As 2011 draws to a close I am left reflecting on my favorite productions, performances etc. of this season. There were so many amazing new productions this year as well as events that I loved every minute of. So I have compiled a list of “Tops” for the year ranging from events, performances, productions and other little bits here and there.
Top 5 Productions:
5. How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
What an incredible revival! Absolutely spectacular and a very talented cast! I will have to admit that I was a bit wary about the casting of Daniel Radcliffe but I was very pleasantly surprised. I thought that he was going to be a “star vehicle” for the show as a moneymaker but it is the total opposite. He has a wonderful voice, an excellent American accent and his dancing was flawless!
4. Catch Me If You Can
An amazing show based on the true story that had me laughing the entire way through. Norbert Leo Butz deserved the Tony for his comedic performance. Aaron Tveit sings the incredibly catchy music like a dream throughout the entire show that you can’t take your eyes off of him!
3.Bonnie and Clyde
While unfortunately this show just closed I was lucky enough to be at the first preview and what a treat it was. I mentioned in my review about the show (Bonnie and Clyde Broadway’s New Love Affair) how I love Frank Wildhorn. He again went for something that was very different and for me it worked. Filled with upbeat and infectious music and a marvelous cast I fell in love with this incredible show that had a very premature closing.
2.Follies
The divas over at the Marquis theatre make it impossible for you not to love them. With so much love and passion on the stage not to mention legends. Through this production you are swept away into the fabulous and luscious world that is Stephen Sondheim.
1.Rent
Words can’t even describe my love for this production. At first I was skeptical about this revival but I was wrong! By the end of the first act I was in love with this production and the company. They are all so young and bring a fresh look to this iconic show!
Top 3 Events:
3. “New York New York” in Duffy’s Square
2.Broadway Flea Market
1.Rent Christmas Spectacular Extravaganza
Top 5 Performances:
5.Tyne Daly Master Class
Brilliant riveting performance given by Ms.Daly. Thoroughly enjoyed.
4.Bernadette Peters Follies
Again Sondheim’s amazing musical muse Ms.Peters succeeds in captivating and moving the audience to tears with her beautiful rendition of Losing My Mind and her Tony worthy performance as Sally Durant Plummer.
3.Annaleigh Ashford Rent
While it seems everyone was a bit skeptical of the unconventional casting for Maureen Johnson in this year’s revival of Rent, Ms. Ashford blows the audience away with her perfect comedic timing by bringing a different take to Maureen and the song Over The Moon
2.Jan Maxwell Follies
Ah, what a stupendous performance by Ms.Maxwell. She is a badass and makes it show through her portrayal of Phyllis Rogers Stone. She delves into her music and brings the audience along with her. I dare you not to say that you didn’t feel anything for her character during Could I Leave You?
1.MJ Rodriguez Rent
This years Clive Barnes Award winner for acting gives the best performance of Angel! He is funny, charismatic and brings the house down every night with his rendition of Today For You (and he can walk and dance in heels better than me!)
Biggest Surprise of the Year:
*Insert Spiderman joke here-just kidding!
First revival of Funny Girl postponed indefinitely. As a big fan of the musical I was somewhat shocked to here that it had been cancelled.
That’s it for 2011 everyone! I’ll see you next year!
Bwaygirl828
