Shubow's Picks for Baltimore/Washington's Best Theater of 2013
By: Charles Shubow Jan. 15, 2014
I now begin my 8th year as a writer for Broadwayworld.com and 2013 was certainly a remarkable year for theater. This season I have reviewed 41 plays and written 14 other articles and reviews. My visits included the following theaters: Center Stage (6), Everyman (6), Signature (6), Shakespeare Theatre Company (4), Olney Theatre Center (4), Round House Theatre (3), National Theatre (3), Kennedy Center (2), Toby's Dinner Theatre (2), Arena Stage (1), Rep Stage (1) , Folger Theatre (1), Spotlighters (1), and Dundalk Community Theatre (1). I've had the pleasure of reporting on four vocal concerts: Brian Stokes Mitchell (twice), Donna McKechnie, and Ann Hampton Callaway.
I've reviewed the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (five) and the National Symphony Orchestra (2).
So here are the list of the best of 2013 in no particular order:
BEST MUSICALS:
GYPSY - Signature Theatre Company
MISS SAIGON - Signature Theatre Company
COMPANY - Signature Theatre Company
IF/THEN - National Theater
GERSHWINS' PORGY AND BESS - National Theatre
A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM - Shakespeare Theatre Company
THE KING AND I - Olney Theatre Center
A CHORUS LINE - Olney Theatre Center
ANIMAL CRACKERS - Center Stage
ONE NIGHT WITH Janis Joplin - Arena Stage
BEST PLAYS:
THIS - Round House Theatre
BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE - Round House Theatre
AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY - Everyman Theatre
RED - Everyman Theatre
GOD OF CARNAGE - Everyman Theatre
CLYBOURNE PARK - Center Stage
NEVILLE'S ISLAND - Olney Theatre Center
MEASURE FOR MEASURE - Shakespeare Theatre Company
PRIDE IN THE FALLS OF AUTREY MILL- Signature Theatre Company
FANNY AND ALEXANDER - Kennedy Center
SPECIAL EVENT:
The amazing HAIRSPRAY in Concert by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra with John Waters as Narrator.
Special kudos to Toby's Dinner Theatre for both LES MISERABLES and IN THE HEIGHTS.
A special thank you to PBS for showcasing Center Stage in their national broadcast "A RAISIN IN THE SUN : Revisited: The Raisin Cycle at Center Stage" on October 25, 2013.
An event to remember, a special free concert at the Metropolitan Opera House with Barbra Streisand. She sang for sixty minutes and it was just plain heavenly.
A special thank you to the all the writers on the Baltimore and Washington, DC sites for their amazing work during the year.
And finally, to the wonderful public relations people at the various theaters who make this work possible, a special thank you for your courtesy and assistance.
See you at the theater!
BROADWAY ALERT:
You can see Broadway shows between January 21 and February 6, 2014 during a special 2 for 1 promotion. Visit www.nycgo.com/broadwayweek and see all the old hits, the new hits, and upcoming hits.
Comments
Videos