Best of Stage 2018
2018 total: 190 Shows (including repeats) in Toronto (and surrounding), London, New York City, San Francisco, and Dublin.
As with any lists, I have my own made up rules for basically is what I deem best things I saw on stage for my first time in 2018. A ridiculous notion since what is best anyways, but alas, my dying blog, my rules, and thus my list of favourites. And was is even "first time"?
Anyways, again, any shows (same production version) I had seen in previous years are ineligible for this year's list (including )
For previous years Best of Stage Lists:
Best of Stage 2017 (including Angels in America, Network)
Best of Stage 2016 (including Waitress, Cacti)
Best of Stage 2015 (including Come From Away, Hamilton, The King and I)
Best of Stage 2014
Best of Stage 2013
Best of Stage 2012
Best of Stage 2011
Best of Stage 2010
Best of Stage 2009 (including Emergence)
Best of Stage 2008
Best of Stage 2007
Alas, here's my take from everything "new" I saw this year. Felt like I saw a lot of good stuff this year, though I was also catching up with a lot of acclaimed shows from previous years so maybe it's why I felt there was an abundance of great things on stage this year:
Here's the Best of Stage 2018:
1. Lewiston/Clarkston - Rattlestick Playwrights Theater - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY
Written by Samuel D. Hunter, Directed by Davis McCallum
I saw a workshop reading last year so I was already prepped and yet Samuel D. Hunter still slays me every time with his brutally honest and simple plays about the heart and loneliness of a bunch of lost souls searching for something in the middle of America. Like many of Hunter's plays, we are again in Idaho, with two separate plays taking place in the twin cities of Lewiston and Clarkston, where famed explorers once found themselves, much as their distant descendants now feel lost in.
In Rattlestick's beautifully simple double bill, the two plays are presented in one evening where the tiny theatre space becomes first roadside fireworks stand in Lewiston, where an estranged granddaughter has returned to claim her land, then we find ourselves later in a Costco warehouse as a new Clarkston transplant works side by side with a local as both figure out their futures. Each play charming and haunting on their own, but the thematic lost and found bookends only adds to the layers in this theatrical double bill.
2. What The Constitution Means To Me - New York Theatre Workshop - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY
By Heidi Schreck, Directed by Oliver Butler
I'm not even American yet Heidi Schreck's play that sounded at first like it was going to be a lecture but then turns out to be so much more, managed to enthral me in the US Constitution. She turned her grade school obsession with the Constitution into this breakdown of US politics and the structure America has created (and why it basically feels like it is currently breaking down). Schreck's enthusiasm highlights why our civic duties are so important, while weaving in personal stories of her family as examples of how country and the men governing the country have failed her, her mother, her grandmother, and women and Americans in this pursuit of Happiness who might have a Life and Liberty.
3. The Runner - Human Cargo at Theatre Passe Muraille Mainstage - Toronto, ON
Written by Christopher Morris, Directed by Daniel Brooks
Gord Rand plays Jacob, a member of Z.A.K.A., an Orthodox Jewish volunteer force tasked to clean up the remains of Jews killed in accidents. While director Daniel Brooks puts Rand on a treadmill for the entire show, Rand's Jacob must contemplate the moral and ethical duties when he decides to save a woman's life. Shocking, exhausting, and harrowing, yet never running out of steam, this is an adrenaline rush in mind and body as it speeds through a vivid telling of a real life Z.A.K.A. member.
4. The Inheritance: Part 1 and 2 - Young Vic Theatre - London, UK, and Young Vic Theatre at the Noël Coward Theatre - West End - London, UK
Written by Matthew Lopez, inspired by the novel Howards End by E.M. Forster, Directed by Stephen Daldry
A two part play about gays in New York City that stretches over 7hours and yes, there will be comparisons and expectations but when you let it all go and accept The Inheritance for what it is, and what it does with its inherited expectations (and yes, it still basically a play about fit white gays), there is much to savour and enjoy in Matthew Lopez's modern day homage to Howards End. This is not about millennium approaching, this is the state of (middle-ish class white) gays in New York City now (or at least 2016 to 2017) and the situation gays have currently inherited, for better or for worse, and as a result of losing almost an entire generation while fighting for gay rights. Weaved into some pointed political speeches is a poignant melodrama that follows E.M. Forster's Howards End as an outline. While Forster himself becomes a character in this play that toys with structure, Daldry's lean production plays around with the framing device and double casting in its lean (in more ways than one) all-male cast (save for a late-in-the-game cameo by the sole female cast member who happens to be Vanessa Redgrave who was in the film adaptation of Howards End and it is noted in the play). Still, for everything the play is not, it is rich with humour and poignancy and fun references that made me recognize our own stories represented on stage and it was beautiful.
5. Betroffenheit - Kidd Pivot, Electric Company Theatre at Canadian Stage at the Bluma Appel Theatre in the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts
Written by Jonathon Young, Choreographed and Directed by Crystal Pite
Shocking, erratic, pounding, and ultimately heartbreaking, I was finally able to catch Jonathon Young's very personal, now very public piece on his own family tragedy. Yet in Crystal Pite's choreography, this dance piece with words is exciting and gripping and strangely beautiful and peaceful piece of art.
6. Straight White Men - 2nd Stage at the Helen Hayes Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY
Written by Young Jean Lee, Directed by Anna D. Shapiro
Finally a play about straight white men. Because we never knew them enough before. But no, Young Jean Lee's satire plays it basically... well... straight, with apparently a new framing device with the help of non-binary narrators who guide us into the poor ol world of four straight white men, as we study their behaviours as they interact with each other and see how they function in a world that seems catered to them. An entire company of, surprisingly, Broadway debuts (also with Stephen Payne, Josh Charles, Armie Hammer, and Paul Schneider), manages to keep the gentle satirical balance just right in Anna D. Shapiro's carefully calculated examination of an endangered species (or so the straight white men themselves seem to think). The brilliancy in Lee's satire is the group of straight white brothers and their father are not your easy targets but supposedly "woke" men who are actually "nice" guys, or try to be, but as one brother seems incapable of moving forward, the unraveling of the others in reaction starts showing what is behind a real man. Clever and funny in a gentle way (just like how straight white men need to be handled) and getting Josh Charles and Armie Hammer to dance is just bonus points.
7. Oklahoma! - St. Anne's Warehouse - Brooklyn, NY
Music by Richard Rodgers, Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, based on the play Green Grow the Lilacs by Lynn Riggs, Directed by Daniel Fish, Choreography by John Heginbotham, New Music Arrangements by Daniel Kluger
Turning a joyous American classic into a soulful brooding dark sexy by flipping the lights off, or with differing line interpretations makes the inherent darker elements that were always in Oklahoma! make much more sense. With Jud as an incel of sorts brooding in his cabin and even Curly and Laurey being sexually frustrated in a constant yearning that the times had demanded, Daniel Fish has flipped a musical classic into an intimate, haunting study of the nostalgic America we remember and the reality of what his hidden away in the darker cracks of the land.
8. Good Morning, Viet Mom - Next Stage Festival at Factory Theatre Studio - Toronto, ON
Written by Franco Nguyen, Directed by Byron Abalos
Canadian born Franco Nguyen's trips back to Vietnam to visit his grandmother gives him new insight into his mom, who braved a new cold world to bring Franco up in Canada. From hilarious stories to moments of heartbreak and back, Nguyen's one-man solo show takes us on this personal journey that feels universal to any son trying to connect to his mother or anybody trying to connect to their immigrant parent.
9. Amadeus - National Theatre in the Olivier Theatre - London, UK
Written by Peter Shaffer, Directed by Michael Longhurst
10. Translations - National Theatre in the Olivier Theatre - London, UK
Written by Brian Friel, Directed by Ian Rickson
11. Unrelated London Revivals I Was Gonna Put In The Next 2 Spots And Then Realized Jonathan Bailey Was In Both
The York Realist - Donmar Warehouse - London, UK
Written by Peter Gill, Directed by Robert Hastie
Company - Gielgud Theatre - West End - London, UK
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, Book by George Furth, Directed by Marianne Elliott
12. Bang Bang - Factory Theatre - Toronto, ON
Written and Directed by Kat Sandler
13. The Royale - Soulpepper Theatre Company in the Bailie Theatre at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts - Toronto, ON
Written by Marco Ramirez, Directed by Guillermo Verdecchia
14. The Wild Duck - Almeida Theatre - London, UK
After Henrik Ibsen, In a new version created by Robert Icke
15. Girl From the North Country - The Old Vic at the Noël Coward Theatre - West End - London, UK
Music and Lyrics by Bob Dylan, Written and Directed by Conor McPherson
16. Family Circus
Bromance - Barely Methodical Troupe at the New Victory Theater - New York City, NY
Created by Beren D'Amico, Louis Gift, and Charlie Wheeller, in collaboration with Director Eddie Kay
Réversible - Les 7 Doights De La Main/The 7 Fingers at CAA Theatre - Toronto, ON
Directed by Gypsy Snider
17. Who Run The World? Girls
School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play - MCC Theater at The Lucille Lortel Theater - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY
Written by Jocelyn Bioh, Directed Rebecca Taichman
Usual Girls - Roundabout Theater Company's Roundabout Underground in the Black Box at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre
Written by Ming Peiffer, Directed by Tyne Rafaeli
The Code - Green Thumb Theatre in the Studio at Young People's Theatre - Toronto, ON
Written by Rachel Aberle, Directed by Patrick McDonald
Selfie - Young People's Theatre - Studio - Toronto, ON
Written by Christine Quintana, Directed by Stephen Colella
18. Bed and Breakfast - Soulpepper Theatre Company in the Bailie Theatre at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts - Toronto, ON
Written by Mark Crawford, Directed by Ann-Marie Kerr
19. Bunny - Tarragon Theatre - Toronto, ON
