THEIR FAVORITE THINGS: Cinderella Star Ann Harada Shares Her Theatregoing Experiences

(Clicking on a name bolded in blue will take readers to that actor or show's entry in the Playbill Vault.)


	"The original cast (Angela Lansbury, Len Cariou, Victor Garber, etc.) was simply sublime. I saw it the day it won the Tony! I remember riding the big escalator at the Uris (now the Gershwin) thinking that was the best musical I have ever seen. I was 15, of course, but I'm not sure my opinion has changed."

Michael Siberry in The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (1986)


	"Eight-and-a-half hours of pure theatrical heaven. I loved the RSC's ensemble storytelling, and Michael Siberry was the epitome of decency, kindness and handsomeness. I'm so glad he moved to NYC and now I get to watch him in Broadway plays all the time!"

Kathy Bates in Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune (1987)


	"A real tour-de-force for the amazing Ms. Bates, who was prickly, vulnerable, funny, and by the end, beautiful. Just totally inspiring in every way. If you're producing another revival, I'm available!"

BD Wong and David Dukes in M. Butterfly (1988)


	"This might be a little suspect because it was my Broadway debut, but I was in total awe of these two magnetic, committed performances, which I was lucky to witness every night! Both men were mesmerizing and heartbreaking."

The original cast of Falsettoland (1990)


	"I was lucky enough to see this at Playwrights Horizons, and I don't think I have ever been as totally absorbed and moved as I was that night. I was already a big fan of William Finn's music (I wore out my cassette tape of March of the Falsettos), but Falsettoland put me over the edge. Like everybody else in the theatre, I lost a lot of friends around that time, and this show gave me so much comfort."

The original cast of Once on this Island (1990)


	"Oh my gosh, was this the greatest year Playwrights Horizons ever had? I saw this four times at the Booth Theater after it transferred. I could not get enough of this fabulous ensemble storytelling all about the power of love and family."

The original cast of Assassins (1991)


	"Victor Garber rocked my world again as John Wilkes Booth, but everyone in that cast was totally compelling. You know when you're watching something and you think, 'I don't know why I love this so much, but I love this so much!' This was not easy material for 1991, which is what stopped it from transferring to Broadway, but I think history has proven its greatness and sadly, its relevance."


	"Brian Dennehy was amazing; everyone was great, but Ms. Franz just broke my heart."

Joe Mantello in The Normal Heart (2011)


	"I knew Joe as a director, but his acting was so incredible I got upset that he had deprived us of his acting for so long! What a selfish jerk! But seriously, he was as honest, specific and uncompromising as anyone could possibly be."


	"Their performances put me into a state of bliss. Oh, when he launches into his attack on technology! Oh, when she takes the phone call from the man she met at the party! I just wanted to watch them forever! So joyful, so moving."