It's time once again for a look back at my year in theatregoing. You guessed it...time for THE PHILLY AWARDS. Usually, the awards are based on levels of greatness (WHEEEE!) or suckage (BLECH!), but this year will have random BEST (and a couple WORST) awards! Enjoy!
I Am My Own Wife
(Repertory Theatre of St. Louis)
BEST ONE-MAN/WOMAN PERFORMANCE (hehe...)
Der Rosenkavalier
(Lyric Opera of Chicago)
BEST COMIC VILLAIN -- Franz Hawlata (Baron Ochs) BEST FULL LYRIC SOPRANO -- Anne Schwanewilms (Feldmarschallin)
Fiddler on the Roof
(Quincy University)
BEST MAKEUP (trust me...if you knew the Tevye, you'd agree with me) BEST OVERALL EFFORT BY CAST/CREW (Fiddler's a big show, dudes)
The King and I
(MUNY)
BEST CASTING FROM THE MET -- Reveka Mavrovitis (Lady Thiang)
A Chorus Line
(SIUE Summer Showbiz)
BEST COMEDIC PERFORMANCE -- Chris Jensen (Bobby)
Street Scene
(Opera Theatre St. Louis)
BEST OVERALL CAST (especially Carolyn Betty as Anna Maurrant) BEST UNIT SET DESIGN (tied with Aida)
Aida
(MUNY)
BEST "BOMB-DIGGETY" SHOW BEST UNIT SET DESIGN (tied with Street Scene)
The Wizard of OZ
(MUNY)
BEST JADED AUDIENCE MEMBER -- Little Black Girl who said "I ain't clappin' for no witch!" and "I can see a rope! I can see a rope! [Dorothy]'s not really flying."
GYPSY
(MUNY)
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A BELTER -- Karen Mason (Mama Rose) WORST LACK OF SETS IN A MUNY SHOW (seriously...what gives? you gotta cover that half-a-football-field stage!)
Norma
(Union Avenue Opera)
BEST TENOR -- Bryan Hymel (Pollione)
Oliver!
(MUNY)
BEST VILLAIN -- Ben Crawford (Bill Sykes) BEST COMIC RELIEF -- Ken Page (Mr. Bumble)
Johnny Appleweed
(New Line Theatre)
BEST POT-THEMED MUSICAL EVER BEST THEATRICAL "F*** YOU" TO GEORGE W. BUSH
Salome
(Lyric Opera of Chicago)
BEST ROCKIN' OF A FLESH-TONE BODYSTOCKING -- Debbie Voigt (Salome) BEST ROCKIN' OF DREADLOCKS -- Alan Held (Jokanaan) WORST USE OF SET DESIGN -- Francesca Zambello (Stage Director)
Turn of the Screw
(Union Avenue Opera)
BEST and CREEPIEST VILLAINESS -- Amy Bonn (Miss Jessel)
Musical of Musicals: The Musical
(Repertory Theatre of St. Louis)
BEST LOVE-LETTER TO MUSICAL THEATRE NERDS
Spamalot
(Fox Theatre - National Tour)
WORST IRISH DRAMA OF THE YEAR! BEST. FINNISH. TOURISM. ENDORSMENT. EVER! BEST SHOW TO INDUCE GUFFAWS AND THE RISK OF EMBARRASSING URINATION! BEST SHOW OF THE YEAR!!! NO CONTEST!!!
There you have it...my year in theatre. I have such high hopes for 2007, in which I shall see: The Mikado (Muddy River Opera), The Light in the Piazza (Fox Theatre); Turandot, Dialogues of the Carmelites, Cosi fan tutte (Lyric Opera Chicago) and Porgy and Bess (Union Avenue Opera).
It's been a good year!