Stageworthy - Best of Stage 2023
If you don't count the shows I saw at amusement parks (and the ones at Canada's Wonderland, Cirque Ambient in the summer, and Tinker's Toy Factory and Four Drummer's Drumming at Winterfest, we're actually VERY good!), then I saw 41 stage shows plus 9 concerts. Seeing things 52 times total (once you count repeats). Granted a few shows we're just repeats from previous years (A Streetcar Named Desire starring Patsy Ferran and Paul Mescal, Groundhog Day starring Andy Karl, etc) so I still have not see as many new shows as I did in pre-pandemic years.
Still, while I saw less shows than normal, I think I got more discerning choosing which shows to attend, so felt like overall everything I saw this year was very good, with very few shows that disappointed.
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:
For previous years Best of Stage Lists:
Here's the Best of Stage 2023:
1. The Master Plan - Crow's Theatre in the Guloien Theatre at Streetcar Crowsnest - Toronto, ON
Written by Michael Healey, Directed by Chris Abraham
2. Prodigal - The Howland Company in association with Crow's Theatre in the Guloien Theatre at Streetcar Crowsnest - Toronto, ON
Written and Directed by Paolo Santalucia
6. I Love the Smell of Gasoline - Nightwood Theatre at Aki Studio - Toronto, ON
Created by Claren Grosz, Co-Directed by William Dao and Claren Grosz
Solid Revivals:
Created and Written by Cliff Cardinal, Co-conspirator Chris Abraham
Written by Makram Ayache, Directed by Peter Hinton-Davis
5. King Gilgamesh & The Man of the Wild - Soulpepper Theatre Company in the Baillie Theatre at the Young Centre - Toronto, ON
By Ahmed Moneka, Jesse Lavercombe, and Seth Bockley, Directed by Seth Bockley
6. I Love the Smell of Gasoline - Nightwood Theatre at Aki Studio - Toronto, ON
Created by Claren Grosz, Co-Directed by William Dao and Claren Grosz
Cabaret - Lido 2 Paris - Paris, FR
Pygmalion - Old Vic Theatre - London, UK
Breakthrough Performances (in alphabetical order):
Things I Know To Be True (Play) - CAA Panasonic Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***
untitled f*ck m*ss s**gon play (Play) - Young Vic Theatre - London, UK - ***1/2
Vierge (Play) - Factory Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***1/2
Women at Play(s) 5 (Short Plays) - Red Sandcastle Theatre - Toronto, ON
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 hooves belonged to the deer by Cylla Von Tiedemann
Breakthrough Performances (in alphabetical order):
Andrew Chown in Bad Roads
Trevor Coll in Rock of Ages
Jonathan Cullen in Rock of Ages
Katherine Gauthier in Bad Roads
Mei Mac in untitled f*ck m*ss s**gon play
Andrea Macasaet in Rent
Jade McLeod in Jagged Little Pill
Dan Mousseau in Prodigal
J Antonio Rodriguez in Hadestown
Nabil Traboulsi in Martyr
Great Performances (in alphabetical order):
The cast of A Strange Loop: Nathan Armarkwei-Laryea, Danny Bailey, Kyle Birch, Eddie Elliott, Sharlene Hector, Tendai Humphrey Sitima, Yeukayi Ushe
The cast of the hooves belonged to the deer: Makram Ayache, Noor Hamdi, Ryan Hollyman, Adrian Shepherd-Gawinski, Eric Wigston, Bahareh Yaraghi
The cast of The Master Plan: Christopher Allen, Ben Carlson, Philppa Domville, Peter Fernandes, Tara Nicodemo, Yanna McIntosh, Mike Shara
The cast of Prodigal: Michael Ayres, Veronica Hortiguela, Cameron Laurie, Dan Mousseau, Nancy Palk, Rick Roberts, Hallie Seline, Meghan Swaby, Shauna Thompson, Jeff Yung
The cast of Things I Know To Be True: Alanna Bale, Michael Derworiz, Christine, Horne, Daniel Maslany, Tom McCamus, Seana McKenna
The cast of Vierge: Yvonne Addai, JD Leslie, Kudakwashe Rutendo, Shauna Thompson
Bertie Carvel in Pygmalion
Steffi Didomenicantonio in Rock of Ages
Patsy Ferran in Pygmalion
Jesse Lavercombe in King Gilgamesh & The Man of the Wild
Ahmed Moneka in King Gilgamesh & The Man of the Wild
Erica Peck in Rent
Ron Pederson in Chaos Menu: Disorder Up!
