In my first year as a critic on stagehappenings.com, I have experienced some absolutely wonderful pieces produced in this city with an inclined market for live theatrical presentations. Born and raised in the Chicago area, most of my experience as an audience member has been thrillingly fulfilled. As a producer and director in the L.A. area, I have been inclined to not only enjoy the productions I review, but also to attain information that is helpful to me in my quest for perfection in my own productions. Within 2008, I had seen 52 productions, 27 of which I had reviewed. I would like to give my top three favorites in the categories of "plays" and "musicals."
TOP 3 PLAYS OF 2008
To keep an audience member's attention, you need, not a great story, but a fascinating story. My top three picks have evolved from simply fascinating storytelling, directed by my top three choices for Best Director of 2008.
In "Dog Sees God," director Nick DeGruccio painted a picture that his mind had seen. He showed us a story which he imagined on his own from a story he himself had been told. We, as an audience, were moved by DeGruccio's plan, and that makes for one fantastic play.
In The Road Theatre's "LADY," directed by Scott Alan Smith, we watched three friends on a journey into the woods and further into a lifelong friendship. This West Coast Premiere touched our hearts in the same spot from which our own journeys and experiences had evolved.
The smallest theatre I have ever had the experience of walking into housed one of my favorite World Premiere plays I have ever seen: Bill Murphy's "Refuge from the Storm." My preconceived negative notions were mainly drawn from the title and the logo. Although, by curtain call, I had judged it: magnificent storytelling.
TOP 3 MUSICALS OF 2008
Endless effort and extravagant detail go into producing a musical.
My #1 Favorite in 2008 was "Louis and Keely, Live at the Sahara." In my review, I wrote, "This is my favorite show of 2008, hands down! Heck, I'll even throw 2007 in there! Perfect through and through!" By chance, I was able to see it before it closed after a long run.
If I hadn't, "Assassins" would have been my #1 Top Pick. I had always heard the music from Stephen Sondheim's classic, but was never able to see it put together live. This production proved that hard work and dedication to storytelling, accompanied by ridiculously talented performers, can entertain delightfully with such black humor.
Crown City Theatre's "I'm Just Wild about Harry" takes the story of "Charley's Aunt" and douses it in sizzling music from the early 1900s to bring to the NoHo Arts District a brand new company who has since continued to electrify audiences with the unique re-telling of classics.
Top 5 Most Memorable Ensembles of 2008
"American Tales"
"Assassins"
"A Very Brady Musical"
"Lady"
"Louis and Keely, Live at the Sahara"
Top 10 Most Memorable Performers of 2008
Alet Taylor - "Respect"
Christopher Lloyd - "A Christmas Carol"
Jaden Leigh - "Dog Sees God"
Joanne McGee - "A Chicago Christmas Carol"
Kate Randolph Burns - "The Belle of Amherst"
Kelly Stables - "A Very Brady Musical"
Matt Kirkwood - "Lady"
Nakia Syvonne - "Earth Sucks"
Roger Ainslie - "Bush is Bad"
Ryan Nealy - "Blood Brothers"