Chicago Tribune’s main theatre critic, Chris Jones, presents his top 10 plays of 2008:
| 1. | A Trip to Bountiful (Goodman Theatre) by Horton Foote Standouts: Harris Yulin (director), performance: Lois Smith |
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| 2. | Our Town (The Hypocrites) by Thornton Wilder Standouts: David Cromer (director), actors: Jennifer Grace (as Emily), David Cromer (narrator) |
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| 3. | Picnic (Writers’ Theatre) by William Inge Standouts: David Cromer (Director) |
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| 4. | Caroline or Change (Court Theatre) by Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori Standouts: Charles Newell (director), Doug Peck (musical director); actors: Kate Fry, E.Faye Butler |
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| 5. | Ruined (Goodman Theatre) by Lynn Nottage Standout: Kate Whoriskey (director) |
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| 6. | Four Places (Victory Gardens) by Joel Drake Johnson Standouts: Sandy Shinner (director) |
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| 7. | Sweet Charity (Drury Lane Oakbrook) by Cy Coleman Standouts: Jim Corti (director), Mitzi Hamilton (choreographer) |
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| 8. | Gatz (Elevator Repair Service Theatre) by John Collins |
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| 9. | The Seafarer (Steppenwolf Theatre) by Conor McPherson Standout: Francis Guinan (says Jones: probably the best male performance of the year) |
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| 10. | Journey’s End (Griffin Theatre) by Jonathan Berry |
Honorable mentions: (alphabetically): America: All Better! (Second City), Don’t Dress for Dinner (British American Stage Company – at Royal George), Grey Gardens (Northlight Theatre), If All The World Were Paper (Chicago Children’s Theatre), Jacques Brel’s Lonesome Losers of the Night (Theo Ubique). Les Miserables (Marriott Theatre), Million Dollar Quartet (Deegee Theatricals, John Cossette Productions and Northern Lights – at the Apollo Theater), A Taste of Honey (Shattered Globe Theatre), Tomorrow Morning (Hilary A. Williams LLC), The Voysey Inheritance (Remy Bumppo Theatre Company).
To see further discussion regarding each show, go to Chris Jones’ The Theater Loop blog posting.
Filed under: Apollo Theater, Best-of-Year, Chicago Children's Theatre, Chicago Tribune, Chris Jones, Court Theatre, Drury Lane Oakbrook, Goodman Theatre, Griffin Theatre, Hypocrites Theatre, Marriott Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Remy Bumppo, Royal George Theatre, Second City, Shattered Globe, Steppenwolf, Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre, Victory Gardens, William Inge, Writers' Theatre | Tagged: Chris Jones, Victory Gardens, Chicago Children's Theatre, Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre, David Cromer, Drury Lane Oakbrook, Steppenwolf Theatre, Marriott Theatre, Writers' Theatre, Conor McPherson, Horton Foote, William Inge, Northlight Theatre, Grey Gardens, Doug Peck, Remy Bumppo, Jonathan Berry, The Seafarer, E. Faye Butler, Second City, Shattered Globe Theatre, Goodman Theatre, Griffin Theatre, Court Theatre, Jacque Brel, Jennifer Grace, Lynn Nottage, Les Miserables, Our Town, Caroline or Change, Tony Kushner, Charles Newell, Kate Fry, The Hypocrites, Thornton Wilder, Chicago Theater Best of 2008, Best of 2008, Harris Yulin, Lois Smith, Picnic, Jeanine Tesori, Kate Whoriskey, Joel Drake Johnson, Sandy Shinner, Cy Coleman, Jim Croti, Mitzi Hamilton, Elevator Repair Service Theatre, John Collins, Francis Guinan, British American Stage Company, Royal George Theater, Million Dollar Quartet, Deegee Theatricals, John Cossette Productions, Northern Lights, Apollo Theater Chicago
