Best of Stage 2014
It was a great year for stage shows and not just because I beat my record to see an all-time personal high of 168 shows, but there were such great shows that again, I cheated and include a Top 20 that actually has 24 shows in the list.
Again, any production I saw for the first time in 2014 is eligible and EVERYTHING I saw this year is listed at the bottom of the post. It included 28 New Musicals, 63 New Plays, 40 Revival of Plays, 16 Musical Revivals, 6 Dance Shows, 5 Circuses, and in a year I swore off Shakespeare, I still ended up seeing 9 of his plays in 10 productions. (While I tend to want to see Musicals first, there just isn't that many new productions of musicals, new OR old, is there?). Though I saw the most shows, I saw it in the least cities this year (Toronto, New York City, London, Macau, Los Angeles, Las Vegas).
Here's the Best of Stage 2014:
1. Classics Revisioned Young Vic style:
A View From the Bridge - Young Vic - London, UK
A Streetcar Named Desire - Young Vic - London, UK
A View From the Bridge: Written by Arthur Miller, Directed by Ivo van Hove
A Streetcar Named Desire: Written by Tennessee Williams, Directed by Benedict Andrews
Classic American plays. Totally re-invisioned in modern takes on Britain's Young Vic stage by foreign directors, with American leads. These two mind-blowing productions are definitely not for the purists. Ivo van Hove strips down (literally) Bridge to give the cast, lead by Mark Strong, a blank white platform to bring Arthur Miller's text into operatic proportions, and beautifully choreographed like a dance onto Jan Versweyveld's stylish but sparse minimalistic set. Gillian Anderson and Ben Foster go head to head as Anderson's Blanche Dubois spins (again, literally) into delusion in a dizzying, bright and emboldened take on Tennessee Williams' classic.
Note: A View From The Bridge will return to the West End in 2015, while A Streetcar Named Desire was filmed for NT Live.
2. The Bridges of Madison County - Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY
Music and Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown, Book by Marsha Norman based on the book by Robert James Waller, Directed by Bartlett Sher
Jason Robert Brown and Marsha Norman turns this goopy tale of a middle-aged affair in middle America into a passionate, heartbreaking musical of a short, spark of love, in sadly what turned out to be a production with a short run that sparked my love. The soaring and haunting tunes matched by the soaring performances from Steven Pasquale and Kelli O'Hara, was only enhanced by Bartlett Sher's efficient production that layered the simple premise with the nosey eyes of a close-knit community.
3. The James Plays - National Theatre's Olivier Theatre - London, UK
James I: The Key Will Keep the Lock
James II: Day of the Innocents
James III: The True Mirror
Written by Rona Munro, Directed by Laurie Sansom
Brand new history plays, about the emergence of Scotland and the Kings James that first lead the way, in a year when Scotland tried to define their own country, was both profound, stirring, and still highly entertaining. Epic in scope, modern in feel, unified and cohesive, yet distinctly three separate plays, each which worked wonderfully on their own, each in their own style and tone, making the history of Scotland something to be proud of. Playing in rep with a spectacular cast that included Sofie Gråbøl as the Danish queen that marries James III, who asks of Scotland what it wants to be, The James Plays easily asserts itself as a new modern classic.
4. King Charles III - Almeida Theatre - London, UK
Written by Mike Bartlett, Directed by Rupert Goold
If The James Plays is a wonderfully epic modern play about a piece of UK's history, King Charles III is a deliciously tantalizing "future-history play" about the UK's next step. If Shakespeare wrote for Hello! Magazine, this funny, but ultimately tragic tale of Prince Charles' reign as king after Queen Elizabeth dies, is wildly entertaining as Mike Bartlett peers into the future when Charles, William, Harry, Camilla and the ghost of Diana, must deal with the media and what becomes of the most wildly followed monarchy in the near future.
5. Pocatello - Playwrights Horizons - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY
Written by Samuel D. Hunter, Directed by Davis McCallum
When the manager of a failing Italian chain restaurant in Pocatello, Idaho struggles to keep his restaurant afloat, trying to rally his employees, while inviting their families as last ditch efforts for customers, a slew of hopes and small town struggles percolate this slice-of-life dramedy. As everyone keeps telling manager Eddie to ditch the restaurant and his current state of life, T.R. Knight's poignant and heart wrenching portrayal of a gay man trying his dearest to hang onto his hometown roots despite the loneliness and disaffecting daily small town life has a universal resonance.
