From the Desk of Jim R, Take 2, Column 48: The Best of the Year: Theater 2017, Part 2: Goshen Players, TheatreWorks/New Milford/Vagabond Theatre Company

By James V. Ruocco

Going to the theater in 2017 was incredible.
So much to choose from.
So much to see.
So much to discover.
So much to enjoy.
So much to write about.
So many new faces.
So many returning favorites.
And yes, so much fun.

And so.....
The best of the best continues, with more of the productions and more of the performances that kept me cheering from my seat (or seats) on the aisle (guest or date included) as I journeyed across the state to experience yet another group of plays, comedies and musicals that made me glad I accepted yet another invitation to review and review and review.

The Best of the Year: Theater 2017, Part 2

Goshen Players (2 North Street, Goshen, CT)

"Sylvia"

Best Play: "Sylvia" (Goshen Players)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Play: Scott Stanchfield (Greg in "Sylvia") (Goshen Players)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Play: Kate Buffone (Sylvia in "Sylvia" ) (Goshen Players)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Play: Catherine Thoben-Quirk (Kate in "Sylvia") (Goshen Players)

 

Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Play: Chuck Stango  (Tom/Leslie in "Sylvia")    (Goshen Players)

Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Play: Eileen Epperson (Phyllis Cutler in "Sylvia") (Goshen Players)

Best Direction of a Play: John Ozerhoski ("Sylvia") (Goshen Players)

 

Best Lighting Design: Wes Baldwin ("Sylvia") (Goshen Players)

 

Best Costume Design: Phoebe Katzin ("Sylvia") (Goshen Players)

TheatreWorks/New Milford (5 Brookside Avenue, New Milford, CT)

 

"I Do, I Do"

Best Musical: "I Do, I Do" (TheatreWorks/New Milford)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Musical: Jonathan Jacobson (Michael in "I Do, I Do")     (TheatreWorks/New Milford)  

Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical: Carey Van Hollen (Agnes in "I Do, I Do") (TheatreWorks/New Milford)

 

Best Direction of a Musical: Bradford Blake ("I Do, I Do") (TheatreWorks/New Milford)

Best Musical Direction: Charles Smith ("I Do, I Do") (TheatreWorks/New Milford)

 

Best Choreography: Bradford Blake ("I Do, I Do") (TheatreWorks/New Milford)

Best Set Design: Bradford Blake and James Hipp ("I Do, I Do") (TheatreWorks/New Milford)

Best Costume Design: Lauren Nicole Sherwood ("I Do, I Do") (TheatreWorks/New Milford)

Vagabond Theatre Company (Gonzaga Auditorium at Fairfield University, 1073 North Benson Road, Fairfield, CT) and The Warehouse Blackbox Theatre/Performing Arts Center, 18 Lindeman Drive, Trumbull, CT) 

  

"The Scarlet Letter"

Best Play: "The Scarlet Letter"

Best Performance by an Actress in a Play: Thursday Savage (Hester Prynne in "The Scarlet Letter" (Vagabond Theatre Company)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Play: Betzabeth Castro (Pearl in "The Scarlet Letter") (Vagabond Theatre Company)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Play: Juan Ayala (Rev. Arthur Dimmesdale in "The Scarlet Letter) (Vagabond Theatre Company)

Best Direction: Tanya Feduik-Smith ("The Scarlet Letter") (Vagabond Theatre Company)  

"Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead"

 Best Play: "Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead" (Vagabond Theatre Company)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Play: Ryan Shea (CB in "Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead") (Vagabond Theatre Company)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Play: Karl Hinger  (Beethoven in "Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead") (Vagabond Theatre Company)

 

Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Play: Joe Zumbo (Matt in "Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead")  (Vagabond Theatre Company)

Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Play: Ian C. Smith (Van in "Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead")  (Vagabond Theatre Company)

Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Play: Hannah Pearsall  (Marcy in "Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead")  (Vagabond Theatre Company)

Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Play: Vicky Pelletier (Tricia York in "Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead")  (Vagabond Theatre Company)

Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Play: April Lichtman (Van's Sister in "Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead")  (Vagabond Theatre Company)

Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Play: Anna Lynch (CB's Sister in "Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead")  (Vagabond Theatre Company)

Best Direction of a Play: Michael R. Mele ("Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead') (Vagabond Theatre Company)

Best Production Design: Michael R. Mele, Tanya Feduik-Smith and John R. Smith, Jr. ("Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead')  (Vagabond Theatre Company)

 

Best Casting of a Play: Vagabond Theatre Company  ("Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead')