Stageworthy - Best of Stage 2021 & 2022

Because these lists are based on my own arbitrary rules anyways, I had decided to combine my list from 2021 and 2022 since I'm still easing into going back to see live shows on stage. 

In the last 2 years, I went to see live stage shows 72 times (of 66 individual shows including concerts). With 8 shows in 2021 and 64 shows in 2022. 

Any shows (same production version) I had seen in previous years are ineligible for this year's list.
For previous years Best of Stage Lists:

Best of Stage 2020

Best of Stage 2019
Best of Stage 2018 
Best of Stage 2017
Best of Stage 2016 
Best of Stage 2015 
Best of Stage 2014 
Best of Stage 2013  
Best of Stage 2012
Best of Stage 2011 
Best of Stage 2010
Best of Stage 2009
Best of Stage 2008 
Best of Stage 2007

Here's the Best of Stage 2021 and 2022:

1. The Last Return - Druid at Gate Theatre - Dublin, IE

Written by Sonya Kelly, Directed by Sara Joyce

It starts with what feels like bad expository writing until you realize what Sonya Kelly is doing in her absurdist comedy about people waiting in line for the last return ticket at the theatre. So yes, I'm putting this wild ride of a theatrical play about trying to get into a show, at the top of my list of the best shows on stage. 

2. Alice in Wonderland - Bad Hats Theatre at Soulpepper Theatre Company in the Michael Young Theatre at the Young Centre - Toronto, ON

Adapted by Fiona Sauder, Music by Landon Doak and Victor Pokinko, Directed by Sue Miner, Dramaturgy by Matt Pilipiak

Bad Hats Theatre has yet again turned a children's classic that is one of my least faves, and with some ingenious creativity, original catchy songs, and a cast brimming with hearts and humour, turned in an original version of Alice in Wonderland. 

3. & Juliet - Princess of Wales Theatre - Toronto, ON

Book by David West Read, Music by Max Martin and Friends, Directed by Luke Sheppard

If you think Shakespeare needed more Britney Spears and Backstreet Boys songs in them, well I did too. What a blast, with a Broadway-bound cast that squeezed in all those Max Martin songs with just the right cheeky humour that finally understood the Shakey assignment. 

4. Red Velvet - Crow's Theatre in the Guloien Theatre at Streetcar Crowsnest - Toronto, ON 

Written by Lolita Chakrabarti, Directed by Cherissa Richards

This play had made its rounds in theatres around the world after a London debut a decade ago, and for good reason. An immensely entertaining imagined play about the true events of Black actor Ira Aldridge as he makes a name for himself in the acting world, particularly when he takes the role of Othello in 19th century London. 

5. Kamloopa (Play) - Soulpepper Theatre Company and Native Earth Performing Arts in the Michael Young Theatre at the Young Centre - Toronto, ON

Written and Directed by Kim Senklip Harvey

While it ends as a road trip play, the first act is grounded in an apartment with three young Indigenous women trying to make their way in our current world in this freshly funny and sneakily heartfelt play. 

6. Best of Enemies - Young Vic Theatre - London, UK

Written by James Graham, Directed by Jeremy Herrin

This time, it's 1968 and William F Buckley and Gore Vidal are debating about the next US Presidential election. Considering I knew nothing of these two, Graham is an expert in taking real life political moments and dramatizing them into entertaining and enlightening plays, with this latest, directed with efficient flair by Herrin. 

7. Carousel - Regent's Park Open Air Theatre - London, UK

Music by Richard Rodgers, Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, Directed by Timothy Sheader

The Rodgers and Hammerstein classic that usually isn't one of my faves, directed here by Sheader in a magical night out in the open air that somehow made clearer the magic of this musical theatre classic. The chemistry between Carly Bowden and Declan Bennett, and Bennett's Billy Bigelow that actually felt troubled, sharpened Rodgers' story, making the ultimate ending all the more heartbreaking. 

8. (Tie) Modern Classics Revivals

Doubt: A Parable - Breaking and Entering Theatre in The Church of the Holy Trinity - Toronto, ON

Written by John Patrick Shanley, Directed by Stewart Arnott

The Weir - Abbey Theatre - Dublin, IE

Written by Conor McPherson, Directed by Catriona McLaughlin

Somehow I had never seen these two modern classics until these two revivals. With Doubt: A Parable done by a new local Toronto theatre company performed in an actual church, while The Weir haunted the Abbey Theatre starring Brendan Coyle in the older role after having been in the original production as the barkeep. Both beautiful productions with terrific casts showing why these modern classics are great plays deserving to be modern classics

Breakthrough Performances (in alphabetical order):