6. Kat Sandler Plays
Cockfight - Theatre Brouhaha and Red One Theatre Collective at Storefront Theatre - Toronto, ON/
Punch Up - Theatre Brouhaha at Fringe Toronto in the George Ignatief Theatre - Toronto, ON
Written and Directed by Kat Sandler
Kat Sandler's one-two punch with these two very different, wildly contrasting plays, still has its roots in the desperate nature of boys, trying to make a connection, without knowing how to be grown ups. Cockfight is simply an eye-opening stunner of a drama about brothers who stupidly get suckered into cockfighting, both literally and figuratively. Intense and thrilling, Sandler seems to have a keen ear on how men behave badly with each other all in the name of brotherhood, while a girl (in a stunning turn by Caroline Toal) steps into the ring to throw in a curve in these mens relationship with each other. Punch Up, about the desperate attempt a lonely man tries to woo a girl, is a straight up comedy that beautifully sets up every slapstick comedy schtick in a series that seems to be the history of the best of old-school comedy, yet the ultimate punchline is the heart and emotional punch beneath the laughs.
7. Machinal - Roundabout Theatre Company at American Airlines Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY
Written by Sophie Treadwell, Directed by Lindsey Turner
Under the sound and fury of streaking lights spins a modern mechanical world where a young woman (a bewildering Rebecca Hall) is thrown to the edges of society and into an unflinching and unrepentant system. Sophie Treadwell, with her team of designers; Es Devlin's sets, Matt Tierney's sounds, and Jane Cox's lighting, creates a hypnotic and frenzied claustrophobic chamber that entraps and spins this poor woman's world until her inevitable tragic ending. An epic production of such a suffocating story.
8. True - Criminal Theatre at Toronto Fringe in the Citizenry - Toronto, ON
Written and Directed by Rosa Laborde
If memory may serve me well, this delicate yet oddly powerful play about the differing truths one family holds on the memory of a tragic turning point was beautifully rendered in a simple in-situ production written and directed by Rosa Laborde.
9. Violet - Roundabout Theatre Company at the American Airlines Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY
Music by Jeanine Tesori, Books and Lyrics by Brian Crawley, Directed by Leigh Silverman
Sutton Foster sings beautifully as an ugly woman on a bus trip to make herself beautiful through the power of prayer. Jeanine Tesori's enlightening gospel infused score and Leigh Silverman's simple direction keeps this road trip musical moving with the help of the excellent Joshua Henry and Colin Donnell who convincingly smooth over some of the bumps on the road in this oddball story of hope and faith.
10. The Heir Apparent - Classic Stage Company - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY
Written by David Ives, adapted from the play by Jean-François Regnard, Directed by John Rando
Who knew an all rhyming modern adaptation of an old French farce could be so funny? Well, with Carson Elrod, David Pittu and Paxton Whitehead as part of the cast, in a story of a young man waiting for his inheritance and trying to woo the girl he loves, this ridiculous set up is ridiculously delightful and charming.
11. Hedwig and the Angry Inch - Belasco Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Trask, Book by John Cameron Mitchell, Directed by Michael Mayer
Neil Patrick Harris as Hedwig on Broadway and it worked. Immensely. In a huge and happy way. And then it was tragic. In the storyline. And it was great!
12. Then She Fell - Third Rail Projects at The Kingsland's Ward at St. Johns - Brooklyn, NY
Written, Designed, Directed and Choreographed by Zach Morris, Tom Pearson and Jennine Willett in collaboration with The Company
Fall along with Alice into wonderment in this bewildering and enrapturing theatrical experience that brings immersive theatre to an extreme and up-close level. Already a few years into its run in the middle of nowhere Brooklyn, this theatrical dance piece only has 15 tickets per show but countless details and personalized journeys lead each audience member onto different paths. The intricacy of the show is simply a wonder land.
13. Scenes from a Marriage - New York Theatre Workshop - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY
Written by Ingar Bergman, English Version by Emily Mann, Directed by Ivo van Hove
Ivo van Hove splits this marriage between Johan and Marianne into three time phases and the audience splits into three to experience them in a different order. As we realize that the different phases of a marriage are seen and echoed into each other, a stunning second act takes it all away (with all the walls that split the theatre completely gone). The three different sets of Johan's and Marianne's reveal themselves as this one couple as they move on from the marriage but literally showing that the past selves never really disappear. The play itself, an adaptation of Ingmar Bergman's film, is no longer the most shocking storyline, especially now that divorce and seemingly perfect marriages that fail seem more like the norm but how Hove and Mann have managed to dissect and reveal through this unique production makes these scenes from a marriage feel haunting and profound.
