By James V. Ruocco
2017 was a massive year for theater.
Barrington Stage Company had the #1 musical hit of the summer.
Aaron Tveit gave an incredible, emotionally driven, show-stopping performance as Bobby in Stephen Sondheim's "Company."
"Rent" hit the road again.
"Jersey Boys" had audiences begging for more and more of those doo-wop chart toppers from Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons.
"Finding Neverland" made everyone believe on fairies.....on stage and off.
And Long Wharf Theatre unveiled a world premiere musical.
What follows are the productions and the performances that left me cheering for the excitement that live theater so lovingly provides. Plus the directors, the musical crew, the choreographers and the design teams that made 2017 so memorable.
The Best of the Year: Theater 2017, Part 1
Barrington Stage Company (30 Union Street, Pittsfield, MA)
"Company"
Best Musical: "Company" (Barrington Stage Company)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Musical: Aaron Tveit (Bobby in "Company") (Barrington Stage Company)
Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Musical: Joseph Spieldenner (Paul in "Company") (Barrington Stage Company)
Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Musical: James Ludwig (David in "Company") (Barrington Stage Company)
Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Musical: Paul Schaefer (Peter in "Company") (Barrington Stage Company)
Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Musical: Mara Davi (April in "Company") (Barrington Stage Company)
Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Musical: Ellen Harvey (Joanne in "Company") (Barrington Stage Company)
Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Musical: Lauren Marcus (Amy in "Company" (Barrington Stage Company)
Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Musical: Jane Pfitsch (Jenny in "Company" (Barrington Stage Company)
Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Musical: Kate Loprest (Susan in "Company" (Barrington Stage Company)
Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Musical: Nora Schell (Marta in "Company") (Barrington Stage Company)
Best Direction of a Musical: Julianne Boyd ("Company") (Barrington Stage Company)
Best Musical Direction: Dan Pardo ("Company" ) (Barrington Stage Company)
Best Choreography: Jeffrey Page ("Company") (Barrington Stage Company)
Best Set Design: Kristen Robinson ("Company") (Barrington Stage Company)
Best Costume Design: Sara Jean Tosetti ("Company") (Barrington Stage Company)
Best Lighting Design: Brian Tovar ("Company") (Barrington Stage Company)
Best Sound Design: Ed Chapman ("Company") (Barrington Stage Company)
Best Hair & Wig Design: Liz Printz ("Company") (Barrington Stage Company)
Best Casting of a Musical: Pat McCorkle, Katja Zarolinski, CSA ("Company") (Barrington Stage Company)
Artist of the Year: Aaron Tveit (Bobby in "Company") (Barrington Stage Company)
Artist of the Year: Mara Davi (April in "Company") (Barrington Stage Company)
Shubert Theatre (247 College Street, New Haven, CT)
"Rent"
Best Musical: "Rent" (Shubert Theatre)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Musical: Danny Harris Kornfeld (Mark Cohen in "Rent") (Shubert Theatre)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Musical: Kaleb Wells (Roger Davis in "Rent") (Shubert Theatre)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Musical: David Merino (Angel Schunard in "Rent") (Shubert Theatre)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical: Skyler Volpe (Mimi Marquez in "Rent") (Shubert Theatre)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical: Jasmine Easler (Joanne Jefferson in "Rent") (Shubert Theatre)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical: Katie Lamark (Maureen Johnson in "Rent") (Shubert Theatre)
Best Direction of a Musical: Evan Ensign ("Rent") (Shubert Theatre)
Best Musical Direction: Samuel Bagala ("Rent") ) (Shubert Theatre)
Best Choreography: Marlies Yearby ("Rent") (Shubert Theatre)
Best Set Design: Paul Clay ("Rent" ) (Shubert Theatre)
Best Costume Design (Angela Wendt) ("Rent") (Shubert Theatre)
Best Lighting Design: Jonathan Spencer ("Rent") (Shubert Theatre)
Best Sound Design: Keith Caggiano ("Rent") (Shubert Theatre)
Best Casting of a Musical: Joy Dewey Casting ("Rent") (Shubert Theatre)
The Bushnell (166 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT)
"Jersey Boys"
Best Musical: "Jersey Boys" (The Bushnell)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Musical: Aaron De Jesus (Frankie Valli in "Jersey Boys") (The Bushnell)
Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Musical: Matthew Dailey (Tommy DeVito in "Jersey Boys") (The Bushnell)
Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Musical: Cory Jeacoma (Bob Gaudio in "Jersey Boys" ) (The Bushnell)
Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Musical: Keith Hines (Nick Massi in "Jersey Boys") (The Bushnell)
Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Musical: Kristen Paulicelli (Mary Delgado in "Jersey Boys") (The Bushnell)
Best Direction of a Musical: Des McAnuff ("Jersey Boys") (The Bushnell)
Best Musical Direction: Taylor Peckham ("Jersey Boys" (The Bushnell)
Best Choreography: Sergio Trujillo ("Jersey Boys") (The Bushnell)
Best Set Design: Klara Zieglerova ("Jersey Boys") ) (The Bushnell)
Best Costume Design: Jess Goldstein ("Jersey Boys") (The Bushnell)
Best Lighting Design: Howell Binkley ("Jersey Boys" (The Bushnell)
Best Casting of a Musical: Tara Rubin Casting/Merri Sugerman, CSA ("Jersey Boys") (The Bushnell)
"Finding Neverland"
Best Performance by an Actor in a Musical: Billy Harrigan Tighe (J.M. Barrie in "Finding Neverland") (The Bushnell)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical: Christine Dwyer (Sylvia Llewelyn Davies in "Finding Neverland") (The Bushnell)
Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Musical: John Davidson (Charles Frohman/Captain James Hook in "Finding Neverland") (The Bushnell)
Best Musical Direction: Ryan Cantwell ("Finding Neverland") (The Bushnell)
Best Choreography: Mia Michaels ("Finding Neverland") (The Bushnell)
Best Set Design: Scott Pask ("Finding Neverland") (The Bushnell)
Best Lighting Design: Kenneth Posner (Finding Neverland") (The Bushnell)
Best Costume Design: Suttirat Anne Larlarb ("Finding Neverland") (The Bushnell)
Best Illusions: Paul Kieve ("Finding Neverland") (The Bushnell)
Best Casting: Stewart/ Whitley ("Finding Neverland") (The Bushnell)
Long Wharf Theatre (222 Sargent Drive, New Haven, CT)
"The Most Beautiful Room in New York"
Best Musical: "The Most Beautiful Room in New York" (Long Wharf Theatre)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Musical: Matt Bogart (David in "The Most Beautiful Room in New York") (Long Wharf Theatre)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical: Anastasia Barzee (Claire in "The Most Beautiful Room in New York") (Long Wharf Theatre)
Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Musical: Constantine Maroulis (Sergio in "The Most Beautiful Room in New York") (Long Wharf Theatre)
Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Musical: Mark Nelson (Carlo in "The Most Beautiful Room in New York") (Long Wharf Theatre)
Best Direction of a Musical: Gordon Edelstein ("The Most Beautiful Room in New York") (Long Wharf Theatre)
Best Musical Direction: John McDaniel ("The Most Beautiful Room in New York") (Long Wharf Theatre)
Best Music: David Shire ("The Most Beautiful Room in New York") (Long Wharf Theatre)
Best Book & Lyrics: Adam Gopnik ("The Most Beautiful Room in New York") (Long Wharf Theatre)
Best Set Design: Michael Yeargan ("The Most Beautiful Room in New York") (Long Wharf Theatre)
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