Written by Hannah Moscovitch, Directed by Sarah Garton Stanley
20. The Wedding Party - Crow's Theatre at Streetcar Crowsnest Guloien Theatre - Toronto, ON
Written by Kristen Thompson, Based on the characters created with Trish Lindström, Tony Nappo, Moya O'Connell, Tom Rooney, and Bahia Watson, Directed by Chris Abraham
Honourable Mentions:
A Christmas Carol - The Three Ships Collective with SoupCan Theatre at Campbell House Museum - Toronto, ON
With an original text by Justin Haigh, based on the the story by Charles Dickens, Directed by Sarah Thorpe
Catch As Catch Can - Page 73 at New Ohio Theatre - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY
Written by Mia Chung, Directed by Ken Russ Schmoll
Good Grief - Vineyard Theatre - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY
Written by Ngozi Anyanwu, Directed by Awoye Timpo
Robert. - Lark and Whimsy Theatre Collective at Toronto Fringe Festival in St. George The Martyr - Toronto, ON
Written by Briana Brown, Directed by Rob Kempson
Solid revivals of:
Anthony and Cleopatra - National Theatre's Lyttleton Theatre - London, UK
Written by William Shakespeare, Directed by Simon Godwin
Coriolanus - Stratford Shakespeare Festival in the Avon Theatre
Written by William Shakespeare, Directed by Robert Lepage
Fun Home - The Musical Stage Company at the CAA Theatre - Toronto, ON
Music by Jeanine Tesori, Book and Lyrics by Lisa Kron, based on the Graphic Novel by Alison Bechdel, Directed by Robert McQueen, Choreographed by Stephanie Graham
Hamlet - Tarragon Theatre - Toronto, ON
Written by William Shakespeare, Directed by Richard Rose
Julius Caesar - The Bridge Theatre - London, UK
Written by William Shakespeare, Directed by Nicholas Hytner
Krapp's Last Tape - Theatre Passe Muraille - Toronto, ON
Written by Samuel Beckett, Directed by Mac Fyfe
Lobby Hero - 2nd Stage at the Helen Hayes Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY
Written by Kenneth Lonergan, Directed by Trip Cullman
Written by Eugene O'Neill, Directed by Richard Eyre
Mary Poppins - Young People's Theatre - Toronto, ON
A Musical based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the Walt Disney Film
Original Music and Lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, Book by Julian Fellowes, New Songs and Additional Music and Lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe
Co-Created by Cameron Mackintosh, Directed by Them Allison, Choreographed by Kerry Gage
Measure for Measure - Donmar Warehouse - London, UK
By William Shakespeare, Directed by Josie Rourke
The Music Man - Stratford Shakespeare Festival in the Festival Theatre - Stratford, ON
Music, Lyrics, and Book by Meredith Wilson, Story by Meredith Wilson and Franklin Lacey, Directed and Choreographed by Donna Feore
Once On This Island - Circle in the Square Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY
Music by Stephen Flaherty, Book and Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, Directed by Michael Arden, Choreographed by Camille A. Brown
The Rocky Horror Show - Stratford Shakespeare Festival in the Avon Theatre - Stratford, ON
Music, Lyrics, and Book by Richard O'Brien, Directed and Choreographed by Donna Feore
To Kill A Mockingbird - Lincoln Center Theater at Shubert Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY
Written by Aaron Sorkin based on the book by Harper Lee, Directed by Bartlett Sher
Twelfth Night - The Public Theater at Young Vic Theatre - London, UK
Conceived by Kwame Kwei-Armah and Shaina Taub, Music and Lyrics by Shaina Taub, Directed by Kwame Kwei-Armah and Oscar Eustis
The Waverly Gallery - Golden Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY
Written by Kenneth Lonergan, Directed by Lila Neugebauer
Breakthrough Performances (in alphabetical order):
The cast of Bromance: Beren D'Amico, Louis Gift, Charlie Wheeller
The cast of The Code: Elizabeth Barrett, Nathan Kay, Mason Temple
The cast of Réversible: Maria Del Mar Reyes, Vincent Jutras, Jérémi Levesque, Natasha Patterson, Hugo Ragetly, Émilie Silliau, Julien Silliau, Emi Vauthey
The cast of School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play: MaameYaa Boafo, Latoya Edwards, Paige Gilbert, Joanna A. Jones, Abena Mensah-Bonsu, Mirirai Sithole, Myra Lucretia Taylor, Zenzi Williams
The cast of Straight White Men: Kate Bornstein, Josh Charles, Ty Defoe, Armie Hammer, Stephen Payne, Paul Schneider
Ngozi Anyanwu in Good Grief
Sheila Atim in The Girl From North Country and Othello
Jonathan Bailey in Company and TheYork Realist
Ben Batt in The York Realist
Kenton Blythe in The Princess of the Tower
Gabrielle Brooks in Twelfth Night
Andrew Burnap in The Inheritance
Rachel Cairns in A Midsummer Night's Dream and Bunny and Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet
Belinda Corpuz in Prairie Nurse
Kelley Curran in Mother of the Maid
Edmund Donovan in Clarkston
Omari Douglas in Wise Children
Daniel Ellis in Risky Phil
Dylan Evans in Entrances and Exits
Sam Fogell in The Comedy About a Bank Robbery
Midori Francis in Usual Girls
Adam Gillen in Amadeus
Natalia Gracious in The Secret Garden
Gabe Grey in After Wrestling
Janelle Hanna in Prairie Nurse and Robert.
