Posted: 12/28/24 at 4:15pm
1. CATS: The Jellicle Ball
2. Mary Jane
3. Stereophonic
4. The Outsiders
5. Appropriate
Posted: 12/28/24 at 5:00pm
In no order
***Seeing - Maybe Happy Ending, Death Becomes Her and Cabaret in January
Updated On: 12/28/24 at 05:00 PM
Posted: 12/28/24 at 5:05pm
I saw 13 shows in 2024. I can’t rank them. I tried! This is the best I can do:
Loved:
Merrily We Roll Along-saw the 2nd time in 2024
Sunset Boulevard
Once Upon a Mattress
Maybe Happy Ending
Oh, Mary
Liked a Lot:
Appropriate
Gypsy - Thought Audra was amazing.
The Counter
Liked:
Stereophonic
Cabaret
Teeth
Meh:
All In
The Outsiders
Biggest Regret: Missing Joshua Henry in Ragtime
Updated On: 12/28/24 at 05:05 PM
Posted: 12/28/24 at 6:13pm
My tops:
Cats: Jellicle Ball
Stereophonic
Illinoise
Sunset Boulevard
Oh Mary
Grief Hotel
Mary Jane
Hills of California
Gypsy
Jonah
Posted: 12/28/24 at 6:31pm
WATER FOR ELEPHANTS
ONCE UPON A MATTRESS
DEATH BECOMES HER
SUNSET BLVD
BACK TO THE FUTURE
THE WIZ
THE HEART OF ROCK AND ROLL
LEMPICKA
THE WHO'S TOMMY
CABARET WITH ADAM LAMBERT
FROZEN-WEST END
Posted: 12/28/24 at 6:32pm
1. Merrily
2. Spelling Bee at Kennedy Center
3. Once Upon a Mattress
4. Appropriate
5. Macbeth - Shakespeare Theatre, DC
Updated On: 12/28/24 at 06:32 PM
Posted: 12/28/24 at 7:13pm
I couldn’t settle on a #1 but my top 5 are pretty locked in. It gets murkier after that. Not including any productions I originally saw before this year…
Posted: 12/29/24 at 2:31am
A lot was meh to me this year, except for Oh, Mary! which I absolutely fell in love with in a way I haven't with a piece of theatre since pre-pandemic. So that would rank way above everything else, but my list
1. Oh, Mary!
2. Pre-Existing Condition (with Maria Dizzia as lead)
3. Illinoise
4. Stereophonic
5. Job
Worst: Lempicka, The Outsiders, Strategic Love Play, Cats: The Jellicle Ball, We Live in Cairo
Posted: 12/29/24 at 8:42am
Stereophonic (Broadway)
Illinoise (Broadway)
The Hills of California (Broadway)
Prayer for the French Republic (Broadway)
Player Kings (London)
Sunset Blvd (Broadway)
Appropriate (Broadway)
Cabaret (Broadway with Rankin and Redmayne)
The Effect (The Shed)
Jelly’s Last Jam (Encores)
Updated On: 12/29/24 at 08:42 AM
Posted: 12/29/24 at 9:37am
I was lucky enough to see 50 shows this year! Here's what I enjoyed the most (I'm mostly omitting shows I revisited that I had previously seen in years past, such as Stereophonic, Days of Wine and Roses, Merrily, etc. even though I still enjoyed all of them):
Favorite Shows:
Cats: The Jellicle Ball (PAC)
Good Bones (The Public)
Gatz (The Public)
Ragtime (NY City Center)
Lempicka (Broadway)
Suffs (Broadway)
Titanic (Encores!)
The Notebook (Broadway)
Favorite Performances:
Joshua Henry (Ragtime)
Brandon Uranowitz (Ragtime)
Amber Iman (Lempicka)
Rachel McAdams (Mary Jane)
Favorite Moments:
"Bright (Take 22)" in Stereophonic (packed even more of a punch on Broadway, probably the single best musical moment I saw on stage all year)
The Zoom Town Hall in Eureka Day
"Wheels of a Dream," "Til We Reach That Day," "Make Them Hear You" in Ragtime (the day after the election)
Jonathan Groff winning a Tony Award for Merrily We Roll Along :)
Posted: 12/29/24 at 10:04am
1. Jellicle Ball
2. Stereophonic
3. Water For Elephants
4. Mary Jane
5. Translations at Irish Rep
6 Appropriate
7. Doubt
8. Hills of California
9. Yellow Face
Shows I haven’t seen yet: Gypsy
shows that others have listed that I thought were just meh (or worse): Thr Outsiders, Oh, Mary and Maybe Happy Ending
and I echo the previous poster who said the Zoom Town Hall meeting in Eureka Day was the funniest scene of the year
Posted: 12/29/24 at 11:04am
1. Merrily We Roll
2. Appropriate
3. Stereophonic
4. Heart of Rock and Roll
5. Buena Vista Social Club
6. Rachel McAdams in Mary Jane
7. Robert Downey in McNeal
8. Adam Driver in Hold on to Me Darling
9. Hell’s Kitchen
10. Maybe Happy Ending
Posted: 12/29/24 at 4:04pm
Shows I completely loved
1. Stereophonic
2. The Heart of Rock and Roll
3. Maybe Happy Endings
4. Appropriate
5. The Life and Slimes of Marc Summers
(A producer for this Tweeted in a barely blind item that getting verbally abused by a washed up kids host for his off-Broadway show flopping was his worst experience of 2024. Seeing the show was a huge amount of fun, even if it wasn't behind-the-scenes.)
