Image Credit: Paul KolnikOnly three of the shows on my list of the top 10 theater productions of 2010 are still playing: a stripped-down revival of the musical La Cage aux Folles, the ingenious, soon-to-close film-to-stage adaptation Brief Encounter, and the Sondheim revival A Little Night Music (a 2009 production that got a boost of invigorating new energy last summer when Bernadette Peters stepped into the lead role). Several of these shows were launched with deliberately limited runs, it’s true — the Denzel Washington-led revival of Fences would have played for as long as Washington dared to stay away from his movie career; likewise the Alfred Molina-topped art drama Red. But I openly confess my disappointment that theatergoers stayed away (in droves) from my No. 1 pick: The Scottsboro Boys, the final Kander-Ebb musical and a moving, challenging, melodic tribute to nine real-life victims of racial injustice. It was easily the best show of the year — one hopes it has a long and fruitful life in regional theaters in the coming years. Here are the rest of my selections:
1. The Scottsboro Boys (Broadway)
2. Red (Broadway)
3. Clybourne Park (Off Broadway/Washington, D.C.)
4. La Cage aux Folles (Broadway)
5. Gatz (Off Broadway)
6. Brief Encounter (Brooklyn/Minneapolis/Broadway)
7. The Orphans’ Home Cycle (Off Broadway)
8. Fences (Broadway)
9. A Little Night Music (Broadway)
10. Stuffed and Unstrung (Off Broadway)
So, PopWatchers. Now’s you chance to weigh in. What did I get right (and wrong)? And what was your favorite theater production of the year?
Scottsboro Boys was AMAZING. Thanks for your support of it!
Women on the Verge and La Bete were two of the best things Broadway has seen in years – nothing topped Laura Benanti and Mark Rylances performances in ages!
“La Bete” is a delightful revival; it just missed the cut on my list, Baddog. (And Mark Rylance is a British national treasure — perhaps just an international treasure.) I’m afraid I can’t agree with you about “Women on the Verge” — though Laura Benanti’s turn does kick some energy into a show that is lacking much spark. (In that way, her performance reminded me of Katie Finneran’s memorable scenes in the otherwise disappointing “Promises, Promises.”)
Um, hello? Where is the Off-Broadway production of Our Town? David Cromer’s interpretation of the classic play was by far one of the best plays of the year, if not one of the best productions of a show of all time.
Cromer’s Our Town debuted in 2009, probably ruled out.
Ben, I put both “Our Town” and David Cromer’s short-lived Broadway revival of “Brighton Beach Memoirs” on my best list last year. For this list, I only counted shows that opened in 2010 (though I did cheat twice: the first two parts of “Orphans’ Home Cycle” opened in late 2009 and I counted “A Little Night Music” as a “new” show with the replacement cast headed by Bernadette Peters.
It was on last year’s list, at #6.
I like this list–a good balance of interesting Broadway productions and some lesser-known choices. Curious what you thought of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. I had somewhat mixed feelings right after seeing it, but it’s grown in my estimation since, and like the Scottsboro Boys I think it’s a shame it hasn’t been embraced by a wider audience. We need more challenging, original work on Broadway, not jukebox musicals!
I saw both BBAJ and Scottsboro. I loved Scottsboro – the story was told in a very unique way, the performances were incredible, the music worked. I saw BBAJ and walked out after 45 minutes. It wasn’t funny (even though it thought it was hilarious), the music didn’t advance the story, the performers worked way too hard and basically slammed us over the head with their snarkiness and attitude. I just don’t get the hype surrounding it. It was one of the most careless, thoughtless shows I’ve ever seen, and I see about 4 – 5 shows each month.
Sadly, the top 10 that appeared in the print edition referred to the authors of The Scottsboro Boys as “John Kander and Frank Ebb.” “Frank”? It’s Fred! But the list is a good one and I’m glad that Scottsboro is getting support, even if it’s not enough to translate into a lengthy run.
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson is missing. That’s a problem
Where is Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson? Populism, yea yea.
Totally agree about “The Scottsboro Boys.” However, beyond Viola Davis’ brilliant performance, I don’t see what the big deal was about “Fences.” I thought the Liev Schrieber/Scarlett Johannson “A View from the Bridge” was far superior, and should have made the list.
Only made it to NYC once this year. The highlight for me was Billy Crudup in “The Metal Children”…funny, creepy, wonderful.
I wish American Idiot was on this
Lend Me A Tenor with Shalhoub, LaPaglia, et. al. Real quality.
Where is the love for Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson? There isn’t a theatrical production in NYC that comes even close in originality. Alex Timbers is a genius!
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson is missing from this list! La Cage had some great performances, but the pacing was slack and it felt too long.