Your Top Shows of the Year

With 2005 coming to its inevitable end (kinda scary how fast it went by...), another year of theater is being wrapped up as well. This past year has really brought some of the most entertaining, witty, gorgeous, thrilling, & heart-breaking shows I've ever seen. It was a great year in theater and it's hard for me to pick my top 5. But, here goes. Keep in mind I have not seen everything so if something you expected to be on my list is not, its either because we dont agree or because I simply have not seen it.


5. Sweet Charity
4. Doubt
3. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
2. The Light in the Piazza
1. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee


What's on your list?

(And I searched for this topic and couldnt find anything so dont pounce on me if theres already a thread on it. There was one but it seems to be mainly based on the critics top 10 shows of the year)

Updated On: 12/27/05 at 12:39 PM

Do you mean new shows on broadway only? I watched a lot of shows from tour, not from Bway.

1.Light in the Piazza
2.The Secret Garden World Aids Day Concert
3.Jesus Christ Superstar tour
4.Urinetown from Signature theatre

4) Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
3) Sweet Charity
2) The Light In The Piazza
1) Sweeney Todd

Based on the quality and overall enjoyment, these are my top 4 shows that I saw in 2005.

Oh god. I hate doing these. I just hate not putting so many shows I absolutely loved. Well, I'll give you all my shows I give four stars.

1. The Pillowman
2. Doubt
3. Spamalot
4. Orson's Shadow
5. Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf
6. Glengarry Glenn Ross
7. Jersey Boys
8. Seascape

Given, I haven't seen Light in the Piazza, Sweet Charity and Altar Boyz, that is my list.

1. Light in the Piazza
2. Sweeney Todd
3. The Pillowman
4. See What I Wanna See
5. Doubt
Honerable Mention: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

1. Sweet Charity
2. Spamalot
3. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
4. The Pillowman
5. The Light in the Piazza

And honorable mention, because even though it's anything but new, I saw it for the first time on Broadway in March, goes to RENT.

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5.All Shook UP
4.Sweet Charity
3.Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
2.See What I Wanna See
1.Dog Sees God:Confessions Of A Teenage Blockhead

Top Actor: Norbert Leo Butz- Brillant and hilarious as Freddy in Scoundrels

Top Actress: Idina Menzel- Incredible acting & singing in all 3 roles in SWIWS

Look out for: Kelli Garner in 2006.If she can sing as well as she acts in Dog Sees God, we could be looking at the next Sherie Rene Scott.

Favorite Continuing Show- RENT- As good as it ever was.Amazing Cast.Justin Johnston is amazing as Angel.

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My Top 10:
10. Lennon
9. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
8. Souvenir
7. Doubt
6. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
5. Two Gentlemen of Verona in Central Park
4. 700 Sundays
3. The Pillowman
2. The Color Purple
1. Sweeney Todd

Favorite Break-through Performance Male - Norbert Leo Butz
Favorite Break-through Performance Female - Victoria Clark
Favorite Return to Broadway - Patti LuPone
Favorite Broadway Debut - Christina Applegate
Favorite "I Never Thought They Could Do It" - Harvey Fierstein
Favorite "Finally Made it to Broadway" - Julia Murney
Most Graceful Way to Leave a Show - Idina Menzel's simple finishing her last two scenes
Favorite "That Should Have Transferred" - Two Gents in Central Park
Least Favorite Performance - Matthew Broderick
Least Favorite Return - Rosie O'Donnell
Most Overhyped Show that Lived Up to/Exceeded Expectations - The Pillowman
Most Overhyped Show that didn't Live Up To Expecations - Odd Couple, Spamalot
Best Flop - Lennon
Show that Exceeded Lowest Expecations - Color Purple

Updated On: 12/27/05 at 06:26 PM

1. DRS
2. Light in the Piazza
3. Spelling Bee
4. Sweeney Todd
5. Jersey Boys
6. Sweet Charity
7. 700 Sundays
8. The Color Purple
9. All Shook Up
10. Spamalot

Best Actor- Norbert Leo Butz

Best Actress- Victoria Clark

Best Breakout Actor- John Lloyd Young

Best Breakout Actress- Shannon Durig

Best Play- The Pillowman

Best Special Event- 700 Sundays

Best Musical- Dirty Rotten Socundrels

Best Return- Patti LuPone

I just saw CHITTY. Will post a review tomorrow. It was enjoyable but doesnt nearly touch my current top 5. It was fun and quite entertaining but nothing revolutionary. It just kinda...was what it was.

Play: In the Continuum
Jersey Boys
The Color Purple
Sweeney Todd
Older favorites:
Spelling Bee
Avenue Q
Forbidden Broadway
Fiddler
LA CAGE
Hairspray
Caroline or Change
Dessa Rose

Updated On: 12/27/05 at 11:51 PM

1. Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
2. The Pillowman--(god, I wish I could see this one more time)
3. Doubt

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http://ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=238&aid=55837

Uhh, who's Leo Norbert Butz?