BWW’s Michael L. Quintos Picks His Best of So. California Theater for 2013
December 30, 2013
by Michael Quintos, Broadway World [read full article]
Ah, yes. 2013 was indeed an outstanding year for theater in Southern California.
Even better: Orange County—my home base—boasted some of the best shows, period—marking an exciting theater renaissance in brilliance and artistry that I hope continues to grow here inside L.A.’s next door neighbor.
This past year saw several locally refreshed revivals—some winning (PARADE, SIDE SHOW), others not so much (JEKYLL & HYDE). But most productions, thankfully, rose to great heights earning cheers and praises …without the use of flying harnesses even! And there were also plenty of riveting performances that stuck with me all year.
With that said, here is my Top 10 Stage Shows of 2013 from Orange County and adjacent locales nearby, followed by my picks for the year’s best performances. Enjoy your holidays and here’s wishing you a very theatrical new year!
1. PARADE, 3-D Theatricals
2. THE WHALE, South Coast Repertory
3. SIDE SHOW, La Jolla Playhouse
4. ANYTHING GOES, Segerstrom Center for the Arts
5. TRIASSIC PARQ – THE MUSICAL, Chance Theater
If you’ve ever sat through Steven Spielberg‘s e-ticket blockbuster Jurassic Park and wondered to yourself… “Gee, I wonder how those dinosaurs feel about this whole situation,” then this cheeky, oddly hilarious musical send-up is the perfect show for you. Silly and even surprisingly touching, this refreshingly odd new musical offers a mosquito-on-the-wall look inside the electrified fences of that fictional dino-populated island, but this time from the point-of-view of the gender-confused dinosaurs themselves. The result? A laugh-riot from snout to tail.
6. THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS, Ahmanson Theatre
7. EVITA, Segerstrom Center for the Arts
8. NEXT TO NORMAL, La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
9. PRISCILLA – QUEEN OF THE DESERT: THE MUSICAL, Segerstrom Center for the Arts
10. SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS, La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
PERFORMANCES OF THE YEAR
Stephen Anthony, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN: THE MUSICAL, Pantages Theatre/Segerstrom Center
Matthew Arkin, THE WHALE, South Coast Repertory
Samantha Barks, CHICAGO: In Concert, The Hollywood Bowl
Larry Bates, THE MOTHERF***ER WITH THE HAT, South Coast Repertory
Tracie Bennett, END OF THE RAINBOW, Center Theatre Group
Rufus Bonds, Jr., PARADE, 3-D Theatricals
Caroline Bowman, EVITA, Pantages Theatre/Segerstrom Center
David Burnham, SUNSET BOULEVARD, Musical Theatre West
Ta’Rea Campbell, SISTER ACT: THE MUSICAL, Pantages Theatre/Segerstrom Center
Erin Davie & Emily Padgett, SIDE SHOW, La Jolla Playhouse
Eddie Egan, NEXT TO NORMAL, La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
Norman Large, SUNSET BOULEVARD, Musical Theatre West
Bets Malone, NEXT TO NORMAL, La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
Wade McCollum, Scott Willis & Bryan West, PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT, Pantages Theatre/Segerstrom Center
Joshua Henry, THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS, Center Theatre Group
Payson Lewis, BARE: A POP OPERA, Hayworth Theatre
Jenny O’Hara, 4000 MILES, South Coast Repertory
Nicole Parker, FUNNY GIRL, 3-D Theatricals
Lindsay Pearce, BARE: A POP OPERA, Hayworth Theatre
Charlie Robinson, DEATH OF A SALESMAN, South Coast Repertory
Tony Sancho, THE MOTHERF***ER WITH THE HAT, South Coast Repertory
Jeff Skowron, PARADE, 3-D Theatricals
David St. Louis, SIDE SHOW, La Jolla Playhouse
Keaton Williams
TRIASSIC PARQ and BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON
Chance Theater
Rachel York, ANYTHING GOES, Segerstrom Center
Josh Young, EVITA, Pantages Theatre/Segerstrom Center
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