Joe Idris-Roberts in Pinocchio
Melissa James in Wise Children
Isabel Kanaan in Prairie Nurse
Arinzé Kene in Girl From the North Country
Hailey Kilgore in Once On This Island
Jesse LaVercombe in Bunny and Hamlet
Jeremy Legat in The Last Party
Samuel H. Levine in The Inheritance
Bonnie Milligan in Head Over Heels
Rachel Mutombo in Selfie
Bob Nasmith in Krapp's Last Tape
Franco Nguyen in Good Morning, Viet Mom
Jeremy Pope in Ain't Too Proud
Sam Reid in Girl From the North Country
Lauren Ridloff in Children Of a Lesser God
Heidi Schreck in What The Constitution Means To Me
Jack Shalloo in Girl From the North Country
Anthony Shim in After Wrestling
Ethan Slater in Spongebob Squarepants
Ordena Stephens-Thompson in Risky Phil and Harlem Duet
Benjamin Sutherland in The Secret Garden
Ephraim Sykes in Ain't Too Proud
Great Performances (in alphabetical order):
The cast of A Christmas Carol (The Three Ships Collective with SoupCan Theatre): Jim Armstrong, Makenna Beatty, Chloe Bradt, Alex Dallas, Christopher Fowler, John Fray, Tamara Freeman, Mike Hogan, Thomas Gough, Christopher Lucas, Margo MacDonald, Tiffany Martin, William Matthews, Amy Marie Wallace, Kholby Wardell
The cast of Anywhere: Courtney Ch'ng Lancaster, Cass Van Wyck
The cast of Bed and Breakfast: Gregory Prest, Paolo Santalucia
The cast of Catch As Catch Can: Jeff Biehl, Michael Esper, Jeanine Serralles
The cast of Clarkston: Heidi Armbruster, Edmund Donovan, Noah Robbins
The cast of Fun Home (Musical Stage Company): Evan Buliung, Laura Condlln, Cynthia Dale, Sara Farb, Hannah Levinson, Jasper Lincoln, Liam MacDonald, Eric Morin, Sabryn Rock
The cast of The Lehman Trilogy: Simon Russell Beale, Adam Godley, Ben Miles
The cast of Lewiston: Arnie Burton, Kristin Griffiths, Leah Karpel
The Tyrones in Long Day's Journey Into Night (West End): Matthew Beard, Jeremy Irons, Rory Keenan, Lesley Manville
The cast of Men on Boats (A.C.T. SF): Arwen Anderson, Rosie Hallett, Lisa Hori-Garcia, Libby King, Amy Lizardo, Sarita Ocón, Annemaria Rajala, Katherine Romans, Liz Sklar, Lauren Spencer
The cast of Morro and Jasp: Save the Date: Heather Marie Annis, Amy Lee
The cast of The Rocky Horror Show (Stratford): Dan Chameroy, George Krissa, Robert Markus, Trevor Patt, Erica Peck, Jennifer Rider-Shaw, Sayer Roberts, Steve Ross, and ensemble members Eric Abel, Gabriel Antonacci, Colton Curtis, Bonnie Jordan, Bethany Kovarik, Jason Sermonia
The cast of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Tooting Arts Club Off-Bway): Stacie Bono, Michael James Leslie, Zachary Noah Piser, John Rapson, Thom Sesma, Billy Harrigan Tighe, Sally Ann Triplett, Delaney Westfall
The main cast of To Kill a Mockingbird (Broadway): Gbenga Akinnagbe, Jeff Daniels, Gideon Glick, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Dakin Matthews, Will Pullen, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Stark Sands, Frederick Weller, Erin Wilhelmi, Danny Wolohan
The cast of The Wedding Party: Jason Cadieux, Virginia Griffith, Trish Lindström, Moya O'Connell, Tom Rooney, Kristen Thomson
Marc Antolin in Little Shop of Horrors
Brooks Ashmanskas in The Prom
Hayley Atwell in Measure for Measure
Quincy Tyler Bernstine in Our Lady of 121st Street
Sara Bareilles in Waitress
Maev Beaty in Bunny
Ashley Botting in Ashley with a Y
Gerard Carey in Twelfth Night
Lana Carillo in The Princess of the Tower
Adam Chanler-Berat in Saint Joan
Glenn Close in Mother of the Maid
Rosalie Craig in Company
Damon Daunno in The Lucky Ones and Oklahoma!
Robin De Jesús in The Boys in the Band
Raúl Esparza in The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui
Ralph Fiennes in Anthony and Cleopatra
Freddie Fox in An Ideal Husband
Russell Harvard in I Was Most Alive With You
Shirley Henderson in Girl From the North Country
Daren A. Herbert in The Music Man
Ciarán Hinds in Girl From the North Country
Geordie Johnson in The Children
Dion Johnstone in The Royale
Debbie Kurup in Girl From the North Country
Beth Leaves in The Prom
Hannah Levinson in Fun Home and The Preposterous Predicament of Polly Peel
Caissie Levy in Frozen
Jeff Lillico in Bang Bang
Laura Linney in My Name Is Lucy Barton
Jack Lowden in Measure for Measure
Patti LuPone in Company
Elaine May in The Waverly Gallery
David Morrissey in Julius Caesar
Lucian Msamati in Amadeus
Michael Nathanson in Oklahoma!
