Stageworthy: Best of Stage 2024
Not counting shows I saw at amusement parks or on a cruise, saw 41 stage shows (42 times (saw one show twice)), plus 8 concerts (10 times, as in, saw Westlife 3x). Which is almost exactly the same as 2023, so if anything, I'm consistent. But long gone are the pre-pandemic days where I saw 150-200 shows a year.
But alas, here's the best I've seen this year (plus all the shows I saw this year in a list at the bottom).
Any shows (same production version) I had seen in previous years are ineligible for this year's list.
Here's the Best of Stage 2024:
1. Death Becomes Her - Lunt-Fontanne Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY
Music and Lyrics by Julia Mattison and Noel Carey, Book by Marco Pennette, Directed and Choreographed by Christopher Gattelli
Just an absolute blast of comedy and zingers to fun tunes in a musical adaptation that understood the assignment, knew exactly who their audience is, and nailed it with a shot gun. With an execution in wildly broad strokes from a bouncy Megan Hilty and a malleable Jennifer Simard, with a pretty (and pretty funny) Christopher Sieber, and a screamingly hilarious Josh Lamon, the show is plastered in an absolute ridiculous commitment from an over-the-top production that wears it's Broadway budget for all to see. Have not had this much fun on Broadway or any stage in a long time.
2. Standing at the Sky's Edge - National Theatre at the Gilliam Lynne Theatre - West End - London, UK
Music and Lyrics by Richard Hawley, Book by Chris Bush, Directed by Robert Hastie
A musical about an apartment complex in three different timelines should not sound like a great musical but the way this complex musical interweaves it all, delving into the lives of three sets of people who live in the same apartment, was both riveting and heart wrenching.
3. A Case For The Existence Of God - Coal Mine Theatre - Toronto, ON
Written by Samuel D. Hunter, Directed by Ted Dykstra
Samuel D. Hunter does it again. My favourite playwright at this time, and finally gets one of his plays mounted in Toronto, with the top notch duo of Mazin Elsadig and Noah Reid. Just another beautiful Hunter play about two single dads trying to survive and making a connection that defies their social and economic state.
4. Big Stuff - Crow's Theatre in the Studio Theatre at Streetcar Crowsnest - Toronto, ON
Written by Matt Baram, Naomi Snieckus, Kat Sandler, Directed by Kat Sandler
Both a study on material culture and a personal journey for married-in-real-life couple Matt Baram and Naomi Snieckus. Did I mention Big Stuff is also very funny? and brings the audience in on their insightful journey into all the stuff we connect to and how it affects our souls? An absolute charmer of a play that you will not want to throw out.
5. Giant - Royal Court Theatre - Jerwood Theatre Downstairs - London, UK
Written by Mark Rosenblatt, Directed by Nicholas Hytner
John Lithgow as Roald Dahl during the time he gets accused of anti-semitism. Quite the giant play of ideas, ideologies, politics, and human interactions, with the giant presence of Lithgow as Dahl guiding us with his words to give us a glimpse behind the mind of a beloved writer.
6. The Witches - National Theatre Olivier Theatre - London, UK
Music and Lyrics by Dave Malloy, Book and Lyrics by Lucy Kirkwood, Directed by Lyndsey Turner
Ended the year with Giant, a play about Roald Dahl, but started the year with The Witches, a new musical by Dave Malloy and Lucy Kirkwood, who seemed to have a blast with this stage adaptation. Just a big fun, sometimes creepy, always funny show that swirls together the perfect quirky Malloy tunes to the oddities into Dahl's world.
7. What You Won't Do For Love - Why Not Theatre at Upper Canada College - Toronto, ON
Created by Drs. Tara Cullis, Dr. David Suzuki, Ravi Jain, and Miriam Fernandes, Directed by Ravi Jain
Miriam Fernandes interviewed the famed Dr. David Suzuki and his wife Drs. Tara Cullis about their relationship, their love, the foundation she founded with his name, and turned it into a verbatim play with the esteemed couple playing themselves. Mix in videos behind them, it feels like an experimental structure that ultimately uses the couple's love as a backdrop to the environmental issues they have fought for their entire lives. Oddly loving and romantic for a piece that basically outlines the destruction of the planet by us humans, the sweetness and the genuine love and efforts by Suzuki and Cullis, with keen interest by Fernandes and her husband (in Toronto played by actor Jeff Irving), keep the play both hopeful despite outlining grave concerns about the future of our planet.
Written by Cole Escola, Directed by Sam Pinkleton
Just absolutely f%$king ridiculous and yet not ridiculous enough. But then that ending. The whole thing is one of the stupidest and silliest things I had seen on stage, let alone a Broadway stage, and I'm happy it's a huge hit and that it will probably win all the play awards this spring.
