Broadway News
Broadway’s Best and Worst of 2011
It's the end of the year, and that means it's time for "best and worst" retrospectives! Here are my rankings for the best and worst Broadway shows that opened (and possibly closed) in 2011:
Best:
The Book of Mormon
Obviously. Since its first preview in February, the theater world hasn't been able to stop talking about this hilarious new musical from the creators of South Park. It won nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Original Score and Best Book of a Musical. The biggest surprise? Even actual Mormons are flocking to see the show-and loving it!
Anything Goes
Anything with Sutton Foster and Joey Grey is bound to be wonderful, but this revival succeeds on many levels. The sets, the costumes, the performances of the entire cast, the timing. And there are amazing, full-cast tap dance numbers that bring audiences to their feet night after night.
The Normal Heart
Simply put, this sort-of revival (the play is over 25 years old but was never actually produced on Broadway) of Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart was brilliant, daring, touching, inspiring, enraging, and beautiful.
Catch Me If You Can
Who would have thought a musical adaptation of the Tom Hanks and Leonardo DiCaprio film would be so much fun? Though it didn't last long on Broadway, Catch Me If You Can was actually surprisingly well done, and gave us two incredible performances-Aaron Tveit as Frank Abagnale Jr. and Norbert Leo Butz as Carl Hanratty (the latter of whom won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance).
Priscilla Queen of the Desert
I was worried, going into the Palace Theatre back in March, that the stage musical adaptation of one of my favorite movies of all time wouldn't live up to my hopes (think: Billy Elliot). But from the moment that giant disco ball lowered from the theater ceiling and the band started playing "It's Raining Men," I knew my fears were unfounded. Priscilla was by far the most fun night of theater I experienced this year.
Daniel Radcliffe in How to Succeed...
It was quite simply the best performance of the year, and the fact that Daniel Radcliffe wasn't even nominated for a Tony for his turn as J. Pierrepont Finch is an absolute crime. Read my review of the show, and Radcliffe's performance, here: http://newyork.com/NYC/blog/broadway/public-service-announcement-go-see-daniel-radcliff.
Neil Patrick Harris Hosting the Tony Awards
The Tony's were bumped out of Radio City Music Hall this year to the much smaller and homelier Beacon Theatre. But that didn't stop NPH from giving the most kick-ass hosting performance I've ever seen. Highlights: his opening number about how Broadway is "not just for gays anymore," his quick, witty jokes (including one about Daniel Radcliffe poking out the eyes of the War Horse horse backstage-which, of course, was a reference to Radcliffe's last Broadway role, in Equus), and his closing recap rap, written by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Worst:
Wonderland
Holy cow. There are no words for how bad this show was. It made no sense and it wasn't funny-it wasn't even fun in a campy way. Half the theater left at intermission, and the other half only stayed in hopes that Act II would somehow redeem the ghastly first act. Sadly, that was not the case, and the show closed after only a month.
Bonnie and Clyde
Not sure who thought the story of a pair of bank-robbing murderers would be appropriate fodder for a splashy Broadway musical, but critics and audiences have spoken, and the show closed early on December 30.
The Funny Girl Revival Getting Canceled
What the hell, Funny Girl producers? Don't you know how very much I (and most of New York) was looking forward to seeing Lauren Ambrose perform the role of Fanny Brice on the Great White Way? Listen, if there's money out there for Wonderland and Bonnie and Clyde, you can bloody well find the money for Funny Girl. End of story.
What were your favorite and least-favorite parts of Broadway in 2011? Share them in the comments!
Photo: The Normal Heart promotional poster
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