Alex Newell in Once On This Island
Lesley Nicol in The York Realist
Sophie Okonedo in Anthony and Cleopatra
Laurie Paton in The Children
Gord Rand in The Runner
Noah Reid in Hamlet
Karen Robinson in Bang Bang
Sabyrn Rock in Fun Home and The Royale
Jenna Russell in Fun Home
Vanessa Sears in Mary Poppins
André Sills in Coriolanus
Kyle Soller in The Inheritance
Corey Stoll in Othello
Ali Stroker in Oklahoma!
Uma Thurman in The Parisian Woman
Grace Van Patten in Mother of the Maid
Tony Yazbeck in The Beast in the Jungle
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Here is every Stage Show I saw in 2018 in alphabetical order. All reviews are based on a 5 stars system (Workshop Labs, Readings, Concerts and Cabarets are not graded):
A Christmas Carol (Play) - The Three Ships Collective with SoupCan Theatre at Campbell House Museum - Toronto, ON - ****
After Wrestling (Play) - Factory Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***1/2 (Review)
Ain't Too Proud (Musical) x2 - Princess of Wales Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***
A Kev 'n Cal Mystery (Play) - Toronto Fringe Festival at Annex Theatre - Toronto, ON - **1/2
Allelujah! (Play) - The Bridge Theatre - London, UK - ***1/2
Amadeus (Play Revival) - National Theatre's Olivier Theatre - London, UK - ****1/2
A Midsummer Night's Dream (Play Revival) - Canadian Stage Company in High Park Amphitheatre - Toronto, ON - ***1/2
A Monster Calls (Play) - The Old Vic Theatre - London, UK - ****
An American in Paris (Musical) - National Tour at Princess of Wales Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***
Angels in America Part One: Millennium Approaches and Part Two: Perestroika (Play Revival) - National Theatre at the Neil Simon Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - ****1/2 (Best of Stage 2017)
An Ideal Husband (Play Revival) - Vaudeville Theatre - West End - London, UK - ****
Animal Farm (Play) - Soulpepper Theatre Company in the Bailie Theatre at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts - Toronto, ON - ****
Anna Karenina (Ballet) - National Ballet of Canada at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts - Toronto, ON - ****
Annie (Musical Revival) - Ed Mirvish Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***
Anthony and Cleopatra (Play Revival) - National Theatre's Lyttleton Theatre - London, UK - ****
Anywhere (Play) - Toronto Fringe Festival at Factory Theatre Studio - Toronto, ON - ****
Ashley with a Y (Musical) - Toronto Fringe Festival at Factory Theatre Studio - Toronto, ON - ****
A Very Very Very Dark Matter (Play) - The Bridge Theatre - London, UK - **1/2
Bang Bang (Play) - Factory Theatre - Toronto, ON - ****
The Beast in the Jungle (Play) - Vineyard Theatre - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - ***1/2
Bed and Breakfast (Play) - Soulpepper Theatre Company in the Bailie Theatre at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts - Toronto, ON - ****
Bernhardt/Hamlet (Play) - Roundabout Theatre Company at the American Airlines Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - **1/2
Betroffenheit (Dance) - Kidd Pivot, Electric Company Theatre at Canadian Stage at the Bluma Appel Theatre in the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts - ****1/2
Bikeface (Play) - Toronto Fringe Festival at Annex Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***
The Boys in the Band (Play Revival) - Booth Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - ***1/2
Bridget Everett (Concert) - JFL at the Winter Garden Theatre - Toronto, ON
Bromance (Circus) - Barely Methodical Troupe at the New Victory Theater - New York City, NY - ****
Bunny (Play) - Tarragon Theatre - Toronto, ON - ****
Cabaret (Musical Revival) - Fallsview Casino Resort Theatre - Niagara Falls, ON - ***1/2
Canadian Music Theatre Project (Musical Workshop) - Sheridan Theatre at Sheridan College - Oakville, ON
erik with a k (Musical)
In Real Life (Musical)
Kelly vs. Kelly (Musical)
Stars of Mars (Musical)
Cardinal (Play) - 2nd Stage in the Tony Kisser Theatre - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - *1/2
Carousel (Musical Revival) - Imperial Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - **
Catch As Catch Can (Play) - Page 73 at New Ohio Theatre - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - ****
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Musical) - National Tour at Princess of Wales Theatre - Toronto, ON - ** (Review)
Charlie Puth: The Voicenotes Tour (Concert) - Budweiser Stage - Toronto, ON
The Children (Play) - Canadian Stage Company in the Berkeley Street Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***1/2
Children Of a Lesser God (Play Revival) - Studio 54 - Broadway - New York City, NY - ***
Clueless The Musical (Musical) - The New Group in The Griffin Theatre at the Pershing Square Signature Center - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - **1/2
The Code (Play) - Green Thumb Theatre in the Studio at Young People's Theatre - Toronto, ON - **** (Review)
The Comedy About A Bank Robbery (Play) - Criterion Theatre - West End - London, UK - ***1/2
Come From Away (Musical) x2 - Royal Alexandra Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***** (Best of Stage 2015)
Come From Away - Abbey Theatre - Dublin, IE - *****