9. Playing Shylock - Canadian Stage Company at the Berkeley Street Theatre - Toronto, ON
Written by Mark Leiren-Young, Directed by Martin Kinch
Saul Rubinek plays Saul Rubinek playing Shylock in The Merchant of Venice, in these times, and then goes OFF! In what becomes a more personal play, mixed in with some meta-theatrical plotting, the play is both a fun rumination on his career, his Jewishness, and how it all intertwined.
10. The Notebook - Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY
Music and Lyrics by Ingrid Michaelson, Book by Bekah Brunstetter, Directed by Michael Greif and Schele Williams
I liked this when I saw it but assumed I'd forget about it soon after. Instead, it's stayed in my mind and kept with me more and more. The Notebook made... notes... on my mind! Plus my young Noah, Benji Santiago (probably one of the best voices I've heard on that NY weekend trip this side of Joshua Henry or Brent Comer) and middle Noah Ryan Vasquez managed to make me forget wet Ryan Gosling, so that's SOMETHING. But yah, I'm kinda surprised this snuck up on me in my memory to land the 10 spot on this list!
Solid Revivals:
Guys & Dolls - Bridge Theatre - London, UK
Ragtime - Encores at New York City Center - New York City, NY
Breakthrough Performances (in alphabetical order):
Francesca Amewudah-Rivers in Romeo & Juliet
Jonathan Bentley as Jimmy in Standing at the Sky's Edge
Chrissie Bhima in The Witches
Valentin Chetverkin in Cirque Du Soleil Mad Apple
Brent Comer in The Outsiders
Aidan deSalaiz as Albin in La Cage Aux Folles
Mya Fox-Scott as Joy in Standing at the Sky's Edge
Domhnall Herdman in Emma
George Ioannides in Guys & Dolls
Anita Majumder in Interior Design
Hannah Mamalis in Emma
Heeyun Park in Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812
Tyler Pearse in Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812
Benji Santiago in The Notebook
Jason Schmidt in The Outsiders
Ryan Vasquez in The Notebook
Anna Zavelson in The Notebook
Great Performances (in alphabetical order):
Casts of:
Mazin Elsadig and Noah Reid in A Case For The Existence Of God
Matt Baram and Naomi Snieckus in Big Stuff
Aurora Browne in The Bidding War
Evan Buliung in Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812
Cole Escola in "Oh, Mary!"
Izad Etamadi in The Bidding War
Henry Firmston in Something Rotten!
Joel Harper-Jackson in Standing at the Sky's Edge
Joshua Henry in Ragtime
Megan Hilty in Death Becomes Her
Ramin Karimloo in A Face in the Crowd
Andy Karl in Teeth
Katherine Kingsley in The Witches
George Krissa in Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812
Josh Lamon in Death Becomes Her
Caissie Levy in Ragtime
John Lithgow in Giant
Alyse Alan Louis in Teeth
Laura Pitt-Pulford in Standing at the Sky's Edge
Fiona Reid in The Bidding War
Conrad Ricamora in "Oh, Mary!"
Ben Levi Ross in Ragtime
Saul Rubinek in Playing Shylock
Christopher Sieber in Death Becomes Her
Jennifer Simard in Death Becomes Her
Steven Sutcliffe in The Bidding War
Michael Therriault in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Brandon Uranowitz in Ragtime
Eric Woolfe in Macbeth: A Tale Told By an Idiot
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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):
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):
42nd Street (Musical Revival) - Princess of Wales Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***1/2
A Case For The Existence Of God (Play) - Coal Mine Theatre - Toronto, ON - ****1/2
A Face in the Crowd (Musical) - Young Vic Theatre Main House - London, UK - ***1/2
Age is a Feeling (Play) - Soulpepper Theatre Company in the Michael Young Theatre at the Young Centre - Toronto, ON - ***
Aladdin (Muiscal) - National Tour at Princess of Wales Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***
The Bidding War (Play) - Crow's Theatre in the Guloien Theatre at Streetcar Crowsnest - Toronto, ON - ***1/2
Big Stuff (Play) - Crow's Theatre in the Studio Theatre at Streetcar Crowsnest - Toronto, ON - ****
Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Musical) - Young People's Theatre Mainstage - Toronto, ON - ***1/2
Celebrity X Beyond Shows:
Al Ducharme (Comedy) x2 - The Theatre
Arte (Circus/Musical) x2 - The Theatre
Decadence (Circus) - Eden Club
Dreams (Circus) - Eden Club
Elements (Circus/Musical) x 2 - The Theatre
The Jazz Joint (Circus) - The Club
Matt Johnson (Magic) x2 - The Theatre
Paradise (Circus) - Eden Club
Roy Tan (Concert) - The Theatre
Stage Door (Musical) - The Theatre
Suzanna Smith (Concert) - The Theatre
Cirque Du Soleil Mad Apple (Circus) - New York-New York Theatre at New York-New York Resort and Casino - Las Vegas, NV - ***1/2
