10 BEST NEW PLAYS/MUSICALS & 5 BEST REVIVALS OF THE DECADE (2010-19)

10 BEST NEW PLAYS/MUSICALS OF THE DECADE

1.  HAMILTON by Lin-Manuel Miranda (2015)

2.  24 DECADE HISTORY OF POPULAR MUSIC by Taylor Mac (2016)

3.  THE WHALE by Samuel D. Hunter (2012)
      

4.  BROTHER/SISTER PLAYS by Tarell Alvin McCraney (2010)

5.  FATHER COMES HOME FROM THE WARS by Suzan-Lori Parks (2014)

6.  THE FLICK and JOHN by Annie Baker (2013/2015)

7.  THE FERRYMAN by Jez Butterworth (2017)

8.  FUN HOME by Lisa Kron & Jeanine Tesori (2013)

9.  SKELETON CREW and PARADISE BLUE by Dominique Morisseau (2016/2018)

10. HERE LIES LOVE by David Byrne & Fatboy Slim (2013)

Honorable Mentions: APPROPRIATE by Brandon Jacobs-Jenkins (2014); THE WOLVES by Sarah DeLappe (2016)
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5 BEST REVIVALS OF THE DECADE

1.  ANGELS IN AMERICA directed by Marianne Elliott [National Theatre 2017] & directed by Michael Grief [Signature Theatre 2010]

2.  WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF directed by Pam MacKinnon [Broadway 2012]

3.  A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE directed by Ivo van Hove [Broadway 2015]

4.   THE GLASS MENAGERIE directed by John Tiffany [Broadway 2013]

5.  PIANO LESSON directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson [Signature Theatre 2012]

Honorable Mentions: NORMAL HEART directed by George C. Wolfe [Broadway 2011]; OKLAHOMA directed by Daniel Fish [St. Ann's Warehouse 2018/Broadway 2019]; FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (in Yiddish) directed by Joel Grey (2018)

10 BEST THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS OF 2019

In order of preference, my 10 favorite theatrical productions (which consists of 5 musicals and 5 plays, and of those 7 were new works, 3 were revivals) of 2019 are:

1.  THE SOUND INSIDE [Broadway]

2.  OCTET [Signature Theatre]

3.  GREATER CLEMENTS [Lincoln Center Theater]
      

4.  LEHMAN TRILOGY [Park Ave Armory]

5.  LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS [Westside Theater]

6.  OUR DEAR DEAD DRUG LORD [WP Theater]

7.  JAGGED LITTLE PILL [Broadway]

8.  ANTIGONE [Shizouka Perf Arts Ctr @ Park Ave Armory]

9.  SIX [Chicago Shakespeare Company]

10. IN THE HEIGHTS [Dallas Theater Center]

Honorable Mentions: FIRES IN THE MIRROR [Signature Theater]; MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING [Public Theater- Shakespeare In Park]; STRANGE LOOP [Playwrights Horizons]; TWELFTH NIGHT [Dallas Theater Center]

Best Performances of the Year: Edmund Donovan in GREATER CLEMENTS;  Mary Louise Parker  in THE SOUND INSIDE;  Simon Russell Beale in LEHMAN TRILOGY; Danielle Brooks in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING; Michael Benjamin Washington in FIRES IN THE MIRROR

“Jagged Little Pill” Is the Best Jukebox Musical to date

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

12/16/19, 5:25 AM

"Jagged Little Pill" is by far the best new musical of the season thus far, and the best integration of existing pop songs with an original book I have seen. The book is solid, music & cast are great, and the show is both thoughtful and moving. Bravo ‪@jaggedmusical‬

“Greater Clements” Is A Devastatingly Great Play

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

12/13/19, 11:36 PM

Samuel D Hunter's “Greater Clements”  ‪@LCTheater‬ is a devastatingly great play that movingly explores the imperfect but beautiful humanity of characters rarely depicted on stage. Judith Ivey and Edmund Donavan are astoundingly good in their lead roles and are well supported by the balance of the fine cast.  For me, the three hour running time flew by, as I felt personally invested in these lovingly depicted residents of a small Idaho mining town that is as down on its luck as its residents.  Mr. Hunter is among my favorite contemporary playwrights, and he once again delivers another powerful, emotionally searing work with this excellent play.

“Our Dear Dead Drug Lord” Is Exciting, Funny & Smart

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

12/12/19, 10:33 PM

Alexis Scheer’s new play “Our Dear Dead Drug Lord”  ‪@WPTheater‬ is an exciting, relevant, funny & smart new play that heralds the arrivals of enormously promising young theatrical talent in its excellent writer, director & cast. The play keeps subverting one’s expectations as it progresses, starting out in comedic form and slowly but surely tackles serious social issues in a unique and thoughtful way.  It is hard to say anything further about this play without spoiling the experience for those who have yet to see it, so I won’t saying anything more than do not miss ‪@druglordplay‬ which runs through Jan 5th.