| My Top Ten Regional Musicals of 2013 | |
| Posted by: | Richard Connema 03:20 pm EST 12/27/13 |
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| This year I saw and reviewed 138 productions. Rather then give out my TOP TEN PRODUCTIONS I've decided to group them in categories such as Top Ten Regional non musicals, Top Ten actors & actresses in musicals and drama plus TOP TEN NON REGIONAL PRODUCTIONS which include SHN touring shows and others that are traveling to various cities. FIRST MY TOP TEN REGIONAL MUSICALS OF 2013 (when I first them) TOP TEN REGIONAL . HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH---Boxcar production on one of the most inventive productions I saw all year. He transformed the intimate theatre into a cabaret with the Hedwig’s cast sometimes dancing on the tables. SINGING IN THE RAIN---Diablo Theatre Company did a fantastic production that was worthy of a Broadway run with Ryan Drummond and Keith Pinto as a perpetual delight. Staci Arriaga chorography is astonishing. CARNIVAL---42nd Street Moon—this was a captivating production. It burst with the vitality of Broadway know how and this group did a beautiful production of Bob Merrill’s musical . LITTLE ME—42nd Street Moon—what a great production of this musical. What a performance by Jason Graae. What a great cast surrounding Jason. 1776—American Conservatory Theatre---This was one that I was looking forward to since I had worked on the film. I was not disappointed. A handsome production with a great cast that used a lot of local actors. CAMELOT---San Francisco Playhouse did a gothic version of the Leaner and Lowe’s musical with a great cast This is set in darker world. NEXT TO NORMAL---I never thought a small company like Cutom Made Theatre could produce a provocative Broadway musical but I was wrong. Not only did they produce this rock-infused musical but made it up close and personal on their intimate stage with an outstanding cast of singers backed up with a six piece orchestra. CARRIE THE MUSICAL---Ray of Light presented this version that played off Broadway. This was a fast pace energy driven two hour production with a great cast of young singers and dancers. .SNOOPY !!!---42ND Street moon id a charming and appealing production of the Charles M Schulz comic character. It was fast, sharp pace with instantly recognizable characterizations of the line-drawn original. The cast was superb. I MARRIED AN ANGEL---Director Greg MacKellan staging was solid with a great cast singing the melodic, witty and syncopated songs by Rodgers and Hart. AVENUE Q----This marks the third time I have seen this musical and this was just as good as the Broadway production. In fact it was even more intimate in this smaller theatre. The whole cast was delightful in the New Conservatory Theatre Production. HONORABLE MENTION: LET’S SING A SHOW TUNE---Ron Lytle’s charming revue that played at the Alcove Theatre. This little revue reminded of the sharp sophisticated songs I used to hear and see in Greenwich Village, New York IT’S A BIRD, IT’S A PLANE, IT’S SUPERMAN---few companies who attempt this forgotten musical but the company did a splendid job BEING EARNEST---THEATRE WORKS---Paul Gordon and Jay Gruska wrote this charming musical with a great cast. DIRTY LITTLE SHOWTUNES---at New Conservatory Theatre Center was fast pace bawdy hilarious revue by Tom Orr. It featured five very talented singers beside Tom. INTO THE WOODS---Ray of Light—In this Stephen Sondheim musical the fairy tales came to light. The company showed great courage in presenting this complex and difficult musical and they seceded in making this musical a fun production. | |
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| 56 shows for me | |
| Posted by: | dramedy 12:46 pm EST 12/29/13 |
| In reply to: | My Top Ten Regional Musicals of 2013 - Richard Connema 03:20 pm EST 12/27/13 |
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| Plus a few ballet and one opera. That's on the low side for me where I'm usually between 55-70. | |
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| re: My Top Ten Regional Musicals of 2013 | |
| Posted by: | rodneyra 02:57 am EST 12/28/13 |
| In reply to: | My Top Ten Regional Musicals of 2013 - Richard Connema 03:20 pm EST 12/27/13 |
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| 138? Slacker! My total is much higher this year but with all the ushering, I saw several productions multiple times. | |
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| re: My Top Ten Regional Musicals of 2013 | |
| Posted by: | Richard Connema 06:03 pm EST 12/28/13 |
