Chicago Tribune’s main theatre critic, Chris Jones, presents his top 10 plays of 2008:
| 1. | A Trip to Bountiful (Goodman Theatre) by Horton Foote Standouts: Harris Yulin (director), performance: Lois Smith |
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| 2. | Our Town (The Hypocrites) by Thornton Wilder Standouts: David Cromer (director), actors: Jennifer Grace (as Emily), David Cromer (narrator) |
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| 3. | Picnic (Writers’ Theatre) by William Inge Standouts: David Cromer (Director) |
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| 4. | Caroline or Change (Court Theatre) by Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori Standouts: Charles Newell (director), Doug Peck (musical director); actors: Kate Fry, E.Faye Butler |
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| 5. | Ruined (Goodman Theatre) by Lynn Nottage Standout: Kate Whoriskey (director) |
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| 6. | Four Places (Victory Gardens) by Joel Drake Johnson Standouts: Sandy Shinner (director) |
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| 7. | Sweet Charity (Drury Lane Oakbrook) by Cy Coleman Standouts: Jim Corti (director), Mitzi Hamilton (choreographer) |
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| 8. | Gatz (Elevator Repair Service Theatre) by John Collins |
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| 9. | The Seafarer (Steppenwolf Theatre) by Conor McPherson Standout: Francis Guinan (says Jones: probably the best male performance of the year) |
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| 10. | Journey’s End (Griffin Theatre) by Jonathan Berry |
Honorable mentions: (alphabetically): America: All Better! (Second City), Don’t Dress for Dinner (British American Stage Company – at Royal George), Grey Gardens (Northlight Theatre), If All The World Were Paper (Chicago Children’s Theatre), Jacques Brel’s Lonesome Losers of the Night (Theo Ubique). Les Miserables (Marriott Theatre), Million Dollar Quartet (Deegee Theatricals, John Cossette Productions and Northern Lights – at the Apollo Theater), A Taste of Honey (Shattered Globe Theatre), Tomorrow Morning (Hilary A. Williams LLC), The Voysey Inheritance (Remy Bumppo Theatre Company).
To see further discussion regarding each show, go to Chris Jones’ The Theater Loop blog posting.
Filed under: Apollo Theater, Best-of-Year, Chicago Children's Theatre, Chicago Tribune, Chris Jones, Court Theatre, Drury Lane Oakbrook, Goodman Theatre, Griffin Theatre, Hypocrites Theatre, Marriott Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Remy Bumppo, Royal George Theatre, Second City, Shattered Globe, Steppenwolf, Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre, Victory Gardens, William Inge, Writers' Theatre | Tagged: Apollo Theater Chicago, Best of 2008, British American Stage Company, Caroline or Change, Charles Newell, Chicago Children's Theatre, Chicago Theater Best of 2008, Chris Jones, Conor McPherson, Court Theatre, Cy Coleman, David Cromer, Deegee Theatricals, Doug Peck, Drury Lane Oakbrook, E. Faye Butler, Elevator Repair Service Theatre, Francis Guinan, Goodman Theatre, Grey Gardens, Griffin Theatre, Harris Yulin, Horton Foote, Jacque Brel, Jeanine Tesori, Jennifer Grace, Jim Croti, Joel Drake Johnson, John Collins, John Cossette Productions, Jonathan Berry, Kate Fry, Kate Whoriskey, Les Miserables, Lois Smith, Lynn Nottage, Marriott Theatre, Million Dollar Quartet, Mitzi Hamilton, Northern Lights, Northlight Theatre, Our Town, Picnic, Remy Bumppo, Royal George Theater, Sandy Shinner, Second City, Shattered Globe Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, The Hypocrites, The Seafarer, Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre, Thornton Wilder, Tony Kushner, Victory Gardens, William Inge, Writers' Theatre | Leave a comment »