14. The Few - Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre - Off- Broadway - New York City, NY -
Written by Samuel D. Hunter, Directed by David McCallum
In a second entry from Samuel D. Hunter, Hunter seems to have a perfecting voice of loneliness in middle America. In this tiny production at the Rattlestick, the big, but lonely hearts beneath squabbling exes, trying to keep their small self published newspaper (written specifically for truck drivers) afloat, are forced to reveal themselves when a young intern steps between them. There is a lot to love in this play about people trying to help others find love (via the dying personal classifieds section) but who seem unwilling to help themselves.
15. Kiss & Cry - A Charleroi Danses at Canadian Stage Company in the Bluma Appel Theatre at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts - Toronto, ON (Review)
By Michèle Anne De Mey and Jaco Van Dormael
A dance play using dancing fingers to tell the tale of a woman's loves and losses and yes I just said dancing fingers and yes it was amazingly haunting and mesmerizing, both in its technical nature (using cameras, miniatures, screens) and in its surprisingly emotional pull. Yes, dancing fingers. Who would have thought?
16. The Cherry Orchard - Young Vic - London, UK
Written by Anton Chekhov, English Language Version by Simon Stephens, Directed by Katie Mitchell
Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard presented as a intense, hurried thriller, almost like a horror movie. This is how you make Chekhov exciting and urgent and timely and thrilling. Because what is more horrific than losing all your money and denying that you are now poor?
17. East is East - Trafalgar Studios - West End - London, UK
Written by Ayub Khan-Din, Directed by Sam Yeates
Times may have changed since East is East first debuted, and definitely since this play's setting, but the themes of racial integration in western society still rings familiar and true. Ayub Khan Din, the playwright himself, now plays his father in this autobiographical play, against British wife Jane Horrocks as they have very different methods to guide their mixed-raced children in the still very white London. Unapologetic in its presentation of the generational differences in attitudes, this energetic production still feels relevant and still manages to surprise.
18. Accolade - St. James Theatre - London, UK
Written by Emlyn Williams, Directed by Blanche McIntyre
When a writer learns of his knighthood honour, someone threatens to out his secret in a blackmail scheme. But his wife knows the secret as they have an unstated understanding. But his secret is that he partakes in orgy parties. But there seems to be lots of rational discussions and understandings about said orgies as something non-scandalous to those that knew. But this was written back in 1950! Accolade is fascinating in its attitudes and taut thrills that pits family drama against societal reactions in this very timely and still sadly relevant old-school scandal drama.
19. Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time - Gielgud Theatre - West End - London, UK
Adapted by Simon Stephens based on the novel by Mark Haddon, Directed by Marianne Elliott
While not everything works in this theatrical adaptation of Mark Haddon's novel, Marianne Elliott's astounding theatrical production brings in multiple stage tricks to tell the story of a mathematical boy-genius with behavioural problems as he tries to solve the mystery of a dead dog. Magical staging enhances the story in a simple play that feels like a musical as directed by Elliott (who did a similar effort with War Horse).
20. 'Tis Pity She's a Whore - Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare's Globe - London, UK
Written by John Ford, Directed by Michael Longhurst
I was torn on this one. Not sure I liked it walking out, but it has lingered with me ever since. Being in the newly built Sam Wanamaker Playhouse was both claustrophobically fitting, and horribly uncomfortably fitting. Built to the original plans, using only candlelights for lighting, this 400 year old play is fitting for the Wanamaker. The play is still as shocking and disturbing as ever, and in the confines of one of the most uncomfortable, but beautifully elegant recreated theatres, this cautionary tale and scathing commentary on the misogany and hypocritical nature men take on women's sexuality and choices, still sears in the mind. A strong cast in an interesting and seemingly solid production may not overcome the pains my body had sitting in what might be the most uncomfortable theatre in my life, but I have also not been able to shake off the imagery and powerful statement in this tale of incest, vengeance, jealousy and many other bloody things.
Special Mention:
Cabaret - Roundabout Theatre Company at Studio 54 - Broadway - New York City, NY
The revival of the revival was still as stellar and haunting as ever.
Most Promising:
The Enlightenment of Percival Von Schmootz
Music by Michael Kooman, Book and Lyrics by Chris Dimond
A new musical from the young team of Kooman and Dimond, presented part of the show at a workshop at the Canadian Music Theatre Project and it was hysterically ready for a full presentation. Special kudos to the cast of Sheridan Theatre students who were outstanding and hilarious.