Comfort Women (Musical Revival) - Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Playwrights Horizons - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - **
Company (Musical Revival) - Gielgud Theatre - West End - London, UK - ****1/2
Compulsion (Musical) - Toronto Fringe Festival at Factory Theatre - Toronto, ON - **
Coriolanus (Play Revival) - Stratford Shakespeare Festival in the Avon Theatre - ****
Dance Nation (Play) - Almeida Theatre - London, UK - ***1/2
Days of Rage (Play) - 2ndStage in the Tony Kiser Theater - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - ***
Declarations (Play) - Canadian Stage at the Berkeley Street Theatre - Toronto, ON - **1/2
The Dream and Being and Nothingness (Ballet) - National Ballet of Canada at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts - Toronto, ON - ***1/2
Being and Nothingness - ***
The Dream - ****
Dr. Silver: A Celebration of Life (Musical) - The Musical Stage Company at the Heliconian Hall - Toronto, ON - ***
Elton John: Farewell Yellow Brick Road (Concert) - Scotiabank Arena - Toronto, ON
Entrances and Exits (Improv Play) - Toronto Fringe Festival at Factory Theatre Mainstage - Toronto, ON - ****
Escape from Margaritaville (Musical) - Marquis Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - **
The Evolution of Mann (Musical) - the cell - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - ***
The Fall (Play) - National Youth Theatre at Southwark Playhouse - London, UK - ***1/2
Fanny and Alexander (Play) - The Old Vic Theatre - London, UK - ***
Frozen (Musical) - St. James Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - ***1/2
Fun Home (Musical Revival) - The Musical Stage Company at the CAA Theatre - Toronto, ON - ****
Fun Home (Musical) - Young Vic Theatre - London, UK - ***1/2
Gay Play Day - Pink Shows (Play) - The Alumnae Theatre Studio - Toronto, ON
Fade to Black (Play) - ***1/2
Labels (Play) - ***
Diamonds on Plastic (Play) - **
Point and Click (Play) - ***
Girl From the North Country (Musical) - The Old Vic at the Noël Coward Theatre - West End - London, UK - ****
Good Grief (Play) - Vineyard Theatre - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - ****
Good Morning, Viet Mom (Play) - Next Stage Festival at Factory Theatre Studio - Toronto, ON - ****1/2
Grand Finale (Dance) - Hofesh Schecter Company at Canadian Stage Company in the Bluma Appel Theatre at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts - ****
The Grass is Greenest at the Houston Astrodome (Play) - Toronto Fringe Festival at Freedom Factory - Toronto, ON - ***
Hamilton (Musical) x2 - Victoria Palace Theatre - London, UK - **** (Best of Stage 2015)
Hamlet (Play Revival) - Tarragon Theatre - Toronto, ON - ****
Harlem Duet (Play Revival) - Tarragon Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***
Head Over Heels (Musical) - Hudson Theatre - Broadway - Toronto, ON - ***1/2
Hello, Dolly! (Musical Revival) x2 - Shubert Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - ****
Idomeneus (Play) - Soulpepper Theatre Company in the Michael Young Theatre at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts - Toronto, ON - ***
Inescapable (Play) - Toronto Fringe Festival at Tarragon Theatre Mainspace - Toronto, ON - **1/2
The Inheritance: Part 1 and 2 (Play) - Young Vic Theatre - London, UK - Part 1 x 2.3x, Part 2 x3,
Young Vic Theatre at the Noël Coward Theatre - West End - London, UK - Part 1 x1 - ****1/2
I Was Most Alive With You (Play) - Playwrights Horizons Mainstage - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - ***
Jerry Springer the Opera (Musical Revival) - The New Group in the Linney Theatre at the Pershing Square Signature Center - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - ***
Jimmy's Hall (Play) - Abbey Theatre - Dublin, IE - ****
Judas Star Supersong (Musical) - Toronto Fringe Festival at St. Stephen-in-the-Fields - Toronto, ON - **
Julie (Play) - National Theatre's Lyttleton Theatre - London, UK - ***
Julius Caesar (Play Revival) - The Bridge Theatre - London, UK - ****
The Jungle (Play) - Young Vic Theatre at the Playhouse Theatre - West End - London, UK - ****
The King and I (Musical Revival) - National Tour at Princess of Wales Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***1/2 (Best of Stage 2015)
Kiss of the Spider Woman (Play) - Menier Chocolate Factory - London, UK - ***1/2
Krapp's Last Tape (Play Revival) - Theatre Passe Muraille - Toronto, ON - ****
The Last Party (Musical) - Toronto Fringe Festival at Tarragon Theatre Mainspace - Toronto, ON - ***
Latin History for Morons (Play) - Studio 54 - Broadway - New York City, NY - ***1/2
The Lehman Trilogy (Play) - National Theatre's Lyttleton Theatre - London, UK - ****
Lewiston/Clarkston (Play Revival) - Rattlestick Playwrights Theater - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - *****
Light Shining in Buckinghamshire (Play Revival) - New York Theatre Workshop - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - ***
The Little Matchgirl and Other Happier Tales (Play) - Shakespeare's Globe Theatre - London, UK - ***1/2
Little Shop of Horrors (Musical Revival) - Regent Park's Open Air Theatre - London, UK - ****
Lobby Hero (Play Revival) - 2nd Stage at the Helen Hayes Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - ****