6. Caitlin Cook: The Writing on the Stall
(A one woman musical I saw at the Soho Playhouse about graffiti in bathrooms. It's very funny before getting to a more personal, serious story. The best thing I saw in 2024 most people haven't heard of.)
Shows I'd recommend with some reservations
7. Suffs
(In a musical where every decision getting second guessed is the story, it's not shocking there are some parts I wish they did differently. Still, this is the show I've thought about the most in the last year.)
8. Illinoise
(I was extremely impressed with the main story. I'd have ranked this higher if Act I was just dropped. Those first campfire songs aren't really related to the Henry narrative.)
9. SUNSET BLVD
(I loved Nicole Scherzinger in this and Jamie Lloyd's directorial choices. Still, the Glenn Close revival held together better as a story for me.)
10. Gypsy
(McDonald is impressive and miscast. I'm not a fan of any of George C. Wolfe's choices. On the other hand, the source material is great and I'd never seen Gypsy on Broadway before.)
Posted: 12/30/24 at 1:43am
The exact order is hard to determine, but I feel pretty good about this as my top 10:
I toyed with putting Eureka Day in there, but decided that might just be recency bias. I really loved it though and the town hall scene absolutley made my top moments list.
A few other honorable mentions are Appropriate, Job, and the Outsiders.
Posted: 12/30/24 at 9:55am
I don't think the greatest performance or theatrical moment I witnessed this year was in any play. For me it was seeing Madonna during one of her LA shows in March at the Kia Forum. Specifically the production of Live to Tell, when she performed while being carried across the stadium in a box while all the screens unfurled with images of creatives who passed during the AIDS crisis of the 80's & early 90's. It was stunning and so emotional.
Seeing the show at Kia Forum was on another level. I didn't realize it had been completely renovated over 10 years ago specifically as a concert venue. It is so much better than the average sports stadium that most touring shows play.
In New York the best show I saw this year was Maybe Happy Ending.
Elsewhere I made a bucket list trip this past Summer to the Santa Fe Opera in New Mexico. Their gorgeous production of Der Rosenkavelier in the open air theatre while thunder & lightning stormed in the hills around and the gowns on the cast whipped about in the wind made for a fantastical night.
Posted: 12/30/24 at 10:55am
My personal top 10:
1) Ragtime (NYCC)
2) Cats: The Jellicle Ball
3) Maybe Happy Ending
4) Sunset Blvd.
5) Suffs
6) The Outsiders
7) The Connector
8) NYCC Encores (I know this is cheating, but all three productions were excellent)
9) The Who's Tommy
10) Safety Not Guaranteed (BAM)
Posted: 12/30/24 at 11:45am
1. Operation Mincemeat (London)
2. Merrily
3. Sweeney Todd
4. Days of Wine & Roses
5. Once Upon A Mattress (City Center)
6. Les Mis (touring - Houston)
7. Uncle Vanya
8. Funny Girl (touring - Houston)
9. Phantom of the Opera (London)
10. Back to the Future (London - only made the list because my 2 little boys thought this was the best show ever)
Shows that DID NOT make my top 10: The Great Gatsby, Shucked (touring), Beetlejuice (touring)
Posted: 12/30/24 at 11:51am
I saw a whole bunch of theatre this year, but I am going to only pick one. It was one of the top three I saw this year.....
It wasn't on Broadway. It was in a church with about 70 seats. It was Tuesday's With Morrie starrring Len Cariou.
It was so moving. So real. Len is a National Treasure and if you were lucky enough to see this production, you may know what I am talking about. So underrated. It was brilliant.
Updated On: 12/30/24 at 11:51 AM
Posted: 12/30/24 at 11:59am
Alphabetical order:
Death Becomes Her (first preview in Chicago)
Here We Are (closing performance)
The Outsiders
Romeo + Juliet
Sunset Blvd.
Posted: 12/30/24 at 1:58pm
In no particular order:
SH*T.Meet.Fan
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at the Kennedy Center
The Welkin off-Broadway. Very powerful performances
The Heart of Rock and Roll. Thrilled to see it made its way onto other lists here as well.
Jonah at Roundabout Theater off Broadway.