Breakthrough Performances (in alphabetical order):
The cast of The Cherry Orchard: Cevan Clarke, Andy Cresswell, Kate Duchêne, Gawn Grainger, Paul Hilton, Peter Hobday, Stephen Kennedy, Natalie Klamar, Sarah Malin, Tom Mothersdale, Sarah Ridgeway, Dominic Rowan, Hugh Skinner, Catrin Stewart, Angus Wright
The cast of Cockfight: Benjamin Blais, Jakob Ehman, Brenhan McKibbon, Caroline Toal, David Tompa
The cast of The James Plays: Cameron Barnes, Daniel Cahill, Ali Craig, Blythe Duff, Nick Elliott, Peter Forbes, Andrew Fraser, Sofie Gråbøl, Sarah Higgins, Stephanie Hyam, Gordon Kennedy, James McArdle, Alasdair Macrae, David Mara, Beth Marshall, Rona Morison, Andrew Rothney, Mark Rowley, Jamie Sives, Fiona Wood
The cast of Wet House: Joe Caffrey, Chris Connel, Riley Jones, Jackie Lye, Eva Quinn, Simon Roberts
Mark Antolin (as Private Angelo Maggio) in From Here to Eternity The Musical
Kyle Beltran in The Fortress of Solitude
Jon Jon Briones in Miss Saigon
Jonathan Broadbent in My Night with Reg
Fiona Button in 'Tis Pity She's a Whore
Hadley Fraser in City of Angels
James Garnon in 'Tis Pity She's a Whore
Richard Goulding in King Charles III
Martin Happer in Arcadia
Cole Horibe in Kung Fu
Anthony Howell in Julius Caesar
Peter Kim in Kung Fu
Robert Lonsdale in From Here to Eternity The Musical
Jack Lowden in Electra
Eva Noblezada in Miss Saigon
Haley McGee in Helen Lawrence
Tom McKay in Julius Caesar
Jamie Muscato in Dogfight
Sam Plant in Lord of the Flies
Will Pullen in Punk Rock
Danny Reubens in Lord of the Flies
Tal Schulman in To Kill A Mockingbird
Morag Siller in 'Tis Pity She's a Whore
Brian J. Smith in The Glass Menagerie
Tracey Ullman in The Band Wagon
Liz White in Electra
Barrett Wilber Weed in Heathers
Lydia Wilson in King Charles III
Jessica Tyler Wright in Allegro
Great Performances (in alphabetical order):
The cast of A Misfortune: Adam Brazier, Réjean Cournoyer, Kaylee Harwood, Trish Lindstrom, Jordan Till
The cast of A View From the Bridge: Emun Elliott, Phoebe Fox, Michael Gould, Luke Norris, Mark Strong, Nicola Walker
The cast of The Few: Gideon Glick, Michael Laurence, Tasha Lawrence
The ensemble cast of Found: Christina Anthony, Andrew Call, Daniel Everidge, Orville Mendoza, Betsy Morgan, Molly Pope, Danny Pudi, Sandy Rustin
The Johan and Marianne's of Scenes from a Marriage: Tina Benko, Susannah Flood, Arliss Howard, Alex Hurt, Dallas Roberts, Roslyn Ruff
The cast of Scheherazade: Heather Marie Annis, Jasmine Chen, Lindsey Clark, Christopher Fowler, Matthew Gorman, Natasha Greenblatt, Omar Hady, Chala Hunter, Kat Letwin, and Steven McCarthy, Clyde Whitham
Gillian Anderson in A Streetcar Named Desire
Richard Armitage in The Crucible
Max Bennett in 'Tis Pity She's a Whore
Eve Best in Antony and Cleopatra
Reed Birney in Casa Valentina
Benedict Campbell in Cabaret (Shaw Festival)
Adam Chanler-Berat in The Fortress of Solitude
Oliver Chris in King Charles III
Bryan Cranston in All the Way
Alan Cumming in Cabaret (Broadway)
Brandon J. Dirden in All the Way
Claybourne Elder in Allegro
Carson Elrod in The Heir Apparent
Linda Emond in Cabaret (Broadway)
Ben Foster in A Streetcar Named Desire
Hunter Foster in The Bridges of Madison County
Sutton Foster in Violet
Rebecca Hall in Machinal
Neil Patrick Harris in Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Deborah Hay in Cabaret (Shaw Festival)
Kate Hennig in Rifles
Joshua Henry in Violet
Jane Horrocks in East is East
Holly Hunter in Sticks and Bones
Andy Karl in Rocky
Ayub Khan-Din in East is East
Celia Keenan-Bolger in The Glass Menagerie
T. R. Knight in Pocatello
Cyrus Lane in Rifles
Anika Larsen in Beautiful
Jude Law in Henry V
Allan Louis in Helen Lawrence
Matthew MacFadyen in Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense
Stephen Mangan in Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense
Andrea Martin in Act One
Hamish McCann in La Soirée
Helen McCrory in Medea
Audra McDonald in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill
Tom McGowan in Casa Valentina
Idina Menzel in If/Then
Debra Messing in Outside Mullingar
Jeff Miller in To Kill a Mockingbird
Jessica Moss in To Kill a Mockingbird
Jessie Mueller in Beautiful
Cillian Murphy in Ballyturk
Anika Noni Rose in A Raisin in the Sun
Brian F. O'Byrne in Outside Mullingar
Moya O'Connell in The Philadelphia Story
Chris O'Dowd in Of Mice and Men
Kelli O'Hara in The Bridges of Madison County
Sophie Okonedo in A Raisin in the Sun
Julian Ovenden in My Night with Reg
Steven Pasquale in The Bridges of Madison County
Tim Pigott-Smith in King Charles III
Gray Powell in Cabaret (Shaw Festival) and Arcadia
LaTanya Richardson Jackson in A Raisin in the Sun
Andrew Scott in Birdland
Tony Shalhoub in Act One
Jeremy Shamos in Dinner with Friends
