With so many theaters presenting excellent productions in Chicago that reach a variety of audiences, your favorites are likely to be different from those of reviewers. It’s OK to say which show was your favorite in the comment area.
My top 10 for 2012 ranged from classic to modern and from drama to comedy and musicals and I would be delighted to see them all again.
Drama
Goodman Theatre’s revival of “The Iceman Cometh,” by Eugene O’Neill and staring Brian Dennehy and Nathan Lane, expertly exposed the battles within.
Steppenwolf’s productions of “Time Stands Still” by Donald Margulies (Upstairs Theatre) and “The March,” a screenplay adapted by Frank Galati from E. L. Doctorow’s book for their portrayals of the impact of war.
Citadel Theatre’s “Other People’s Money” by Jerry Sterner for fine acting and staging of a very timely play.
Mercury Theater staging of “Freud’s Last Session” by Mark St. Germain with Mike Nussbaum as Sigmund Freud and Coburn Goss as C.S. Lewis. The production with Nussbaum and Goss was excellent recasting after the original cast took the show to New York.
Comedy
Citadel Theatre’s “Lend Me a Tenor,” a British-style (open/closed doors and entrances/ exits) farce by Ken Ludwig that is uproarious when perfectly timed as it was in this production.
Musicals
Broadway in Chicago’s “Book of Mormon” production at Bank of America Theatre is a fine new, version of an already brilliant show.
Broadway in Chicago’s world premiere of “Kinky Boots” at Bank of America Theatre by playwright Harvey Fierstein and Grammy and Emmy composer/Lyricist Cyndi Lauper was a heartfelt homage to the messages of accept who you are and be tolerant of people not like you.
Marriott Lincolnshire’s “Dream Girls,” directed and choreographed by Marc Robin reminded us why we still like Motown’s 60’s sounds and style.
And finally, a production whose magic defies classification
Lookingglass Theatre’s playwright, director and ensemble member Mary Zimmerman’s resurrection of her play, “Metamorphoses.”
Comments