Best Theater of 2024
Explorations of identity, gender, diversity and tradition enriched much of the best theater of 2024. At the same time, inspired fresh revivals brought new insight to works by Moliere, Shakespeare and August Wilson as well as Tony Award-winning musicals. There were also significant collaborations between companies—notably Actors' Shakespeare Project and Hibernian Hall (continuing at the latter venue January 23-February 23 with Wilson's "The Piano Lesson"), SpeakEasy Stage and the Front Porch Arts Collaborative as well as Gloucester Stage Company and Teatro Chelsea—the last an ongoing new relationship.
Huntington Theatre—rightly acclaimed for its arresting earlier engagement with the entire Wilson "Pittsburgh Cycle"—staged Houston-set "Sojourners"—the inauguration of a partnering with area companies in producing the nine-play "Ufot Family Cycle" by Nigerian-American dramatist Mfoniso Udofia. A very different ambitious work—the pre-Broadway tryout at the Emerson Colonial Theatre of "The Queen of Versailles" (based on the documentary of the same name) featured the always-winning Kristin Chenoweth but proved to be a work in progress that needs a better book and a somewhat stronger score from Stephen Schwartz ("Wicked"). Chenoweth and Schwartz fans may find the musical sharper on Broadway—with previews slated to begin March 12 with an April 8 opening and July 8 closing. More satisfying were distinctive theater-dance works and meaningful solo efforts.
The following are this critic's choices for the best of 2024.
Theater
An American in Paris (Reagle Music Theatre). Director-choreographer Rachel Bertone sharply captured the dance and plot riches (the latter tied in with the Holocaust-surviving heroine) of this Gershwin-orchestrated Broadway gem.
A Case for the Existence of God ( SpeakEasy Stage Company). A business relationship turned friendship and bromance in Samuel D. Hunter's affecting play—with heartfelt performances by De'Lon Grant and Jesse Hinson.
A Strange Loop (SpeakEasy Stage and Front Page Arts Collective). Gifted Maurice Emanuel Parent powerfully staged this provocative 2020 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner with riveting Kai Clifton as black gay protagonist Usher.
Dinner for One (Greater Boston Stage Company)Physically gifted Paul Melendy moved with amazing agility as Debra Wise beautifully underplayed in this disarming comedy.
Fiddler on the Roof (North Shore Music Theatre). Jerome Robbins would drink a L'Chayim to director Robert Schneider's labor of love revival.
The Hombres (Gloucester Stage Company and Teatro Chelsea). Director Armando Rivera brought fire and feeling to Tony Meneses' insightful examination of what it means to be a man and friendships between very different men.
King Hedley II (Actors' Shakespeare Project). James Ricardo Milord—one of the Hub's finest actors—found all of the title character's tenacity and vulnerability in ASP's stirring revival of this resonant Wilson play.
Leopoldstadt (Huntington Threatre). Director Carey Perloff turned Tom Stoppard's Tony-winning exploration of family, tradition and his own experience as a Jewish man into what is arguably the highpoint of 2024 area theater.
The Dybbuk (Arlekin Players Theatre). Igor Golyak caught the drama and the spiritual surrealism of the Ansky classic at the Vilna Shul.
The Lion in Winter (Theater Uncorked). Director Alison Olivia Choat and a superb cast made James Goldman's witty 1183-set play an entertaining battle royal.
The Winter's Tale (Commonwealth Shakespeare Company) Nael Nacer's sublime Leontes—initially chilling and eventually caring—headlined director Bryn Boice's exuberant revival.
Urinetown (Lyric Stage Company of Boston). Greg Kotis' prescient book about water and corporate greed and Mark Hollman's witty score found fresh currents of fun and insight in this rollicking revival.
Solo Performance
Driving in Circles (at Boston Playwrights Theatre). Multi-talented Jay Eddy wrote, composed and performed this blisteringly powerful and personal musical focusing on recovery from abuse.
Golda's Balcony (Shakespeare & Company at Emerson Paramount Center). Annette Miller brought new resonance to her award-winning portrayal of Golda Meir.
Robert Frost: This Verse Business (Spring Pool Arts at Calderwood Pavilion). Gordon Clapp brought Frost to life and declaimed his poetry with equal vitality.
Distinctive Dance-Theater
Diary of a Tap Dancer (American Repertory Theatre)—Writer-choreographer Ayodele Casel and seven equally talented performers dance out both her own story as well as the timely yet virtually untold history of black women tap dancers.
Message in a Bottle (Sadler's Wells and Universal Music UK with Zoonation: the Kate Prince Company,at Emerson Colonial Theatre) This touching look at family challenges danced out its appeal to love and understanding in the most exciting such effort since "Movin' Out."
Tours
& Juliet (Broadway in Boston at Citizen Opera House)
Company (Broadway in Boston at Citizen Opera House)
An Evening with Audra McDonald (Celebrity Series at Symphony Hall)
Patti Lupone: A Life in Notes (Celebrity Series at Symphony Hall)
Honorable Mention
Beyond Words (Brit d'Arbeloff Women in Science production at Central Square Theatre)Cost of Living (SpeakEasy Stage)
John Proctor Is the Villain (Huntington)
Moby Dick (Arts Emerson)
South Pacific (Reagle)
The Minutes (Umbrella Stage Company)
Titanic (North Shore Music Theatre)
Trouble in Mind (Lyric)
Wipe Out (Gloucester Stage)
Yellow Face (Lyric)