Julie Reiber in Jagged Little Pill
Lee Siegel in Rent
Tom Weston-Jones in untitled f*ck m*ss s**gon play
Eleanor Worthington-Cox in The Secret Life of Bees
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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):
Ain't Too Proud (Musical) - CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre - Toronto, ON - **1/2
An Evening with Audra McDonald (Concert) - Toronto Symphony Orchestra at Roy Thompson Hall - Toronto, ON
A Strange Loop (Musical) - National Theatre at Barbican Theatre - London, UK - ****
A Streetcar Named Desire (Play Revival) - Almeida Theatre - London, UK - ****
A Wrinkle in Time (Play) - Stratford Theatre Festival in the Avon Theatre - Stratford, ON - **1/2
Bad Roads (Play) - Crow's Theatre in the Studio Theatre at Streetcar Crowsnest - Toronto, ON - ****
Boy George & Culture Club: The Letting It Go Show (Concert) - Budweiser Stage - Toronto, ON
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):
Ain't Too Proud (Musical) - CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre - Toronto, ON - **1/2
An Evening with Audra McDonald (Concert) - Toronto Symphony Orchestra at Roy Thompson Hall - Toronto, ON
A Strange Loop (Musical) - National Theatre at Barbican Theatre - London, UK - ****
A Streetcar Named Desire (Play Revival) - Almeida Theatre - London, UK - ****
A Wrinkle in Time (Play) - Stratford Theatre Festival in the Avon Theatre - Stratford, ON - **1/2
Bad Roads (Play) - Crow's Theatre in the Studio Theatre at Streetcar Crowsnest - Toronto, ON - ****
Boy George & Culture Club: The Letting It Go Show (Concert) - Budweiser Stage - Toronto, ON
Chaos Menu: Disorder Up! (Comedy) - The Second City Toronto Mainstage - Toronto, ON - ***1/2
Charlie Puth: The 'Charlie' Live Experience (Concert) - Budweiser Amphitheatre - Toronto, ON
Chris, Mrs. (Musical) - Winter Garden Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***
Dancing in the Street: The Music of Motown (Concert) - Toronto Symphony Orchestra at Roy Thompson Hall - Toronto, ON
The Darkest Dark (Play) - Young People's Theatre Mainstage - Toronto, ON - ***
Dean Brody & Friends Present The Brodeo (Concert) - Budweiser Amphitheatre - Toronto, ON
Opening Acts Tyler Joe Miller, Nate Smith, Griffen Palmer, Meghan Patrick
Deon Cole: My New Normal Tour (Comedy) - OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino - Niagara Falls, ON
Dierks Bentley: Gravel and Gold Tour (Concert) - Budweiser Amphitheatre - Toronto, ON
Opening Act Jordan Davis
English (Play) - Soulpepper Theatre Company in the Baillie Theatre at the Young Centre - Toronto, ON - ***1/2
Girls & Boys (Play) - Here For Now Theatre at Crow's Theatre in the Studio Theatre at Streetcar Crowsnest - Toronto, ON - ****
Groundhog Day (Musical) - Old Vic Theatre - London, UK - ****1/2
The Guide to Being Fabulous (Musical) - Soulpepper Theatre Company in the Michael Young Theatre at the Young Centre - Toronto, ON - ***1/2
Hadestown (Musical) - Royal Alexandra Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***1/2
Hamilton (Musical) - Peggy National Tour at Princess of Wales Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***1/2
the hooves belonged to the deer (Play) - Tarragon Theatre Mainstage - Toronto, ON - ****
I Love the Smell of Gasoline (Play) - Nightwood Theatre at Aki Studio - Toronto, ON - ****
In Dreams (Musical) x2 - CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***
Jagged Little Pill (Musical) - Princess of Wales Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***
Jonas Brothers: The Tour (Concert) - Rogers Centre - Toronto, ON
Opening Act Lawrence
