Favorite Performances of 2013

Happy New Year, everyone! Today, I'm taking some time to reflect on my favorite theatre experiences of 2013. I was fortunate to see many entertaining productions on Broadway, tour, and off-Broadway. I've listed a few of my favorites below. Be sure to comment and share your own favorites. Here's to a great year of theatre in 2014! 

1.) Murder Ballad played off-Broadway at the Union Square Theatre this past summer. This production was very unique and intimate, unlike most of the big Broadway and National touring productions that I see on a regular basis. The music was raw and haunting, as were the individual performances. And I always love a twist at the end. 

2.) The Tony Award winning production of Christopher Durang's Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike was one of the most comedic, yet poignant plays I have seen to date. Kristine Nielsen (Sonia) and David Hyde Pierce (Vanya) were especially hilarious, and I so wanted Kristine to win the Tony Award. With talent of that caliber, her day will come. 

3.) I saw Diane Paulus' production of Pippin at the American Repertory Theatre (A.R.T.) in Boston in January of 2013 and knew instantly that it was something very special. During the past year, the show has transferred to Broadway, garnered multiple Tony Awards, and is enjoying a successful run at the Music Box Theatre. Once again, Diane Paulus has demonstrated her remarkable talent. 

4.) Kinky Boots, the Tony Award winner for Best Musical in 2013, is still going strong. Who would have thought that a musical about women's boots for men would be a box office success?  I definitely attribute part of its success to Cyndi Lauper's score and the individual performances of some of the actors, especially Tony Award winner Billy Porter, Stark Sands, and Annaleigh Ashford. The message of acceptance is also one that the world needs to hear from time to time. P.S. Kudos to Macy's for supporting this timely show. 

5.) The Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) has offered an unusually solid season so far. This fall, the touring companies of Evita, Once, Ghost, Phantom of the Opera, and Wicked have performed at PPAC. All of these shows are favorites of mine. And there's more to come- The Book of Mormon will be playing at PPAC this spring. 

6.) A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder is the most recent addition to the long list of musicals I have seen. (I will be posting a blog soon!) I appreciated the skilled acting, clever comedy, and originality of the piece and would recommend this show to any theatre-goer. Hopefully, this musical will enjoy a solid Broadway run. 

7.) Does anyone remember Hands on a Hardbody? This show had a lot of heart, but that wasn't enough to sustain a long run on Broadway.  I'm so glad I had the opportunity to see it. 

5 Great Things About Hands on a Hardbody

Broadway
Brooks Atkinson Theatre
3/2/13 matinee

Synopsis: Hands on a Hardbody is based on the 1997 documentary about a group of down-on-their-luck Texans who enter the ultimate competition of endurance. The contestant who is able to stay standing with his or her hand on a shiny, new Nissan truck for the longest amount of time will take that truck home! The musical introduces ten contestants with very different backgrounds and life experiences, some based on real-life contestants from the documentary and some fictional.  Each character reveals his or her story to the other contestants, and in doing so, embarks on a physical and spiritual journey. And while there is only one winner (no spoilers), every contestant takes something special away from the competition and becomes a stronger person for having participated in the contest. 

5 Great Things About Hands on a Hardbody

1.) The Timing. Everyone knows that timing is critical to the success of a Broadway musical. I would argue that Hands on a Hardbody has impeccable timing and this is why. This musical depicts the lives of ten very heterogenous and very real people. The ten actors on stage, who could easily be mistaken for members of the audience, appear no different than the people you might pass by on the street. There are no flashy costumes or lion puppets or flying witches or dancing ensembles. They are simply ten down-on-their-luck Texans, not unlike many real-life Americans who are currently struggling with economical and financial hardships and the effects of war. Given the current economic climate, I think this story could really strike a chord with people because the story is true to the times and the characters are real and relatable. 

2.) The Truck.  The truck (named Layla) is its own unique entity on the stage, a separate character and the star of the show. After all, everything- the story, the choreography, the music- revolves around the truck. Gliding gracefully across the stage, the truck is seamlessly incorporated into Sergio Trujillo’s clever, inventive choreography. To envision choreography in which each actor must keep one hand on the truck at all times is an impressive feat, and for that reason alone, this show is something to see. 

