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NEW YORK THEATRE WIRE WRITERS CHOOSE
TEN BEST SHOWS OF 2006-2007 SEASON

by Philippa Wehle

New York Theatre Wire has once again asked its theater reviewers to choose their top ten shows, seen between May 1, 2006 and May 1, 2007, On, Off and Off-Off Broadway. Their choices were based on artistic merit alone. Six NYTW theater writers participated in the ballot. The results were calculated by a numerical consensus.

As in the past, our reviewers selected a wide variety of productions, from musical theater works to serious dramas. As was to be expected, Tom Stoppard's trilogy, "The Coast of Utopia," was the winner by far. "Bold staging," "visually stunning," and "a great achievement" were some of the comments. Although not a fan of O'Neill's "Moon for the Misbegotten," one critic raved about Kevin Spacey's superb performance as James Tyrone Jr.; another spoke of R.C. Sherriff's "Journey's End" in glowing terms: "it was enthralling from start to finish and the cast was splendid." "Spring Awakening" was praised for its riveting rock score and Bill T. Jones' inventive choreography.

Top Ten Shows of the 2006-2007 Season

"The Coast of Utopia" by Tom Stoppard (The Vivian Beaumont Theatre, Lincoln Center).
"Journey's End" by R.C. Sherriff, directed by David Grindley (The Belasco Theatre).
"Spring Awakening," music by Duncan Sheik, book and lyrics by Steven Sater, dir. Michael Mayer, choreography by Bill T.Jones (opened at the Atlantic Theatre Off-Broadway and transferred to Eugene O'Neill Theatre). [Buy "Spring Awakening" tickets]
"Woyzeck" by Georg Buchner, adapted and directed by Daniel Kramer, A Gate Theatre London Production (St. Ann's Warehouse, Brooklyn).
"Company" by Stephen Sondheim and George Furth, dir. John Doyle (Ethel Barrymore Theatre).
"Moon for the Misbegotten" by Eugene O'Neill, dir. Howard Davies (Brooks Atkinson Theatre).
"Exits and Entrances" by Athol Fugard, dir. Stephen Sachs (59E59Theatres).
"Blackbird" by David Harrower, Dir. Joe Mantello (New York City Center, Stage 1).
"In the Heights," music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, book by Quiara Alegria Hudes, dir. Thomas Kail (37 Arts).
"Must Don't Whip 'Um," written and composed by Cynthia Hopkins, designed by Jim Findlay and Jeff Sugg, with the Gloria Deluxe band (St. Ann's Warehouse, Brooklyn).

 

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EDITORIAL STAFF OF THE NEW YORK THEATRE WIRE Senior Columnist: Glenn Loney. Dance Editor: Jack Anderson. Film Editor: Brandon Judell. Theater Reviewers: Dorothy Chansky, Glenda Frank, Melinda Guttmann, Robert Hicks, Lucy Komisar, Larry Litt, Paulanne Simmons, Philippa Wehle. Columnists: Marilyn Abalos, Margaret Croyden, Susan Haskins. Dance reviewers: Henry Baumgartner, Molly McQuade. Contributors: Perry Bialor, Randy Gener, Edward Rubin, Jerry Tallmer. 2006-2007 Interns: Dawn Chiarelli, Yvonne Hespos, Sasha Levites, Koen Machielse.

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