Jurnee Smollett-Bell in The Trip to Bountiful
Jarrod Spector in Beautiful
Brian Stokes Mitchell in The Band Wagon
Russell Tovey in The Pass
Cicely Tyson in The Trip to Bountiful
Raviv Ullman in Sticks and Bones
Nick Westrate in Casa Valentina
Mare Winningham in Casa Valentina
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Here is every Stage Show I saw in 2014 in alphabetical order. All reviews are based on a 5 stars system (Workshop Labs, Readings, Concerts and Cabarets are not graded):
1984 (Play) - Almeida Theatre - London, UK - ****
52 Pick Up (Play) - Best of Fringe Toronto at the Studio Theatre in the Toronto Centre for the Arts - Toronto, ON - ***1/2
Accolade (Play Revival) - St. James Theatre - London, UK - ****
Act One (Play) - Lincoln Center Theater at the Vivian Beaumont Theater - Broadway - New York City, NY - ***
After Midnight (Musical) - Brooks Atkinson Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - ***1/2
A Gentlemen's Guide to Love and Murder (Musical) - Walter Kerr Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - ***
Alice Through the Looking Glass (Play Revival) - Stratford Festival in the Avon Theatre - Stratford, ON - ***
Allegro (Musical Revival) - Classic Stage Company - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - ***
All the Way (Play) - Neil Simon Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - ***1/2
A Man's A Man (Play Revival) - Classic Stage Company - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - **
American Psycho (Musical) - Almeida Theatre - London, UK - **1/2
A Midsummer Night's Dream (Play Revival) - Stratford Festival in the Festival Theatre - Stratford, ON - **
A Misfortune (Musical)- Next Stage Festival at Factory Theatre Studio - Toronto, ON - **** (Review)
Angels in America (Play Revival) - Teneelgroep Amsterdam in the Harvey Theatre at BAM - Brooklyn, NY - ****
Annapurna (Play) - New Group at Acorn Theater at Theater Row - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - **
Antony and Cleopatra (Play Revival) - Shakespeare's Globe Theatre - London, UK - ****
A Particle of Dread (Oedipus Variations) (Play Revival) - Signature Theatre Company in The Griffin Theatre at Pershing Square Signature Center - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - **
A Raisin in the Sun (Play Revival) - Ethel Barrymore Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - ****
Arcadia x 2 (Play Revival) - Shaw Festival at the Royal Alexandra Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***
Arrabal (Dance Play) - Panasonic Theatre - Toronto, ON - **1/2
A Streetcar Named Desire (Play Revival) - Young Vic - London, UK - ****1/2
A View From the Bridge (Play Revival) - Young Vic - London, UK - *****
The Ballad of the Young Offender (Musical) - Crow's Theatre at Sidemart's Theatrical Grocery - **
Ballyturk (Play) - National Theatre's Lyttleton Theatre - London, UK - **1/2
The Band Wagon (Musical Revival) - Encores! at New York City Center - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - ***
Beautiful (Musical) - Stephen Sondheim Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - ***1/2
Behind the Beautiful Forevers (Play) - National Theatre's Olivier Theatre - London, UK - *1/2
Belleville (Play) - Company Theatre and Canadian Stage Company at the Berkeley Street Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***
Birdland (Play) - Royal Court Theatre at Jerwood Theatre Downstairs - ***
Blame Canada (Musical Cabaret) - Hugh's Room - Toronto, ON
Blank the Musical (Musical) - New World Stages - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - **1/2
The Boy with Tape On His Face (Play) - Panasonic Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***
The Bridges of Madison County x3 (Musical) - Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - ****1/2
Bullets Over Broadway (Musical) - St. James Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - *1/2
Buyer & Cellar (Play) - Panasonic Theatre - Toronto, ON - ****
Cabaret (Musical Revival) - Roundabout Theatre Company at Studio 54 - Broadway - New York City, NY - ****1/2
Cabaret (Musical Revival) - Shaw Festival's Festival Theatre - Niagara-On-The-Lake, ON - ***1/2
Canadian Music Theatre Project (Musical Workshop) - Sheridan Theatre at Sheridan College - Oakville, ON
The Enlightenment of Percival Von Schmootz (Musical)
Marathon of Hope (Musical)
Moll (Musical)
Prom Queen (Musical)
Casa Valentina (Play) - Manhattan Theatre Club at the Samuel Friedman Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - **** (Review)
The Cherry Orchard (Play Revival) - Young Vic - London, UK - ****
Cinderella (Ballet) - National Ballet of Canada at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts - Toronto, ON - **** (Review)
Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella (Musical Revival) - Broadway Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - ***1/2 (Review)
City of Angels (Musical Revival) - Donmar Warehouse - West End - London, UK - ***
Cockfight (Play) - Theatre Brouhaha and Red One Theatre Collective at Storefront Theatre - Toronto, ON - ****1/2
The Country House (Play) - Manhattan Theatre Club at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - **1/2
Crazy For You (Musical Revival) - Stratford Festival in the Festival Theatre - Stratford, ON - ****
The Crucible (Play Revival) - The Old Vic - London, UK - ****
Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Play) - Gielgud Theatre - West End - London, UK - ****
Dead Metaphor (Play) - Panasonic Theatre - Toronto, ON - **
Dinner with Friends (Play Revival) - Roundabout Theatre Company at the Laura Pels Theatre in the Harold and Mirium Steinberg Center for Theatre - ***1/2
Dogfight (Musical) - Southwark Playhouse - London, UK - ****
Dreaming of Rob Ford (Play) - Crow's Theatre at Big Picture Cinema - Toronto, ON - ****
East is East (Play Revival) - Trafalgar Studios - West End - London, UK - ****
Electra (Play Revival) - The Old Vic - London, UK - ***
Father Comes Home from the Wars (Parts 1, 2, & 3) (Play) - Anspacher Theater at The Public - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - ***
The Few (Play) - Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre - Off- Broadway - New York City, NY - ****
Flashdance (Musical) - Ed Mirvish Theatre - Toronto, ON - **1/2
Flesh and Other Fragments of Love (Play) - Tarragon Theatre MainStage - Toronto, ON - **1/2 (Review)
The Fortress of Solitude (Musical) - Newman Theater at The Public - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - ***
Found (Musical) - Atlantic Theater at the Linda Gross Theater - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - ***
From Here to Eternity: The Musical (Musical) - Shaftesbury Theatre - West End - London, UK - ***1/2 (Review)
The Glass Menagerie (Play Revival) - Booth Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - ***1/2
Gold Rush (Play) - Keystone Theatre at the Toronto Fringe in the Al Green Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***
The Civilian's The Great Immensity (Musical) - Martinson Hall at The Public - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - **
Hay Fever (Play Revival) - Stratford Festival in the Avon Theatre - Stratford, ON - ***1/2
Heartbeat of Home (Dance) - Ed Mirvish Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***
Heathers (Musical) - New World Stages - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - ***
Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Musical Revival) - Belasco Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - ****1/2
The Heir Apparent (Play) - Classic Stage Company - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - ****1/2
Helen Lawrence (Play) - Canadian Stage Company in the Bluma Appel Theatre at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts - Toronto, ON - *** (Review)
Henry IV (Play Revival) - Donmar Warehouse - West End - London, UK - *1/2
Henry V (Play Revival) - Noel Coward Theatre - West End - London, UK - ***1/2
Holler If Ya Hear Me (Musical) - Palace Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - **1/2 (Review)
Honeymoon in Vegas (Musical) - Nederlander Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - ***
The House of Dancing Water (Circus) - Dancing Water Theatre at City of Dreams - Macau - ****
Hugh and I (Musical) - Toronto Fringe at Randolph Theatre - **1/2
If/Then (Musical) - Richard Rodgers Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - ****
James and the Giant Peach (Musical) - Young People's Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***1/2 (Review)
The James Plays (Plays) - National Theatre's Olivier Theatre - London, UK - ****1/2
James I: The Key Will Keep the Lock - ****1/2
James II: Day of the Innocents - ****
James III: The True Mirror - ****1/2
Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense (Play) - Duke of York's Theatre - West End - London, UK - ****
Julie, Madly, Deeply (Play) - Panasonic Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***
Julius Caesar (Play Revival) - Shakespeare's Globe Theatre - London, UK - ****
The Killer (Play Revival) - Theatre for a New Audience - Brooklyn, NY - ***1/2 (Review)
Killer Business (Musical) - Next Stage Festival at Factory Theatre - Toronto, ON - *
King Charles III (Play) - Almeida Theatre - London, UK - ****1/2
Kiss & Cry (Play) - A Charleroi Danses at Canadian Stage Company in the Bluma Appel Theatre at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts - Toronto, ON - **** (Review)
