By James V. Ruocco
This summer, it was Sondheim and more Sondheim at Musicals at Richter.
"Into the Woods"......a complex musical fairy tale with a very dark twist and a plotline where not everyone got their "happy ending."
"West Side Story"......a much-loved musical reworking of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," set against the backdrop New York City's upper west side, circa 1957.
The outdoor stage itself was full of melodic brilliance, heightened by seasoned actors and actresses, fresh new faces and plenty of backstage talent and production teams alike treading up and down the leader board much to the delight of everyone around them.
So, let's not waste any time.
Here's a look back at the hottest shows and performances that nearly caused a power explosion in the starry, starry moonlight along Aunt Hack Road.
Even the fireflies, blinking their own yellow lights on and off, were dazzled by the musical happenings at Richter. Not even the gentle rains that often fell or eventually passed over could dampen the merriment that was found under the stars in 2017 at Richter Park.
A third musical "Seussical," directed and choreographed by Lauren Nicole Sherwood, was also performed. But unfortunately, I did not get to review it. That is why it does not appear (at length) in this column.
So, let's indulge!
The Best of the Year: Theater 2017, Part 3
Musicals at Richter (100 Aunt Hack Road, Danbury, CT)
"Into the Woods"
Best Musical: "Into the Woods" (Musicals at Richter)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Musical: Nathan Mandracchia (The Baker in "Into the Woods") (Musicals at Richter)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical: Carey Van Hollen (The Baker's Wife in "Into the Woods") (Musicals at Richter)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical: Tracey Marble (The Witch in "Into the Woods") (Musicals at Richter)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical: Betsy Simpson (Cinderella in "Into the Woods") (Musicals at Richter)
Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Musical: Tyler Carey (Jack in "Into the Woods") (Musicals at Richter)
Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Musical: Sergio Mandujano (Cinderella's Prince/Wolf in "Into the Woods") (Musicals at Richter)
Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Musical: Stephen Moores (Rapunzel's Prince/Wolf 2 in "Into the Woods") (Musicals at Richter)
Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Musical: Will Armstrong ( Milky White/Narrator in "Into the Woods") (Musicals at Richter)
Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Musical: Patrick Spaulding (Mysterious Man/Narrator in "Into the Woods") (Musicals at Richter)
Best Supporting Actress in a Musical: Torri Vacca (Little Red Riding Hood in "Into the Woods") (Musicals at Richter)
Best Supporting Actress in a Musical: Cassandra Bielmeier (Rapunzel in "Into the Woods") (Musicals at Richter)
Best Supporting Actress in a Musical: Priscilla Squiers (Jack's Mother in "Into the Woods") (Musicals at Richter)
Best Supporting Actress in a Musical: Beth Bria Salvador (Cinderella's Stepmother in "Into the Woods") (Musicals at Richter)
Best Supporting Actress in a Musical: Emma Giorgio (Lucinda in "Into the Woods") (Musicals at Richter)
Best Supporting Actress in a Musical: Natalie Harde (Florinda in "Into the Woods") (Musicals at Richter)
Best Direction of a Musical: Bradford Blake ("Into the Woods") (Musicals at Richter)
Best Musical Direction: Daniel Michael Koch ("Into the Woods") (Musicals at Richter)
Best Choreography: Bradford Blake ("Into the Woods") (Musicals at Richter)
Best Set Design: Jake McGuire ("Into the Woods") (Musicals at Richter)
Best Lighting Design: Jake McGuire ("Into the Woods") (Musicals at Richter)
Best Costume Design/Coordinator: Lauren Nicole Sherwood and DB Productions ("Into the Woods")(Musicals at Richter)
Best Sound Design: RKE Productions and Sierra Cervantes ("Into the Woods") (Musicals at Richter)
Best Props: Victoria Meskill ("Into the Woods") (Musicals at Richter)
Best Casting of a Musical: Musicals at Richter ("Into the Woods") (Musicals at Richter)
Artist of the Year: Bradford Blake (Director/Choreographer) ("Into the Woods") (Musicals at Richter)
Artist of the Year: Daniel Michael Koch (Musical Director) ("Into the Woods") (Musicals at Richter)
Artist of the Year: Tori Vacca (Little Red Riding Hood in "Into the Woods") (Musicals at Richter)
Artist of the Year: Will Armstrong (Milky White/Narrator in "Into the Woods") (Musicals at Richter)
Artist of the Year: Carey Van Hollen (The Baker's Wife" in "Into the Woods") (Musicals at Richter)
"West Side Story"
Best Musical: "West Side Story" (Musicals at Richter)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Musical: Stephen Moores (Tony in "West Side Story") (Musicals at Richter)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical: Juliet Dale (Maria in "West Side Story") (Musicals at Richter)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical: Lauren Nicole Sherwood (Anita in "West Side Story") (Musicals at Richter)
Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Musical: Sergio Mandujano (Bernardo in "West Side Story") (Musicals at Richter)
Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Musical: Nathan Clift: (Action in "West Side Story")
(Musicals at Richter)
Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Musical: Jacob Schultz (A-Rab in "West Side Story") (Musicals at Richter)
Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Musical: Robert Bria (Glad Hand in "West Side Story") (Musicals at Richter)
Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Musical: Brian Bremer ( Riff in "West Side Story") (Musicals at Richter)
Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Musical: Emma Burke-Covitz (Anybodys in "West Side Story") (Musicals at Richter)
Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Musical: Pam DeHuff ("Somewhere" Soprano in "West Side Story") (Musicals at Richter)
Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Musical: Elizabeth Koennecke (Velma in "West Side Story") (Musicals at Richter)
Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Musical: Christina Kompar (Rosalia in "West Side Story") (Musicals at Richter)
Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Musical: Teah Renzi (Consuelo in "West Side Story")
(Musicals at Richter)
Best Direction of a Musical: Michael Limone ("West Side Story") (Musicals at Richter)
Best Musical Direction: Zackary Kampler ("West Side Story") (Musicals at Richter)
Best Choreography: Jimmy Locust and Liana Martine ("West Side Story") (Musicals at Richter)
Best Set Design: Jake McGuire ("West Side Story") (Musicals at Richter)
Best Lighting Design: Michael Limone and Mike Campbell ("West Side Story") (Musicals at Richter)
Best Costume Design: Lauren Nicole Sherwood ("West Side Story") (Musicals at Richter)
Best Sound Design: RKE Productions ("West Side Story") (Musicals at Richter)
Best Casting of a Musical: Musicals at Richter ("West Side Story") (Musicals at Richter)
Artist of the Year: Juliet Dale (Maria in "West Side Story") (Musicals at Richter)
Artist of the Year: Brian Bremer ( Riff in "West Side Story") (Musicals at Richter)
Artist of the Year: Lauren Nicole Sherwood (Anita in "West Side Story") (Musicals at Richter)
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