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Musical Revival) x2 - Princess of Wales Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***
King Gilgamesh & The Man of the Wild (Play) - Soulpepper Theatre Company in the Baillie Theatre at the Young Centre - Toronto, ON - ****
The Land Acknowledgment, or As You Like It (Play) - Crow's Theatre at CAA Theatre - Toronto, ON - ****1/2
Les Belles-Soeurs (Play Revival) - Stratford Theatre Festival in the Festival Theatre - Stratford, ON - **
Maggie (Musical) - Theatre Aquarius - Hamilton, ON - ***1/2
Martyr (Play) - ARC at Native Earth Performing Arts in Aki Studio - Toronto, ON - ***1/2
The Master Plan (Play) - Crow's Theatre in the Guloien Theatre at Streetcar Crowsnest - Toronto, ON - ****1/2
Mozart & Rachmaninoff (Concert) - Toronto Symphony Orchestra at Roy Thompson Hall - Toronto, ON
Pressure (Play) - Royal Alexandra Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***1/2
Prodigal (Play) - The Howland Company in association with Crow's Theatre in the Guloien Theatre at Streetcar Crowsnest - Toronto, ON - ****1/2
King Gilgamesh & The Man of the Wild (Play) - Soulpepper Theatre Company in the Baillie Theatre at the Young Centre - Toronto, ON - ****
The Land Acknowledgment, or As You Like It (Play) - Crow's Theatre at CAA Theatre - Toronto, ON - ****1/2
Les Belles-Soeurs (Play Revival) - Stratford Theatre Festival in the Festival Theatre - Stratford, ON - **
Maggie (Musical) - Theatre Aquarius - Hamilton, ON - ***1/2
Martyr (Play) - ARC at Native Earth Performing Arts in Aki Studio - Toronto, ON - ***1/2
The Master Plan (Play) - Crow's Theatre in the Guloien Theatre at Streetcar Crowsnest - Toronto, ON - ****1/2
Mozart & Rachmaninoff (Concert) - Toronto Symphony Orchestra at Roy Thompson Hall - Toronto, ON
Pressure (Play) - Royal Alexandra Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***1/2
Prodigal (Play) - The Howland Company in association with Crow's Theatre in the Guloien Theatre at Streetcar Crowsnest - Toronto, ON - ****1/2
Pygmalion (Play Revival) - Old Vic Theatre - London, UK - ****
Rent (Musical Revival) - Stratford Theatre Festival in the Festival Theatre - Stratford, ON - ***1/2
Return to Grace (Musical) - OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino - Niagara Falls, ON - **1/2
Rock of Ages (Musical Revival) - Elgin Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***
The Secret Life of Bees (Musical) - Almeida Theatre - London, ON - ****
Six (Musical) - Royal Alexandra Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***1/2
Skyline's The Limit (Comedy) - The Second City Toronto Mainstage - Toronto, ON - ***
Spamalot (Musical Revival) - Stratford Theatre Festival in the Avon Theatre - Stratford, ON - ***
untitled f*ck m*ss s**gon play (Play) - Young Vic Theatre - London, UK - ***1/2
Vierge (Play) - Factory Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***1/2
Women at Play(s) 5 (Short Plays) - Red Sandcastle Theatre - Toronto, ON
The Caved That Hummed a Song
Eminent Domain
Falling Upwards
Missing You
Women of the Highlands
Woodcocks
Yerma (Play Revival) - Coal Mine Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***1/2
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Previous Best-of Lists:
Best of 2020 List:
Woodcocks
Yerma (Play Revival) - Coal Mine Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***1/2
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Previous Best-of Lists:
Best of 2020 List:
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 hooves belonged to the deer by Cylla Von Tiedemann
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