Top Ten Equity Productions 2018

Pictured above: ANYTHING GOES at Sharon Playhouse

Naugatuck, CT - 2018 marks the seventh year that I have compiled end-of-the-year top ten lists of the productions that I have attended during the calendar year. Last year I published a total of 134 reviews. This year the total number was down a bit to 129 published reviews, with 28 of them falling into the category of Equity productions. I certainly was not able to attend every Equity production this year, but as a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle I did the best I could.

While this is certainly a large number of shows from which to choose, my four lists remain one person's opinion of the best of the many area productions produced in 2019. There were many shows that I had to miss due to health issues, weather, personal obligations and most often because I was unable to book a performance when many shows were happening with identical run dates. So take the rankings for what they are worth.

Click on each show's title to read the entire review of the show to see more reasons why it made the list.

Top Ten Equity Productions of 2018

10. RIPCORD at Seven Angels Theatre

What made RIPCORD at 7A especially memorable were the fine performances by each and every member of the small cast.

9. PHANTOM at Westchester Broadway Theater

The result is that this version a gripping story featuring richly drawn characters, a few impressive special effects and some truly beautiful music.

8. ALTAR BOYZ at Seven Angels Theatre

The musical numbers came fast and furious woven together with inside jokes that the Catholics in the audience could appreciate just a bit more.

7. A FLEA IN HER EAR at Westport Country Playhouse

The professionals in the ensemble cast managed to make it look very easy to carry off the intricate moves involving the three slamming doors, the props and did I mention the rotating bed?

6. SISTER ACT at Westchester Broadway Theater

Unlike the movie, this stage version is a story of love and self-discovery; underlying themes are following your dreams and finding a source of strength in one's faith.

5. MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS at Hartford Stage

This mostly Equity co-production was a most high-quality production that pleased both mystery lovers and regular theatre patrons alike.

4. EVITA at ACT

From the long "Requiem for Evita" that opened the first act to the final "Montage," every scene was vocally and visually memorable.

3. IN THE HEIGHTS at Playhouse on Park

Most members of the sold-out opening night audience behaved as if they were part of the el barrio (the neighborhood,) whether they were raising the distributed banderas (flags) during "Carnaval Del Barrio," or forming a conga line with the Piraguero (Piragua Guy) during one of his passes around the block in Washington Heights.

2. SWEENEY TODD at Connecticut Repertory Theater

From the first word of his recorded house announcements (in character of course,) Mr. Mann was the quintessential Sweeney Todd. He sang the delicious score wonderfully and did well with the tiny bits of comedy in the horror of it all. This was a masterful performance that I will be proud to say I saw on opening night in my home state.

1. ANYTHING GOES at Sharon Playhouse

Costumes designed by Keith Schneider blew me away; the white gowns worn by Reno's "angels" featuring skirts of Art deco inspired fabric were simply jaw dropping. I could not wait to see what Reno would be wearing at her next entrance.

Runner ups: A LESSON FROM ALOES at Hartford Stage, DISASTER at CRT, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR at CRT, ALWAYS, PATSY CLINE at Sharon Playhouse, MAN OF LA MANCHA at Westport Country Playhouse and THE DROWSY CHAPERONE at Goodspeed Musicals.

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local theatre venues. She posts reviews of well over 100 productions each year. In 2016, she became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle.She continues to contribute theatre news, previews, and audition notices to local Patch sites. Reviews of all levels of theatrical productions are posted on Naugatuck Patch and the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and on Twitter @nancysjanis417