From the Desk of Jim R, Take 2, Column 54: The Best of the Year: Theater 2017, Part 6: Hartford Stage

By James V. Ruocco

The prime spot to see Connecticut regional theater in 2017 was Hartford Stage.
Daring.
Exciting.
Imaginative.
Passionate.
This was the place to be.

William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" came to Hartford and was just as magical and manic as everyone had hoped.
The proceedings, of course, were helmed by Darko Tresnjak, an exciting interpreter of the Bard.
Like a cinematic Federico Fellini or Ingmar Bergman, Tresnjak danced to his own tune, much to the delight of the onstage actors, the audience and the entire "Midsummer" production team. And that, in turn, made this production snap, crackle and pop in every color of the rainbow without dampening or detracting from the emotional weight of the evening.


Mia Dillon took center stage in Sarah Gancher's riveting, not-to-miss drama "Seder," a new work that told the edgy, dramatic story of  a mother's dark, mysterious past as secretary for the Hungarian KGB.
Under the artful direction of Elizabeth Williamson, it was an astonishing, fascinating and explosive night of theater that pushed its audience to the edge of their seats, rallied a standing ovation at every performance and produced some very intelligent conversation long after it had ended.

The holiday tradition that was "A Christmas Carol," that famous ghost story about one man's yuletide reclamation, introduced Michael Preston as the new Ebenezer Scrooge to Hartford Stage audiences. 

Filled with magical special effects, flying ghosts, a stirring performance by Preston and plenty of hope, generosity and humanity, this delightful, often spooky interpretation was incredibly atmospheric, visually impressive and far and away the best version of this Dickensian classic out there.

Please note: This column includes productions from September through December, 2017. 

The Best of the Year: Theater 2017, Part 6

(Hartford Stage, 50 Church St, Hartford, CT)

"A Midsummer Night's Dream"

 

Best Play: "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (Hartford Stage)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Play: John Lavelle (Nick Bottom in "A Midsummer Night's Dream") (Hartford Stage)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Play: Esau Pritchett (Oberon/Theseus in "A Midsummer Night's Dream") (Hartford Stage)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Play: Tom Pecinka (Lysander in "A Midsummer Night's Dream") (Hartford Stage)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Play: Scarlett Strallen (Titania/Hippolyta in "A Midsummer Night's Dream") (Hartford Stage)

 

Best Performance by an Actress in a Play: Jenny Leona (Hermia in "A Midsummer Night's Dream") (Hartford Stage)

Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Play: Will Apicella (Puck/Philostrate in "A Midsummer Night's Dream") (Hartford Stage)

Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Play: Damian Jermaine Thompson (Demetrius in "A Midsummer Night's Dream") (Hartford Stage)

Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Play: Fedna Laure Jacquet (Helena in "A Midsummer Night's Dream") (Hartford Stage)

Best Direction of a Play: Darko Tresnjak ("A Midsummer Night's Dream") (Hartford Stage)

Best Scenic Design: Alexander Dodge ("A Midsummer Night's Dream") (Hartford Stage)

Best Lighting Design: York Kennedy ("A Midsummer Night's Dream") (Hartford Stage)

Best Costume Design: Joshua Pearson ("A Midsummer Night's Dream") (Hartford Stage)

Best Sound Design: Broken Chord ("A Midsummer Night's Dream") (Hartford Stage)

Best Composer & Music Director: Alexander Sovronsky ("A Midsummer Night's Dream") (Hartford Stage)

Best Projection Design: Lucas Clopton & Darron Alley ("A Midsummer Night's Dream") (Hartford Stage)

Best Voice & Text Coach: Claudia Hill-Sparks  ("A Midsummer Night's Dream") (Hartford Stage)

Best Casting: Laura Stanczyk, CSA ("A Midsummer Night's Dream") (Hartford Stage)

"Seder"

Best Play: "Seder" (Hartford Stage)

 

Best Performance by an Actress in a Play: Mia Dillon (Erzsike in "Seder") (Hartford Stage)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Play: Birgit Huppuch (Judit in "Seder") (Hartford Stage)

Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Play: Julia Sirna-Frest (Margit in "Seder") (Hartford Stage")

Best Performance by an Supporting Actor in a Play: Jeremy Webb (Atilla in "Seder") (Hartford Stage)

Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Play: Steven Rattazzi (David in "Seder") (Hartford Stage)

 

Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Play: Dustin Ingram (Laci in "Seder") (Hartford Stage) 

Best Direction of a Play: Elizabeth Williamson ("Seder") (Hartford Stage)

Best Scenic Design: Nick Vaughan ("Seder") (Hartford Stage)

Best Lighting Design: Marcus Dilliard ("Seder") (Hartford Stage)

Best Costume Design: Ilona Somogyi ("Seder") (Hartford Stage)

Best Sound Design: Jane Shaw ("Seder") (Hartford Stage)

Best Casting: Laura Stanczyk, CSA ("Seder") (Hartford Stage)

"A Christmas Carol"

Best Play: "A Christmas Carol" (Hartford Stage)

 

Best Performance by an Actor in a Play: Michael Preston (Ebenezer Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol") (Hartford Stage)

Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Play: Noble Shropshire as Mrs. Dilber/Jacob Marley in "A Christmas Carol") (Hartford Stage)

 

Best Direction of a Play: Rachel Alderman ("A Christmas Carol") (Hartford Stage)

Best Scenic Design: Tony Straiges ("A Christmas Carol") (Hartford Stage)

Best Lighting Design: Robert Wierzel ("A Christmas Carol") (Hartford Stage)

Best Costume Design: Alejo Vietti ("A Christmas Carol") (Hartford Stage)

Best Original Costume Design: Zack Brown ("A Christmas Carol") (Hartford Stage)

Best Original Music & Sound Design: John Gromada  ("A Christmas Carol") (Hartford Stage)

Best Music Director: Ken Clark ("A Christmas Carol") (Hartford Stage)

Best Choreographer: Hope Clarke ("A Christmas Carol") (Hartford Stage)

Best Flying Effects: ZFX, INC. ("A Christmas Carol") (Hartford Stage)