PARIS, San Diego, 2018.  Everything about it was perfection.  My only regret is that I saw it just once.

HELLO, DOLLY, San Diego, 2018, Betty Buckley.  I admit to being crazy for Miss Buckley.  My appreciation for her dates to 1968 when I first saw her in London in "Promises, Promises".  Since, I have seen her on stage many times.  Her interpretation of "Dolly" was something remarkable, a portrait of a real woman at a special moment in life.  When Betty shed real tears during "Parade," so did I.  The entire cast and orchestra were exceptional.  The four times I saw this productions were some of the very best evenings I have spent in a theater.  Brava, Betty!

[hayleyann]

dmwnc1959 said: "WICKED with Ginna Claire Mason and Mary Kate Morrissey. They were SUPERB!!!"

100% agree.  Their chemistry together is ridiculous.  Hope MK does Elphaba on Broadway after her Mean Girls run and GC sticks around for it. 

[Plexsis]

Les Miserables 2003 cast (Randall Keith as Valjean, Ma-Anne Dionosio as Eponine)

Sweeney Todd - tour of Doyle Revival with a good chunk of the broadway cast, with Judy Kaye as Lovett and Alexander Gemignani as Sweeney (who was a brief replacement for the original tour Sweeney who was having health issues)

[Lot666]

The U.S. tour of Love Never Dies with Bronson Norris Murphy in the lead.

[David10086]

THE WHOS TOMMY - mid 90s tour.
HELLO DOLLY / Carol Channing tour - mid 90s.

[Call_me_jorge]

dmwnc1959 said: "WICKED with Ginna Claire Mason and Mary Kate Morrissey. They were SUPERB!!!"

I have second this. My first time seeing Wicked was the first national tour with Alison Luff and Cassie Okenka, which I was simply amazed by and I was quite worried my second time seeing it wouldn’t live up to the first. I was wrong and somehow the effects used for the second national tour were even better than the first.

 

[Bigserver1]

I saw the Buckley led Hello, Dolly! in January of this year and was floored. It was an exceptional production top to bottom. 

The Waitress cast we saw on tour last year was also outstanding. 

I feel like most touring companies I've seen have been really impressive, but those two stand out in my memory.

[BwayLB]

Grease with Taylor Hicks as Teen Angel! Colorfully stages with high energy direction and choreography by Kathleen Marshall 2009

Memphis 2012 Totally underrated a rare package of a touching story and high energy staging

Motown the Musical 2015 Awesome package of Motown Greatest Hits

Hello Dolly with Betty Buckley and she nailed it as the title role. Supporting cast was superb

[conealpetterson]

The OTC of the Hamilton Angelica Tour with Joshua Henry and Michael Luwoye, Dear Evan Hansen with Ben Levi Ross, Something Rotten, the Humans (it had most of the Broadway cast), and The King and I with Laura Michelle Kelly and Jose Llana.

[Luminaire2]

Seeing as how I've yet make it to New York... all I have to go off of are tours.

 

First and foremost, when I was 15 I finally saw my first Broadway production, Wicked in Seattle. This was and is still probably one of the best tours I have seen, as it had Shoshana Bean and Megan Hilty. AMAZING.

Most recently:

Come from Away in Vancouver was incredible.

Book of Mormon was great, AJ Holmes was so amazing.