As 2010 comes to a close I find myself looking back fondly on an amazing year of theatre. During 2010 I saw over 70 productions from 32 different theatre companies – now that’s just a small portion of all of the theatre that was actually produced last year, but is certainly a decent number. With that in mind, I’ve decided to offer up my year end list too. Picking the top 10 plays is an incredibly difficult task. At first I was going to go by the star rating, but truth is that the star rating is only a small percentage of how a show impacted me (plus the star rating only started about six months into the year.) The following shows stayed with me and lasted, in some cases, weeks and months after I actually sat down in the theatre. I considered performance, creativity, and impact (on both myself and the community) as I put togther this list. I only wish I’d seen more, but from what I was able to witness, below are my 10 favorite productions from 2010 and a little bit about why I selected it.
10.
Show: Tick, Tick, Boom
Theatre: Evolution Theatre Company
Why: Musicals don’t have to be big productions with huge sets and 20 dancing chorus girls in a row. Sometimes the best musical is the one that features excellent storytellers, crystal clear voices, and a relatable plot. This certainly had all three.
Read the review here
Theatre: The Arvada Center
Why: There is a reason the movie is one of the most well known and most often quoted movies of all time. The musical version, by legend Andrew Lloyd Webber was a crowning achievement on the Arvada Center stage. Of course the Arvada Center is known for strong work, but the magic here belongs to Ann Crumb as Norma Desmond. Haunting, tragic, sympathetic and exquisite when performing opposite the charming Kevin Earley.
Read the review here
Theatre: Firehouse Theater Company
Why: I struggled a lot with this one. Quite simply it made me so angry that I couldn’t even stand still after the show. As I fought with the plot and the story, I realized just how strong this production truly was. It takes a brilliant production to cause the emotions and the journey that I took with this show.
Read the review here
Theatre: Vintage Theatre Productions
Why: I was instantly transported to the Coney Island boardwalk and I was comforted by the warmth and simplicity that Roger Simon brought to the stage. This was one of those understated and comfortable productions that I could watch again and again. Not to mention the 10 tons of sand that was used to create the memorable and stunning set.
Theatre: Denver Victorian Playhouse
Why: I feel that good theatre doesn’t always leave me with a smile on my face. This is a production I had a hard time watching. The material was difficult, it dealt with accepting your mortality and making peace on your deathbed. Yet due to the masterpiece combo that was Paige L. Larson and Rita Broderick, this production was a brilliant, if difficult, evening of theatre.
Read the review here
Theatre: Barth Hotel, Senior Housing Options
Why: Environmental theatre is tough, but this script was made for it. The historic Barth Hotel is the perfect backdrop to imagine such celebrated figures like Picasso and Einstein meeting to enjoy a drink and debate the most important subjects in the Universe. Of course it helps that the conversation was imagined by the hilarious and always entertaining Steve Martin.
Read the review here
Theatre: LIDA Project
Why: Nothing at LIDA makes sense. That’s why I love it there. Abstract twists and turns around every corner, they force you to think, not just sit back and be entertained. This is the appetizer before a four-hour-long conversation about life, the universe and everything. Mouse in a Jar was haunting in its imagery, and beautifully performed.
Read the review here
Theatre: PHAMALY
Why: It may be a show that everyone knows with songs that everyone can sing, but this production was something truly special. The songs took new meaning when performed by the Physically Handicapped Actors and Musical Artists League. The heart and soul behind the truth of accepting people for who and what they truly are came through far strong when all the glitz and glamour was stripped away. A simple, strong, lovely story in its stead.
Theatre: Vintage Theatre Productions
Why: The significance and relevance of this production is certainly well known and the imapct on the community can still be felt. It takes a lot of courage for any theatre company to tackle such difficult and emotional material, not to mention tackling both parts and creating the full 7 hour epic on a stage not much bigger than your dinning room. Yet they did it. Vintage pulled off a production that is deserving of all the celebration and accolades it has been getting – and will be remembered for some of the strongest performances I’ve ever witnessed on stage.
Theatre: Denver Center Theatre Company
Why: There are very few shows that leave me with my sides literally aching from laughing so hard. This was one of those shows. The brilliant combination of film, special effects, quality acting, and pantomimed set pieces created a world where anything could happen – and anything did happen.
Read the review here
As I wrapped up 2010 I wanted to mention some other really impressive performers, theatres, and theatre people worth noting. It may be for a performance or a specific show, or maybe it is a company or a theatre, but no matter what it is – they are people and places to watch. The following truly made an impact on the Denver Theatre Community in 2010.
The Dinner Theatre to watch – Candlelight Dinner Theatre
I only took my first trip to Candlelight Dinner Theatre last month – and I mentioned then how much it was worth your attention. Sadly, we don’t have much in the way of Dinner Theatre in Denver, so you are going to have to travel a bit if this is what you are looking for. Candlelight may easily be missed, as it is not really Greeley, not really Denver, and not really Boulder. But it is really worth the trip.
Best Surprise – Forever Plaid, Curtains Up Theatre Company
This small theatre company that is housed in a garage may easily be overlooked as creating shows that are more “for the love of it” than anything else. However, my recent trip to see Forever Plaid was proof positive that they are capable of some impressive productions. I look forward to seeing what they create in 2011.
Best Tech Crew – Voices in the Dark, Denver Victorian Playhouse
This production, in early 2010, was one of the best examples of technical theatre supporting the story beautifully. The sound, lights, and set all worked together to create the perfect mood and atmosphere for a thriller. Since technical crew never get the accolades they deserve: El Armstrong, Karalyn Star Pytel, and Jonathan Scott-McKean – job well done!
Best Interactive Performance – The Dinner Detective
I will be the first to admit that I hate audience participation theatre. However, this is a perfect example of an interactive experience that actually works. It was fun, engaging, and something that I think I’d like to actually do again. They have very limited seating, so if you are a murder mystery fan, be sure to check them out.
Best Late Night Entertainment – Books on Tape, Vintage Theatre Productions
Late night theatre is usually a hard sell, (unless you happen to be selling the Rocky Horror Picture Show) so Vintage Theatre really had their work cut out for them when the announced a new series of late night theatre options. Books on Tape was surely the highlight of the late night offerings. A fun, witty, and literary show that was very much worth staying up late for.
2010 Actor to Watch: James O’Hagan Murphy: James has been active in Denver Theatre for a while, but 2010 was really his year. With some wonderful performances in shows like Murderer and Books on Tape, he showed he was a strong actor. His performance in Angels in America, however, was one of the bravest, strongest, and most honest portrayals I’ve seen on stage.
2010 Actress to Watch: Haley Johnson: Haley is no stranger to the Denver Theatre community, but 2010 was another amazing year for this very talented actress. Her performances are always strong, but her portrayal of Harper in Angels in America was nothing short of brilliant. It isn't often that a single performance can be as inspirational, as moving, as heart wrenching, and as honest as the one that Haley created in this role.
2010 Director to Watch: Jesse Larner: Jesse is a relatively new director but he’s already making a name for himself. The Goodbye People proved that he can direct with a subtlety and an eye for detail that extends far beyond his young age. The Container at 73rdAvenue Theatre Company was another production that proved he had guts and determination to tell a story and to tell it in a way that impacts people long after they leave the theatre.
Agree? Disagree? Leave a comment and let us know who you would have put on this list.
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