Long Day's Journey Into Night (Play Revival) - Bristol Old Vic at Wyndham Theatre - West End - London, UK - ****
The Lucky Ones (Musical) - Ars Nova at the Connelly Theatre - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - ***
Made in Canada (Ballet) - National Ballet of Canada at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts - Toronto, ON - ****
The Dreamers Ever Leave You - ***1/2
The Four Seasons - ****
Emergence - ***** (Best of Stage 2009)
Mankind (Play) - Playwrights Horizons Mainstage - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - *
Mary Page Marlowe (Play) - 2nd Stage at the Tony Kisser Theatre - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - ***
Mary Poppins (Musical Revival) - Young People's Theatre - Toronto, ON - **** (Review)
Mean Girls (Musical) - August Wilson Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - ***
Measure for Measure (Play Revival) - Donmar Warehouse - London, UK - ****
Men on Boats (Play) - A.C.T. American Conservatory Theater's Strand Theater - San Francisco, CA - ****
Voter's Choice: The Merchant of Venice (Play Revival) - Shakespeare's Globe Theatre - London, UK - ****
Miles for Mary (Play) - Playwrights Horizons in the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - ***
Mlima's Tale (Play) - The Public Theater in Martinson Hall - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - ****
The Monument (Play Revival) - Factory Theatre - Toronto, ON - **1/2
Mood Music (Play) - The Old Vic Theatre - London, UK - ***
Moonstruck (Play) - Toronto Fringe Festival at Tarragon Theatre Mainstage - Toronto, ON - **
Morro and Jasp: Save the Date (Play) - Toronto Fringe Festival at Tarragon Theatre Mainstage - Toronto, ON - ****
Mother of the Maid (Play) - The Public Theater in the Anspacher Theater - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - ***1/2
The Music Man (Musical Revival) - Stratford Shakespeare Festival in the Festival Theatre - Stratford, ON - ****
My Name Is Lucy Barton (Play) - The Bridge Theatre - London, UK - ***1/2
Mythos: A Trilogy - Gods. Heroes. Men (Play) - Shaw Festival in the Festival Theatre - Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON - ***1/2
Network (Play) - National Theatre's Lyttleton Theatre - London, UK - **** (Best of Stage 2017)
Oklahoma! (Musical Revival) - St. Anne's Warehouse - Brooklyn, NY - ****1/2
Once On This Island (Musical Revival) - Circle in the Square Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - ****
One Small Step (Musical) - Toronto Fringe Festival at Randolph Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***1/2
Othello (Play Revival) - The Public Theater at the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park - New York City, NY - ***1/2
Othello (Play Revival) x2 - Shakespeare's Globe Theatre - London, UK - ****
Our Lady of 121st Street (Play Revival) - Signature Theatre in The Diamond at the Pershing Square Signature Center - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - ***1/2
The Overcoat: A Musical Tailoring (Musical) - Tapestry Opera and Vancouver Opera at Canadian Stage at the Bluma Appel Theatre in the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts - ***
The Parisian Woman (Play) - Hudson Theatre - Broadway - London, UK - **1/2
Paz de la Jolla & The Man in Black with Cacti (Ballet) - National Ballet of Canada at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts - Toronto, ON - ****
Paz de la Jolla - ****
The Man in Black - ****
Cacti - ***** (Best of Stage 2016)
Picnic in the Cemetery (Musical) - Canadian Stage at the Berkeley Street Upstairs Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***1/2
Pinocchio (Musical) x2 - National Theatre's Lyttleton Theatre - London, UK - *** (Review)
Prairie Nurse (Play) - Factory Theatre - Toronto, ON - ****
The Preposterous Predicament of Polly Peel (Musical) - Toronto Fringe Festival at Tarragon Theatre Mainspace - Toronto, ON - ***
The Princess of the Tower (Musical) - Toronto Fringe Festival at George Ignatief Theatre - Toronto, ON - ****
The Prom (Musical) - Longacre Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - ***
Puffs (Play) - New World Stages in Stage 5 - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - ***
The Red Shoes (Play) - The Gate Theatre - Dublin, IE - ***
The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (Play Revival) - Classic Stage Company - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - **1/2
Réversible (Circus) - Les 7 Doights De La Main/The 7 Fingers at CAA Theatre - Toronto, ON - ****
The Rink (Musical Revival) - Southwark Playhouse in The Large - London, UK - ***
Risky Phil (Play) - Young People's Theatre - Toronto, ON - **** (Review)
Robert. - Lark and Whimsy Theatre Collective at Toronto Fringe Festival in St. George The Martyr - Toronto, ON - ****
The Rocky Horror Show (Musical Revival) - Stratford Shakespeare Festival in the Avon Theatre - Stratford, ON - ****
Romeo and Juliet (Play Revival) - Canadian Stage Company in High Park Amphitheatre - Toronto, ON - ***1/2
The Royale (Play) - Soulpepper Theatre Company in the Bailie Theatre at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts - Toronto, ON - ****
Rumspringa Break! (Musical) - Next Stage Festival at Factory Theatre Mainstage - Toronto, ON - ****
