From the Desk of Jim R, Take 2, Column 235, "The Best Musicals of 2019 (Non Equity)"

By James V. Ruocco

Brookfield Theatre for the Arts
Downtown Cabaret Theatre.
Fairfield Center Stage.
Pantochino Productions.

The beauty of live musical theatre is always one that's full of excitement, exhilaration and surprise.

Tuneful.
Melodic.
Showstopping.
Uplifting.
Engaging
Well-played.

All things considered, reviewed and processed, non-Equity theater in Connecticut over the last twelve months of 2019 was chock full of major musicals tailored to suit everyone's tastes, voices, talents, budgets and entertainment choices.

There was so much to see and so much to choose from.

With that in mind, let's get started.

What stood out the most?
What didn't?

After about a day or two of much-needed deliberation and scanning through an endless variety of content, reviews and playbills, things fell neatly into place, one by one, line by line.

My choices are as follows:

Please note: "American Idiot," "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" and "Cabaret" are tied for first place honors in this year's round-up.    

The Best Musicals of 2019

"American Idiot" (Brookfield Theatre for the Arts)

director: Beth Bonnabeau Harding

"Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" (Downtown Cabaret Theatre)

director: Andrea Pane

"Cabaret" (Fairfield Center Stage)

director: Eli Newsom

"Gypsy" (Castle Craig Players)

director: Ian Galligan

"The Waffle House Five" (Pantochino Productions)

director: Bert Bernardi

"The Wicked Witch of the West: Kansas or Bust" (Pantochino Productions)

director: Bert Bernardi

"The Full Monty" (Downtown Cabaret Theatre)

director: Andrea Pane

"I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change" (Connecticut Cabaret Theatre)

director: Kris McMurray

"Sherlock Holmes and the Haunted Cabaret" (Downtown Cabaret Theatre)

director: Ricky Altamirano

"Mamma Mia!" (Downtown Cabaret Theatre)

director: Frank Root

"Frozen JR." (Broadway Kids & Company School of Performing Arts)

director: Kristin Burrows

"The Gingerbreads of Broadway" (Pantochino Productions)

director: Bert Bernardi

"Respect: A Musical Journey of Women" (Connecticut Cabaret Theatre)

director: Kris McMurray

The Bikinis" (Connecticut Cabaret Theatre)

director: Kris McMurray

"Rudolph" (Downtown Cabaret Theatre)

director: Frank Root