Top Ten Shows of 2004-05 Season

The New York Theatre Wire has once again asked its reviewers to choose their top ten shows, seen between May 1, 2005 and May 1, 2006, On, Off and Off-Off Broadway. Their choices were based on artistic merit alone.

As in the past, our reviewers selected a wide variety of shows, favoring musicals or musical theater over serious drama. One critic loved "Grey Gardens" for Ebersole's brilliant performance, "the very best musical performance of the year," as he put it; others praised the acting, writing, fully honed characters and direction of "Red Light Winter" at the Barrow Street Theater. It was "riveting from beginning to end, one of the few truly original cutting edge plays of the season," according to this reviewer.

The winner by far, however, was "The History Boys," the latest British import by Alan Bennett and the wonderful actors of The National Theatre.

Two critics would have liked to include Martin McDonagh's "The Lieutenant of Inishmore" in their Top Ten choices, but there was confusion relating to its opening date. Shows that were eligible needed to have opened between May 1, 2005 and May 1, 2006 and this show opened on Broadway May 3. None of our critics voted on the basis of the play's preceding NY production at the Atlantic Theater, which would have qualified for our awards. Next year, we will have to revise the rules to clarify whether our citations apply to the play or the production. In the meantime, we have revised our list to commend the play in a special mention.

"Top Ten" Shows of the 2005-2006 Season

"The History Boys" by Alan Bennett [Broadhurst Theater] Purchase "The History Boys" tickets
"Red Light Winter" by Adam Rapp [The Barrow Street Theater]
"Stuff Happens" by David Hare [Public Theatre] Purchase "Stuff Happens" tickets
"Miss Witherspoon" by Christopher Durang [Playwrights Horizons]
"Grey Gardens" by Doug Wright, Scott Frankel and Michael Korie [Playwrights Horizons]
"Cathay, Three Tales of China" by Ping Chong [The New Victory Theater]
"Sweeney Todd" by Stephen Sondheim [Eugene O'Neill Theatre] Purchase "Sweeney Todd" tickets
"In The Continuum" by Danai Gurira and Nikkole Salter [Perry Street Theater]
"The Drowsy Chaperone" by Bob Martin and Don McKellar [Marquis Theatre] Purchase "The Drowsy Chaperone" tickets
"Seascape" by Edward Albee [The Booth Theatre]

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