My Dad teaches at the theatre department here in Auburn. I am an avid theatre goer/performer, but unfortuantely the only venue for plays and such are here in Auburn and at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. Ive never been to New York, but want to mainly because I could catch a couple of (off-) Broadway shows (Dreams of the stage production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Avenue Q dance through my head). Well, Im wondering what you guys's favorite plays are? Maybe some ones that people should avoid...? I dont know. Do whatever youd like with this thread.

You and I are in similar situations, E. My wife is completing a Ph.D. in the Theatre program at Indiana University. We see a lot of IU productions as well as performances from small community groups. The quality varies wildly.

In recent years, the IU Department of Theatre & Drama staged excellent productions of two of my favorite plays, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman and Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot. They also did a fine job with a play that Auburn is staging this season, Equus. If you've not seen it before E., I highly recommend it. I also hope Auburn does a good job staging Bertold Brecht's Galileo. The only production of it I have ever seen was a terrible mess perpetrated by the St. Louis Repertory Theatre.

The single best theatre experience I have ever had as a member of the audience was a revival of Eugene Ionesco's The Chairs in New York several years ago. My wife and I have seen a lot of very bad theatre over the years, which is something of an occupational hazard for her. The silver lining is that it makes a truly inspired production all the more enjoyable. We left the theatre that night literally in tears at just how damn good it was.

I am happy to say I have enjoyed all of the plays my wife has directed. I fear she would know it if I did not. Last season, she directed a Restoration comedy, The Wonder: A Woman Keeps a Secret at her undergraduate alma mader. Stylistically, it was a very different experience for her. One especially notable thing about the production was the production design. The theatre space presented a number of problems largely because of its size, so they built a Restoration-style stage within the larger space, which actually used ropes and wooden pulleys. There are some fine photos of it here.

Among contemporary playwrights, I like Suzan-Lori Parks very much. I wish a visit to NYC would coincide with one of her productions.

I could go on, but I already have far beyond the interest of most, I'm sure. Thanks for opening the topic, E. Even if we end up all alone here, I look forward to sharing notes with you.

Now Playing: The Cards avoiding a sweep by the Dodgers in L.A., 7-6. If this is a preview of the first round of the playoffs, they'll be nailbiters for mark, pE, and me.

I was just about to do this discussion. Well, I used to live in New York before I moved to the bay area CA. I would recommend phantom of the opera, les miserables, lion king, beauty and the beast, stomp, sweeney todd.. well I'll stop there. Pretty much all the shows that I've seen on broadway and off-broadway were good. Well, do you like musicals, operas or what?

i don't see much in the theatre, but while living in Atlanta, Dad's Garage Theatre staged the premiere of "Cannibal: The Musical" which was really hilarious.

They put on a few other shows that were pretty funny, but names escape me now.

I would really like to see a good production of Cannibal: The Musical. Given Parker and Stone's skill sending up Broadway on South Park, I'm sure it's every bit as hilarious as I have heard.

On a similar note, Indianapolis' Phoenix Theatre produced Bat Boy: The Musical (as seen in The Weekly World News) last season. Well worth the price of admission.

Now Playing: NPR's All Things Considered

Wait! I heard Trey Parker and Matt Stone??? What is this Cannibal: the Musical?? Someone please tell me!!

Kraftdeluxe-Cannibal:The Musical is available on dvd at most independent video rental stores.

quote:

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Originally posted by kraftdeluxe:
Wait! I heard Trey Parker and Matt Stone??? What is this Cannibal: the Musical?? Someone please tell me!!

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Here's some details:

Cannibal! The Musical is the true story of the only person convicted of cannibalism in America - Alferd Packer (according to Colorado lore. Read this article). The sole survivor of an ill-fated trip to the Colorado Territory, he tells his side of the harrowing tale to news reporter Polly Pry as he awaits his execution. And his story goes like this: While searching for gold and love in the Colorado Territory, he and his companions lost their way and resorted to unthinkable horrors, including toe-tapping songs!

And check out the site:

http://www.cannibalthemusical.net/about.shtml

It's quite a funny show...