Honorable Mentions: Merrily, The Play That Goes Wrong, the current cast of Six
Posted: 12/30/24 at 2:22pm
Why not?
1. The Who's TOMMY (Ali Louis Bourzgui's voice is my joy)
2. Maybe Happy Ending (what more can one say than to tell others to buy tickets and experience this miracle themselves)
3. Dead Outlaw (finally getting the cast album for this next year is one of the only reasons I'm looking forward to 2025)
4. Macbeth at Shakespeare Theater Co. (crossing Ralph Fiennes in Shakespeare live off my bucket list)
5. Oh, Mary! opening night party at the Eagle (self-explanatory)
Updated On: 12/30/24 at 02:22 PM
Posted: 12/30/24 at 5:52pm
Being in DC, but traveling home several times a year, means I see shows in both cities... lucky for me but not my pocketbook!
DC
1) Ragtime - Signature Theatre - caught it in January. It was one of the most amazing shows I have seen there. Being that close made it feel that much more personal. And with how things have played out this year, this show's themes resonated throughout the year.
2) Mr Lincoln - Ford Theatre - 90 minute master class in holding the audience in the palm of your hand. Scott Bakula was as mesmerizing.
3) 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee - Broadway Center Stage at KenCen did it again. They are really killing it with comedies (Spamalot, Guys & Dolls). This show was special - so full of energy, so sweet.
4) Noises Off - Keegan Theatre - this small, but mighty theatre in Dupont can really nail it, and this was pitch perfect.
5) Patti Lupone: My Life in Song - on woman show, you don't need more on stage!
Broadway
1) Suffs - even knowing the history, I still cried. This was so moving, so inspiring. I wish I could see it again before it closes. If you haven't - GO!!!
2) Maybe Happy Ending - most of the musical is just Criss and Shen - and they are unburdened by that weight. It is a thing to behold - its moving, its sweet, it is a statement on morality from robots!
3) Sweeney Todd (Foster/Tveit) - the audience was vibrating with energy, the stage radiated with creativity and raw talent. It was a special experience, watching them play off each other, have fun in those roles and pour their hearts into it. I wish this was taped or a new cast album
4) Once Upon a Mattress - I'm a Foster lover - and she was perfect in this goofy role; I hope there is a nomination in her future for it. Urie was a perfect match. If you needed a laugh - this was your show!
5) Death Becomes Her - (saw in Chicago) - that first act is comedic gold
----------
Bonuses:
* Teeth - what a pleasant, campy, over the top surprise. Plus, there is some string commentary on Evangical culture. This was must see Off Broadway!
* Lempicka - I don't care what people say, I was looking forward to this show and I thought Eden shined!
* Heart of Rock and Roll - that show needed to find an audience that wasn't looking for serious, sad and moody - and instead one that would embrace singing about a cardboard company.
Posted: 12/30/24 at 6:35pm
It’s been such a great year for shows! According to the Mezzanine app (shoutout to the Mezzanine app for anyone not on it - I’m not affiliated, just a fan lol), this is tied for the most shows I’ve seen in a year since moving to NYC 21 years ago. And I’m even more excited for what 2025 has to bring!
In rough order:
1. Cats: The Jellicle Ball - an easy #1. I knew very little about ball culture (I know a little more now!) but one of the best things I’ve EVER seen, let alone this year. Saw it twice, which I don’t normally do.
2. Illinoise
3. Jelly’s Last Jam (City Center)
4. Maybe Happy Ending
5. Sunset Boulevard
6. Suffs
7. Oh, Mary! (Off-Broadway)
8. Titanic (City Center)
9. Appropriate
10. The Outsiders
With very honorable mentions to Tommy, Death Becomes Her, Gypsy, and The Hills of California!
Posted: 12/31/24 at 8:05am
Oh Mary!
Merrily We Roll Along
Heart of Rock and Roll (so interesting that this is on so many people's lists, given the beating it took!)
Suffs
Once Upon a Mattress
Maybe Happy Ending
Sunset Boulevard
Illinoise
Posted: 1/2/25 at 4:54pm
It’s hard for me to mix Musicals with Plays so I’m going to cheat and separate them!
TOP 5 PLAYS OF 2024
1. Appropriate
2. Stereophonic
3. Job
4. Preexisting Condition
5. Cult of Love
TOP MUSICALS OF 2024
1. Illinoise
2. Gypsy
3. Cats: The Jellicle Ball
4. Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
5. Maybe Happy Ending
6. The Outsiders
7. Death Becomes Her
8. Sunset Blvd.
9. Annie
10. Suffs
Note that I still wasn’t able to watch Elf, A Wonderful World, and Eureka Day this year. Also if we include New York City Center Encore Productions, Ragtime and Titanic would definitely bump Annie and Suffs coming in at Number 6 and Number 10 respectively.
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