Philippe Arroyo in & Juliet

Gabrielle Brooks in Get Up Stand Up!: The Bob Marley Musical

Lorna Courtney in & Juliet

Carly Mercedes Dyer in Anything Goes

Oyin Oladejo in Is God Is

Declan Spaine in Get Up Stand Up!: The Bob Marley Musical

Ben Jackson Walker in & Juliet

Kaitlyn Yott in Kamloopa

Great Performances (in alphabetical order):

The cast of Doubt: A Parable: Deborah Drakeford, Brian Bisson, Emma Nelles, Kim Nelson

The cast of The Last Return: Anna Healy, Bosco Hogan, Fionn Ó Loingsigh, Rebecca O'Mara, Naima Swaleh

The cast of The Weir: Jolly Abraham, Peter Coonan, Brendan Coyle, Sean Fox, Marty Rea

Karl Ang in Cockroach

Jonathan Bailey in Cock

Matt Baram in Indecent

Carly Bawden in Carousel

Declan Bennett in Carousel

Paul Bettany in The Collaboration

Yolanda Bonnell in Kamloopa

Katie Brayben in Tammy Faye

Ronnie Burkett in Little Dickens

Ellen Denny in Red Velvet

Ayesha Dharker in Chasing Hares

Jake Epstein in Boy Falls From the Sky

Patsy Ferran in A Streetcar Named Desire

Alexis Gordon in Room

Jonathan Gould in Indecent

Kit Harrington in Henry V

Cush Jumbo in Hamlet

Allan Louis in Red Velvet

Paul Mescal in A Streetcar Named Desire

Hadyn Oakley in Anything Goes

Jeremy Pope in The Collaboration

Andrea Rannells in Tammy Faye

Amelia Sargisson in Red Velvet 

Vanessa Sears in Alice in Wonderland and Is God Is

Charlie Stemp in Mary Poppins

Anjana Vasan in A Streetcar Named Desire

Betsy Wolfe in & Juliet

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Here is every Stage Show I saw in 2020 in alphabetical order. All reviews are based on a 5 stars system (Workshop, Labs, Readings, Concerts and Cabarets are not graded):

& Juliet (Musical) x2 - Princess of Wales Theatre - Toronto, ON - ****1/2

Alice in Wonderland (Musical) - Bad Hats Theatre at Soulpepper Theatre Company in the Michael Young Theatre at the Young Centre - Toronto, ON - ****1/2

Angels' Atlas & Soul & Serenade (Ballet) - National Ballet of Canada at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts - Toronto, ON - ****

Anything Goes (Musical Revival) x2 - Palace Theatre - Manchester, UK - ***1/2

A Streetcar Named Desire (Play Revival) - Almeida Theatre - London, UK - ****

Back to the Future The Musical (Musical) - Adelphi Theatre - West End - London, UK - ***1/2

Bad Parent (Play) - Soulpepper Theatre Company in the Michael Young Theatre at the Young Centre - Toronto, ON - ***

Best of Enemies (Play) - Young Vic Theatre - London, UK - ****

Billionaire Boy (Musical) - Liverpool Empire - Liverpool, UK - **1/2

Blindness (Play) - Princess of Wales Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***1/2

Boy Falls From the Sky (Musical) - Royal Alexandra Theatre - Toronto, ON - ****

Carousel (Musical Revival) - Regent's Park Open Air Theatre - London, UK - ****

Carson and Taylor Promise To Do A Bunch of Flips (Play) - Toronto Fringe Festival at Ada Slaight Hall in Daniels Spectrum - Toronto, ON - ***1/2

Charlie Puth: One Night Only (Concert) - Massey Hall - Toronto, ON

Chasing Hares (Play) - Young Vic Theatre - London, UK - ***1/2

Chicago (Musical Revival) - Stratford Theatre Festival in the Festival Theatre - Stratford, ON - ***1/2

Choir Boy (Play) - Canadian Stage Company in the Bluma Appel Theatre at Meridian Hall - Toronto, ON - ****

The Choir of Man (Musical) - Avalon Theatre at Fallsview Casino Resort - Niagara Falls, ON - ***

Cock (Play Revival) - Ambassadors Theatre - London, UK - ***1/2

Cockroach (Play) - Tarragon Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***

The Collaboration (Play) - Young Vic Theatre - London, UK - **

Come From Away (Musical) x2 - Royal Alexandra Theatre - Toronto, ON - *****

'da Kink in my Hair (Play Revival) - Bluma Appel Theatre at Meridian Hall - Toronto, ON - ****

Double Murder (Dance) - Hofesh Shechter Company at Home - Manchester, UK - ****

Clowns - ****

The Fix - ****

Doubt: A Parable (Play Revival) - Breaking and Entering Theatre in The Church of the Holy Trinity - Toronto, ON - ****1/2