The Runner (Play) - Human Cargo at Theatre Passe Muraille Mainstage - Toronto, ON - ****1/2
Saint Joan (Play Revival) - Manhattan Theatre Club at the Samuel Friedman Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - ***
School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play (Play) - MCC Theater at The Lucille Lortel Theater - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - ****
School of Rock (Musical) - National Tour at Ed Mirvish Theatre - Toronto, ON - **1/2
The Secret Garden (Play Revival) - Young People's Theatre - Toronto, ON - **** (Review)
Selfie (Play) - Young People's Theatre - Studio - Toronto, ON - **** (Review)
Sisters (Play) - Soulpepper Theatre Company in the Bailie Theatre at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts - Toronto, ON - ***
Skintight (Play) - Roundabout Theatre Company in the Laura Pels Theatre at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - ***1/2
Smokey Joe's Cafe (Musical Revival) - Stage 42 - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - ***
Spongebob Squarepants (Musical) - Palace Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - ***1/2
Straight White Men (Play Revival) - 2nd Stage at the Helen Hayes Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - ****1/2
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Musical Revival) - The Tooting Arts Club at the Barrow Street Theatre - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - ****1/2
Swordplay: A Play of Swords (Play) - Sex-T-Rex at Next Stage Festival at Factory Theatre Mainstage - Toronto, ON - ***
Sylvia (Musical) - The Old Vic Theatre - London, UK - ***1/2
This Flat Earth (Play) - Playwrights Horizons Mainstage - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - ***
Thoroughly Modern Millie (Musical Revival) - Fallsview Casino Resort Theatre - Niagara Falls, ON - ***
To Kill A Mockingbird (Play Revival) - Lincoln Center Theater at Shubert Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - ****
To Kill A Mockingbird (Play Revival) - Stratford Shakespeare Company in the Festival Theatre - Stratford, ON - ***1/2
Translations (Play Revival) - National Theatre in the Olivier Theatre - London, UK - ****1/2
Travesties (Play Revival) - Roundabout Theatre Company at the American Airlines Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - **1/2
True Crime (Play) - Crow's Theatre at the Streetcar Crowsnest Studio - Toronto, ON - ***
Twelfth Night (Musical) - The Public Theater at Young Vic Theatre - London, UK - ****
The Twilight Zone (Play) - Almeida Theatre - London, UK - ***
Usual Girls (Play) - Roundabout Theater Company's Roundabout Underground in the Black Box at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre - ****
Waitress (Musical) - Brooks Atkinson Theater - Broadway - New York City, NY - **** (Best of Stage 2016)
The Waverly Gallery (Play Revival) - Golden Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - ****
The Way Of The World (Play Revival) - Donmar Warehouse - London, UK - *
The Wedding Party (Play) - Crow's Theatre at Streetcar Crowsnest Guloien Theatre - Toronto, ON - ****
What I call her (Play) - Crow's Theatre at Streetcar Crowsnest Studio - Toronto, ON - ***
What The Constitution Means To Me (Play) - New York Theatre Workshop - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - *****
The Wild Duck (Play Revival) - Almeida Theatre - London, UK - ****
Wild Goose Dreams (Play) - The Public Theater in Martinson Hall - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - **1/2
Wise Children (Play) - The Old Vic Theatre - London, UK - ***1/2
The Wizard of Oz: A Toto-ly Twisted Family Musical! (Musical Pantomime) - Ross Petty Productions in the Elgin Theatre - Toronto, ON - ****
The Wonder Pageant (Improv Play) - Coal Mine Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***
The York Realist (Play Revival) - Donmar Warehouse - London, UK - ****1/2
__________________________________________________________________
Previous Best-of Lists:
Best of 2017 List:
Best of Stage 2017
Best of 2016 List:
Best of Stage 2016
Best of 2015 List:
Best of Stage 2015
Best of 2014 List:
Best of Stage 2014
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
Photo of Amadeus by Marc Brenner
Photo of Bang Bang by Joseph Michael Photography
Photos of Bed and Breakfast, Bunny, and The Royale by Cylla von Tiedemann
Photo of Bettrofenheit by Wendy D
Photo of Bromance by Chris Nash
Photo of The Code by Leah Gair
Photo of Company by Brinkhoff Mogenburg
Photos of Girl from the North Country and The Wild Duck by Manuel Harlan
Photo of Good Morning, Viet Mom by Christine Urquhart
Photo of The Inheritance by Simon Annand
Photos of Lewiston/Clarkston by Sandra Coudert Graham
Photo of Oklahoma! by Teddy Wolff
Photo of Réversible by Chantal Lévesque
Photo of The Runner by Graham Isador
Photo of School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play by Craig Schwartz
Photo of Selfie by Ali Sultani
Photos of Straight White Men, Usual Girls, and What the Constitution Means To Me by Joan Marcus
Photo of Translations by Catherine Ashmore
Photo of The Wedding Party by Guntar Kravis
Photo of The York Realist by Johan Persson
Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com
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