| In reply to: | re: My Top Ten Regional Musicals of 2013 - rodneyra 02:57 am EST 12/28/13 |
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| Hey You can't count those you ushered. :-) | |
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| re: My Top Ten Actors in Regional Musicals | |
| Posted by: | Richard Connema 03:23 pm EST 12/27/13 |
| In reply to: | My Top Ten Regional Musicals of 2013 - Richard Connema 03:20 pm EST 12/27/13 |
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| TOP TEN ACTORS IN REGIONAL MUSICALS 2013 RYAN DRUMMOND was dynamic as the mobile-faced, boneless legged Cosmo. He reminded me of Donald O’Connor who originated the role in the MGM film. KEITH PINTO was a perpetual delight in Diabo’s Theatre Company of “Singing in the Rain’. Keith brought a mixture of charisma humor, nonchalance and outstanding fleet feet to the role of Don Lockwood EUAN MORTON gave a splendid performance in TheatreWorks production of “Being Ernest”. He had a vibrant voice especially in the upbeat song “Brothers”. JASON GRAAE---No list of the 10 ten cannot be complete with the wonderful antics of Jason Graae playing seven characters in this wiz bang musical presented by 42nd Street Moon. KYLE STONER who played young Jack in “Into the Woods” proved to be an up and coming singer/actor who has an irrepressible singing voice. “Gender Illusionist” RANDY PARKS was outstanding as “The Lady” who quotes old movie lines. He had a terrific voice belt out songs from “Chance” at the Alcove. JOHNNY MORENO as King Arthur in SF Playhouse of “Camelot”. His powerful voice in “Camelot” was fine as was his flawless diction in “How to Handle a Woman” RYAN DRUMMOND was terrific in 42nd Street Moon production of “Carnival” He had a strong singing voice that made the most of the characters tortured contemplations. KEITH PINTO morphed himself into Snoopy the famous dog in the Peanuts comic script He became a loveable and idiosyncratic puppy before the audience eyes . WILLIAM GIAMMONA was outstanding as the loveable confused Princeton and then morphed wonderfully into the uptight Republican investment banker Rod in the NCTC production of “Avenue Q” CHRISTOPHER MORRELL was also great in the NCTC production of “Avenue Q” I loved when he sang as the well meaning Nicky “If you were Gay”. | |
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| re: My Top Ten Actresses in Regional Musicals 2013 | |
| Posted by: | Richard Connema 03:27 pm EST 12/27/13 |
| In reply to: | re: My Top Ten Actors in Regional Musicals - Richard Connema 03:23 pm EST 12/27/13 |
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| THE TOP TEN ACTRESSES IN REGIONAL MUSICALS 2013 Teressa Byrne in the 42nd Street Moon production of “Little Me”. She held her own with the antics of Jason and she belted out “Little Me” and “Here’s to Us”” Michelle Jasso Ray of Light’s production of “Into the Woods” gave a beguiling performances as the witch. Her presentation of “Lament” and “Last Midnight” was chilling. Monique Hafen was perfect as Guinevere and her mellifluous voice was fine singing such songs as “The Simple Joys of Maidenhood”. ” DARLENE POPOVIC gave a side splitting performance as Dr. Agnes Sedgwick in 42nd Street Moon production of “It’s a Bird, It’s A Plane, It’s Superman. She rocked the house with the show stopper “Revenge”. LISA-MARIE NEWTON was spellbinding in Custom Made Theatre production of “Next to Normal”. She manically switched from euphoria to agony and she used her vocal cords to intensify Diana’s pain. Christina Ann Osechger was outstanding as Carrie in “Carrie the Musical”. She did a wonderful performance of portraying the internal struggles of a shy teenager struggling to break free of the guilt instilled her fundamentalist religious mother. Heather Oth was fabulous as the mother in “Carrie the Musical” She had a vibrant voice singing duets with Christina HALSEY VARADY who played the ex-Roxy dancer in the 42nd Street Moon production of Rodgers and Hart “I Married an Angel” almost stole the show with her effervescent voice MARGO HALL was flawless in her musical memoir called “Bebop Baby” She rocked the place. ANALISA LEAMING was wonderful with her golden voice playing a sprightly, loquacious young Army wife in the Magic Theatre production of “Arlington” . SAM JACKSON transform beautifully into movie icon Gary Coleman and the NCTC production of “Avenue Q”. HONORABLE MENTION Andrra Prestinario held her own as the only female in the cast of males in ACT’s production of “1776”. She enchantingly sang one of my favorite songs from the musical “He Plays the Violin” | |
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