Fisherman's Friend the Musical (Musical) - Royal Alexandra Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***

Gay for Pay with Blake & Clay (Play) - Crow's Theatre in the Studio Theatre at Streetcar Crowsnest - Toronto, ON - ****

Get Up Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical (Musical) - Lyric Theatre - West End - London, UK - ***1/2

Hamlet (Play Revival) - Young Vic Theatre - London, UK - **

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Play) - CAA Mirvish Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***1/2

Henry V (Play Revival) - Donmar Warehouse - London, UK - ***1/2

Imagine Dragons: Mercury Tour (Concert) - Rogers Centre - Toronto, ON

Indecent (Play) - Studio 180 at CAA Theatre - Toronto, ON - ****

Is God Is (Play) - Canadian Stage Company in the Berkeley Street Theatre - Toronto, ON - ****

Jesus Christ Superstar (Musical Revival) - Princess of Wales Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Musical Revival) x2 - Princess of Wales Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***

Josh Groban: Harmony Tour (Concert) - Budweiser Stage - Toronto, ON

Kamloopa (Play) - Soulpepper Theatre Company and Native Earth Performing Arts in the Michael Young Theatre at the Young Centre - Toronto, ON - ****

The Last Return (Play) - Druid at Gate Theatre - Dublin, IE - *****

Little Dickens - Canadian Stage Company in the Berkeley Street Theatre - Toronto, ON - ****

Mandy Moore: In Real Life Tour (Concert) - Danforth Music Hall - Toronto, ON

Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas to All! (Concert) - Scotiabank Arena - Toronto, ON 

Mary Poppins (Musical) - Prince Edward Theatre - West End - London, UK - ***1/2

Mean Girls (Musical) - Princess of Wales Theatre - Toronto, ON - **

The Miser (Play Revival) - Stratford Theatre Festival in the Festival Theatre - Stratford, ON - ***

National Ballet's Sharing the Stage (Ballet) - Harbourfront Centre Concert Stage - Toronto, ON

OneRepublic: Never Ending Summer Tour (Concert) - Budweiser Stage - Toronto, ON

Orphan Song (Play) - Tarragon Theatre Mainspace - Toronto, ON - ***

Post-Democracy (Play) - Tarragon Theatre Mainspace - Toronto, ON - ***

Public Enemy (Play) - Canadian Stage Company in the Berkeley Street Theatre - Toronto, ON - ****

Red Velvet (Play) - Crow's Theatre in the Guloien Theatre at Streetcar Crowsnest - Toronto, ON - ****

Rent (Musical Revival) - The Burloak Theatre Group at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts - Oakville, ON

Room (Play) - Princess of Wales Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***1/2

Ross Petty's Peter's Final Flight! The Pan-Tastical Family Musical (Panto) - Elgin Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***

Sarah McLachlan (Concert) - Budweiser Stage - Toronto, ON

The Shark is Broken (Play) x2 - Royal Alexandra Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***

Singin' in the Rain (Musical Revival) x 2 - Princess of Wales Theatre - Toronto, ON - ****

Sister Act (Musical) - Palace Theatre - Manchester, UK - **1/2

Six Chick Flicks Or A Legally Blonde Pretty Woman Dirty Danced On the Beaches While Writing A Notebook On The Titanic (Play) - Toronto Fringe Festival at the Tarragon Theatre Mainspace - Toronto, ON - ****

Snow White (Play) - Young People's Theatre on the Ada Slaight Stage - Toronto, ON - ****

Statistics (Musical) - Toronto Fringe Festival at Ada Slaight Hall in Daniels Spectrum - Toronto, ON - **1/2

Tammy Faye (Musical) - Almeida Theatre - London, UK - ****

The Weir (Play Revival) - Abbey Theatre - Dublin, IE - ****

Welcome Back to the Future (Comedy) - The Second City - Toronto, ON - ***1/2

Where the Blood Mixes (Play) - Soulpepper Theatre Company and Native Earth Performing Arts in the Michael Young Theatre at the Young Centre - Toronto, ON - ****

Wildfire (Play) - Factory Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***

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Previous Best-of Lists:

Best of 2020 List:
Best of Stage 2020

Best of 2019 List:
Best of Stage 2019

Best of 2018 List:
Best of Stage 2018

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 The Last Return by Ste Murray
Photo of Alice in Wonderland and Doubt: A Parable by Dahlia Katz

Photo of Red Velvet by John Lauener
Photo of Kamloopa by Tim Matheson

Photo of Best of Enemies by Wasi Daniju
Photo of Carousel by Johan Persson
Photo of The Weir by Ros Kavanagh
Photo of & Juliet from press materials.

Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com