Kung Fu (Play) - Signature Theatre at The Diamond in The Pershing Square Theatre Center - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - ***1/2
Cirque du Soleil's Kurios: Cabinet of Curiosities (Circus) - Le Grand Chapiteau at the Portlands - Toronto, ON - ****
Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill (Play Revival) - Circle in the Square Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - ***1/2
La Soirée (Circus) - Spiegeltent at Southbank Centre - London, UK - ***1/2
The Last Confession (Play) - Royal Alexandra Theatre - Toronto, ON - **1/2
Le Rêve (Circus) - Aqua Stage at Wynn Las Vegas - Las Vegas, NV - ****
Let The Right One In (Play) - Royal Court Theatre at the Apollo Theatre - West End - London, UK - ****
The Light Princess (Musical) - National Theatre's Lyttelton Theatre - London, UK - ***1/2
Little Me (Musical Revival) - Encores at New York City Center - New York City, NY - ***
London Road (Musical) - Canadian Stage at Bluma Apel Theatre at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts - Toronto, ON - ***1/2 (Review)
Lord of the Flies (Dance) - A New Adventures and Re:Bourne Production at Sadler's Wells - London, UK - **** (Review)
Lost and Found (Play) - Best of Fringe Toronto at the Studio Theatre in the Toronto Centre for the Arts - Toronto, ON - ****
Love Letters (Play Revival) - Brooks Atkinson Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - **** (Review)
Machinal (Play Revival) - Roundabout Theater Company at American Airlines Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - ****1/2
Man of La Mancha (Musical Revival) - Stratford Festival in the Avon Theatre - Stratford, ON - **
Manon (Ballet) - National Ballet of Canada at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts - Toronto, ON - **** (Review)
Manon, Sandra and the Virgin Mary (Play Revival) - Pleiades Theatre In Association with Buddies in Bad Times Theatre at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***1/2 (Review)
Marjorie Prime (Play) - Mark Taper Forum - Los Angeles, CA - **
Marry Me A Little (Musical Revival) - Tarragon Theatre - Toronto, ON - **
Medea (Play Revival) - National Theatre's Olivier Theatre - London, UK - ****
Metamorphosis (Play Revival) - Royal Alexandra Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***
Miss Saigon (Musical Revival) - Prince Edward Theatre - West End - London, UK - ****
Mothers and Sons (Play) - Golden Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - ***1/2
My Night with Reg (Play Revival) - Donmar Warehouse - West End - London, UK - ****
Myth of the Ostrich (Play) - Toronto Fringe in St. Vlad's Theatre - Toronto, ON - ****
Much Ado About Nothing (Play Revival) - The Public Theater at The Delacorte Theater in Central Park - New York City, NY - ***
Murder for Two (Musical) - New World Stages - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - ***1/2
The Musical of Musicals The Musical! (Muiscal) - Panasonic Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***
The Nether (Play) - Royal Court Theatre at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs - London, UK - ****
No Chance in Hell (Musical) - Toronto Fringe in the Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse - Toronto, ON - ***
Of Mice and Men (Play Revival) - Longacre Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - ***1/2
Once (Musical) - Phoenix Theatre - West End - London, UK - ****1/2
The One (Play) - Soho Theatre - London, UK - ***1/2
On the Other Side of the World (Play) - Next Stage Festival at Factory Theatre - Toronto, ON - *** (Review)
Opus (Circus) - Circa at Canadian Stage in the Bluma Appel Theatre at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts - **** (Review)
Our Country's Good (Play Revival) - Royal Alexandra Theatre - Toronto, ON - **
Our Lady of Kibeho (Play) - Signature Theatre Company in the Diamond Theatre at Pershing Square Signature Center - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - ***1/2
Outside Mullingar (Play) - Manhattan Theatre Club at Samuel J. Friedman Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - ***1/2
The Pass (Play) - Royal Court Theatre at Jerwood Theatre Upstairs - London, UK - ****
Peddling (Play) - Theater C at 59E59 Theater - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - **
The Philadelphia Story (Play Revival) - Shaw Festival's Festival Theatre - Niagara-On-The-Lake, ON - ***1/2
Pippin (Musical Revival) - The Music Box Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - ****
The Play That Goes Wrong (Play) - Duchess Theatre - West End - London, UK - ***
Pocatello (Play) - Playwrights Horizons - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - ****1/2