Cirque Du Soleil Michael Jackson One (Circus) - Michael Jackson One Theatre at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino - Las Vegas, NV - ***
Dallas Smith with Nate Haller (Concert) - HISTORY - Toronto, ON
Death Becomes Her (Musical) - Lunt-Fontanne Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - ****1/2
Emma (Play) - Abbey Theatre - Dublin, IE - ***1/2
Evil Dead the Musical (Musical) - Randolph Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***
Giant (Play) - Royal Court Theatre - Jerwood Theatre Downstairs - London, UK - ****
Guys & Dolls (Musical Revival) - Bridge Theatre - London, UK - ****
In Seven Days (Play) - Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company in the Greenwin Theatre at Meridien Arts Centre - Toronto, ON - ***1/2
Interior Design (Play) - Tarragon Theatre Mainstage - Toronto, ON - ***1/2
Janet Jackson: Together Again Tour (Concert) - Scotiabank Arena - Toronto, ON
La Cage Aux Folles (Musical Revival) - Stratford Theatre Festival in the Avon Theatre - Stratford, ON - ***
The Last Timbit (Musical) - Elgin Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***
Les Misérables (Musical Revival) - National Tour at Princess of Wales Theatre - ***
Life of Pi (Play) - National Tour at CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***
Macbeth: A Tale Told By An Idiot (Play Revival) - Eldritch Theatre's Red Sandcastle - Toronto, ON - ***1/2
Mamma Mia (Musical) - North American National Tour - CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre - Toronto, ON - ****
Moulin Rouge! (Musical) - National Tour at CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre - Toronto, ON - **1/2
Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 (Musical) - Crow's Theatre in the Guloien Theatre at Streetcar Crowsnest - Toronto, ON - ***1/2
New Kids on the Block with Paula Abdul and DJ Jazzy Jeff: The Magic Summer Tour 2024 (Concert) - Budweiser Stage - Toronto, ON
Niall Horan: "The Show" Live on Tour (Concert) - Scotiabank Arena - Toronto, ON
Nick Carter: Who I Am Tour (Concert) - The Opera House - Toronto, ON
The Notebook (Musical) - Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - ****
"Oh, Mary!" (Play) - Lyceum Theater - Broadway - New York City, NY - ****
The Outsiders (Musical) - Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - ***1/2
Playing Shylock (Play) - Canadian Stage Company at the Berkeley Street Theatre - Toronto, ON - ****
Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of) (Play) - CAA Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***
Ragtime (Musical Revival Concert) - Encores at New York City Center - New York City, NY - *****
Romeo & Juliet (Play Revival) - The Duke of York Theatre - West End - London, UK - **1/2
Something Rotten! (Musical Revival) - Stratford Theatre Festival in the Festival Theatre - Stratford, ON - ***
Standing at the Sky's Edge (Musical) - National Theatre at the Gilliam Lynne Theatre - West End - London, UK - ****1/2
Stravinsky's Pulcinella (Concert) - Toronto Symphony Orchestra at Roy Thompson Hall - Toronto, ON
Teeth (Musical) - New World Stages - Stage 1 - New York City, NY - ***1/2
Tina (Musical) x2 - National Tour at CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***
Tinker's Toy Factory (Circus/Musical) x? - Canada's Wonderland's Winterfest in the Canterbury Theatre - Vaughan, ON
Universal Child Care (Musical) - Canadian Stage Company at the Berkeley Street Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***1/2
Westlife: The Hits Tour - A St. Patrick's Day Special (Concert) x3 - Meridian Hall - Toronto, ON
What You Won't Do For Love (Play) - Why Not Theatre at Upper Canada College - Toronto, ON - ****
The Witches (Musical) - National Theatre Olivier Theatre - London, UK - ****
Women at Play(s) 6 (Plays) - Red Sandcastle Theatre - Toronto, ON
Her Crown
Christmas at the Roadside Diner
Mary and Her Jar of Jam
Filters
The Trial of Rosie McDougall
U Can't Touch This
Virginia to Vegas: The Greatest Hits Tour (Concert) - Biltmore Theatre - Oshawa, ON
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Previous Best-of Lists:
Best of 2023 List:
Previous Best-of Lists:
Best of 2023 List:
Best of 2021/2022 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 A Case for the Existence of God by Cylla von Tiedemann
Photos of Big Stuff and Playing Shylock and What You Won't Do For Love by Dahlia Katz
Photo of Death Becomes Her by Matthew Murray and Evan Zimmerman
Photo of Giant by Manuel Harlan
Photo of The Notebook by Julieta Cervantes
Photo of "Oh, Mary!" by Emilio Madrid
Photo of Standing at the Sky's Edge by Brinkhoff-Moegenburg
Photo of The Witches by Marc Brenner
Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com
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