3.) An Original Concept. With all the shows on Broadway, why did I choose to spend my Saturday afternoon at this particular show? Because the concept of ten contestants who vie to be the last person with their hands on a hardbody is, well, unique, and elicits curiosity. The concept is not something you see every day on Broadway and what theatre fan doesn’t crave subject matters that are new and fresh? And I promise you, this original concept does not disappoint. 

4.) The Characters. Hands on a Hardbody portrays ten very unique characters, some of whom are quite endearing, while others are a bit eccentric. Listening to the dialogue between these characters and watching them interact with each other on stage can be quite hilarious to say the least. I still crack up when I think of Janis’ husband sitting on the sidelines wearing a cardboard sign-hat and sipping a “Big Gulp”, while cheering on his wife. Anyway, these characters are sure to give you lots of “laugh out loud” moments. 

5.) The Music. Hands on a Hardbody offers a solid score by Trey Anastasio and Amanda Green. The score primarily has a country and rock “feel” to it with some powerful ballads and an outstanding gospel number performed by Keala Settle. And as I stated earlier, the integration of the truck into the music and choreography is most impressive and enjoyable to watch. 

UPCOMING BROADWAY MUSICALS

SPRING, 2013

CINDERELLA
Preview: 1/25/2013
Opens: 3/3/2013
Theatre: Broadway
Cast: Laura Osnes, Santino Fontana, Victoria Clart, Harriet Harris, Marla Mindelle, Greg Hildreth, Peter Bartlett
Description: The classic fairy tale is making its Broadway debut! Under the direction of Mark Brokaw, this beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein musical has been re-imagined by book-writer Douglas Carter Beane. 

HANDS ON A HARDBODY
Preview: 2/23/2013
Opens: 3/21/2013
Theatre: Brooks Atkinson
Cast: Keith Carradine, Hunter Foster, Mary Gordon Murray, Jay Armstrong Johnson, David Larsen, Allison Case
Description: Based on the 1997 documentary, this show tells the story of ten Texans who are competing for a brand new hardbody truck. The contestant who keeps his or her hand on the truck the longest wins the prize and a chance at living the American Dream. 

MATILDA
Preview: 3/4/2013
Opens: 4/11/2013
Theatre: Shubert
Cast: Bailey Ryon, Milly Shapiro, Sophia Gennusa, Oona Laurence, Bertie Carvel, Lauren Ward, Gabriel Ebert, Lesli Margherita
Description: Based on the novel by Roald Dahl and winner of seven Olivier Awards, Matilda is a perceptive, but unfortunate young girl who is mistreated by her parents and the headmaster at her boarding school, but she possesses very special powers... 

KINKY BOOTS
Preview: 3/5/2013
Opens: 4/4/2013
Theatre: Al Hirschfeld
Cast: Stark Sands, Billy Porter, Annaleigh Ashford, Celina Carvajal
Description: Kinky Boots boasts music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper, book by Harvey Fierstein, and direction/choreography by Jerry Mitchell. Based on a British film of the same name, Charlie Price saves his father’s shoe factory with the help of a drag queen named Lola and some kinky boots. 

MOTOWN
Preview: 3/11/2013
Opens: 4/14/2013
Theatre: Lunt-Fontanne
Cast: Brandon Victor Dixon, Valisia LeKae, Charl Brown, Bryan Terrell Clark
Description: Motown tells the story of music producer Berry Gordy as he discovers the talents of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder. 

PIPPIN
Preview: 3/23/2013
Opens: 4/25/2013
Theatre: The Music Box
Cast: Patina Miller, Matthew James Thomas, Andrea Martin, Charlotte d’Amboise, Terrence Mann, Rachel Bay Jones
Description: Hailing straight from the American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge, this is the very first Broadway revival of Stephen Schwartz’s musical. A young man named Pippin is on a journey to find meaning his life, and ultimately, he must choose between the ordinary life and a risky chance at greatness. This production boasts circus choreography by Gypsy Snider and is directed by Diane Paulus. 

JEKYLL AND HYDE



Preview: 4/5/2013
Opens: 4/18/2013
Theatre: Marquis
Cast: Constantine Maroulis, Deborah Cox, Teal Wicks
Description: This production will end its national tour with a limited engagement on Broadway. In an effort to cure his father’s mental illness, Dr. Henry Jekyll conducts a controversial experiment on himself, unleashing the evil alternate personality, Mr. Hyde.