Punch Up (Play) - Theatre Brouhaha at Fringe Toronto in the George Ignatief Theatre - Toronto, ON - ****1/2
Punk Rock (Play) - MCC Theater at the Lucille Lortel Theatre - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - ***
Queer Bathroom Stories (Play) - Buddies in Bad Times Theatre - Toronto, ON - *** (Review)
The Real Thing (Play Revival) - Roundabout Theatre Company at the American Airlines Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - **1/2
Richard III (Play Revival) - Trafalgar Studios - West End - London, UK - ***1/2
Rifles (Play) - Next Stage Festival at Factory Theatre - Toronto, ON - **** (Review)
The River (Play) - Circle in the Square Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - ***1/2
Rocky (Musical) - Winter Garden Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - ***
Romeo and Juliet (Ballet) - National Ballet of Canada at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts - Toronto, ON - ***
Romeo and Juliet (Play) - National Theatre in The Shed - London, UK - ***
Scenes from a Marriage (Play) - New York Theatre Workshop - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - ****
Scheherazade (Play) - Next Stage Festival at Factory Theatre - Toronto, ON - ****
Schumann Symphony 2 (Symphony) - Toronto Symphony Orchestra - Toronto, ON
Shakespeare in Love (Play) - Noël Coward Theatre - West End - London, UK - ****
Sixteen Scandals (Play) - The Second City - Toronto, ON - ***
Sticks and Bones (Play Revival) - New Group in The Linney Theatre at Pershing Square Signature Center - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - ***
Skylight (Play Revival) - Wyndham Theatre - West End - London, UK - ****
Sultans of the Street (Play) - Young People's Theatre - Toronto, ON - *** (Review)
Tales of Red Vienna (Play) - Manhattan Theatre Club at City Center Stage 1 - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - ***1/2
Then She Fell (Play) - Third Rail Projects at The Kingsland's Ward at St. Johns - Brooklyn, NY - ****1/2
tick, tick... Boom! (Musical Revival) - Encores! at New York City Center - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - ***
'Tis Pity She's a Whore (Play Revival) - Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare's Globe - London, UK - ****
To Kill a Mockingbird (Play Revival) - Young People's Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***1/2 (Review)
Too Much Sun (Play) - Vineyard Theatre - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - **1/2
The Trip to Bountiful (Play Revival) - Ahmanson Theatre - Los Angeles, CA - ***1/2
True (Play) - Criminal Theatre at Toronto Fringe in the Citizenry - Toronto, ON - ****1/2
Twelfth Night: Or What You Will (Play Revival) - Belasco Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - ****
The Ugly One (Play) - Tarragon Theatre Extra Space - Toronto, ON - **** (Review)
Urinetown (Musical) - St. James Theatre - London, UK - ****
The Velocity of Autumn (Play) - Booth Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - **
Violet (Musical Revival) - Roundabout Theatre Company at the American Airlines Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - ****1/2
Vitals (Play) - Outside the March Theatre Company in Roncesvalle - Toronto, ON - **
Wet House (Play) - Soho Theatre - London, UK - ****
Who's Your Daddy? (Play) - Crow's Theatre at Loft Apartment - Toronto, ON - ***
__________________________________________________________________
Previous Best-of Lists:
Best of 2013 List:
Best of Stage 2013
Best of 2012 Lists:
Best of Music 2012
Best of Stage 2012
Best of 2011 Lists:
Best of Music 2011
Best of Television 2011
Best of Stage 2011
Best of 2010 Lists:
Best of Music 2010
Best of Television 2010
Best of Stage 2010
Best of Movies 2010
Best of 2009 Lists:
Best of Music 2009
Best of Television 2009
Best of Stage 2009
Best of Movies 2009
Decadeworthy - The Best of 2000-2009 Lists:
SYTYCDworthy (w/ Videos) - List Format
Theatre of the Decade
Best Films of the Decade
Favorite Films of the Decade
Television of the Decade
Television of the Decade - 1 Season Wonders
Best of 2008 Lists:
Best of Music 2008
Best of Television 2008
Best of Stage 2008
Best of Movies 2008
Best of Television Fall '07 - Winter '08 List
Best of 2007 Lists:
Best of Music 2007
Best of Television 2007
Best of Movies 2007
Best of Stage 2007
Best of 2007 (The Final Wrap Up)
Best of Television Fall '06 - Winter '07 List
Best of 2006 Lists:
Best of Music 2006
Best of Television 2006
Best of Movies 2006
Best of 2006
Best of Television Fall '05 - Winter '06 List
Best of 2005 Lists:
Best of Television 2005
Best of Movies 2005
Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com
Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com
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