From the Desk of Jim R, Take 2, Column 448, Performer of the Year, Best Actor in a Musical, Best Featured Actor in a Musical, Best Actress in a Musical, Best Featured Actress in a Musical, Best Costume Design

 By James V. Ruocco

The actor.
The actress.
The musical.
The songs.
The showstoppers.
The performance.
The interpretation.

Who stood out?
Who deserves the recognition?
Who went above and beyond?
Whose talents were award-winning?
Whose work left a lasting impression?
Who stole the show?
Whose musical performance was unmissable? 

In 2023, Brookfield Theatre for the Arts, White Rabbitt Theatre, Castle Craig Players and Connecticut Theatre Company, among other venues, featured a stellar line-up of non-equity actors whose work - outstanding, expressive, lyrical, inspired, melodic - was deeply felt, emotional, amplified and handsomely presented within the framework of the individual musical storytelling. 

My choices are as follows:

Performer of the Year

Kerrie Maguire (Ilse Newmann in "Spring Awakening") (Connecticut Theatre Company), (Scarlett in "Wife/Worker/Whore") (Hole in the Wall Theater), (Gynecia in "Head Over Heels"), (Connecticut Theatre Company
Erin Campbell (Cinderella's Stepmother in "Into the Woods") (Castle Craig Players)
Charlie Hartel (Zanna in "Zanna Don't!") (Connecticut Theatre Company)
Joyce Follo Jeffrey (Mrs. Paroo in "The Music Man") (Seven Angels Theatre)
Javen Levesque (Bobby Strong in "Urinetown: The Musical") (Brookfield Theatre for the Arts), (Moritz Stiefel in "Spring Awakening") (Connecticut Theatre Company)
Shelly Marsh Poggio (Carlotta in "Panto of the Opera") (Pantochino Productions)
Moses Jacob (Harold Hill in "The Music Man") (Seven Angels Theatre)

Best Actor in a Musical

Adam Tortorello (Mark Cohen in "Rent") (White Rabbitt Theatre)
Tiernan Michael Shea (Roger Davis in "Rent") (White Rabbitt Theatre)
Javen Levesque (Bobby Strong in "Urinetown: The Musical") (Brookfield Theatre for the Arts)
Griffin Kulp (The Wolf/Cinderella's Prince in "Into the Woods") (Castle Craig Players)
Zachary Geiger (Melchior Gabor in "Spring Awakening") (Brookfield Theatre for the Arts)
Galen Donovan (Melchior Gabor in "Spring Awakening") (Connecticut Theatre Company)
Nick Kuell (Buddy in "Elf") (Fairfield Center Stage)
Martin Giannini (Captain von Trapp in "The Sound of Music") (Black Rock Theater)

Best Featured Actor in a Musical

Bert Bernardi (Victoria Sautee as Madame Cherchez in "Panto of the Opera") (Pantochino Productions)
Javen Levesque (Moritz Stiefel in "Spring Awakening") (Connecticut Theatre Company)
Ethan Valencia (Hanschen Rilow in "Spring Awakening") (Brookfield Theatre for the Arts)
Marc Improta (Nathan Detroit in "Guys and Dolls") (Fairfield Center Stage)
Galen Donovan (Angel Dumott Schunard in "Rent") (White Rabbitt Theatre)

Abraham Hussein (Benjamin Coffin III in "Rent") (White Rabbitt Theatre)
Kevin Kiley (Tom Collins in "Rent") (White Rabbitt Theatre)
Dylan Ryan (Moritz Stiefel in "Spring Awakening") (Brookfield Theatre for the Arts)
Jeffrey Fulton (Nicely-Nicely Johnson in "Guys and Dolls") (Fairfield Center Stage)
Benjamin Race (Jack in "Into the Woods") (Castle Craig Players)
Jeremy Ajdukiewicz (Santa Claus in "Elf") (Fairfield Center Stage)

Best Actress in a Musical

Kate Patton (Little Sally in "Urinetown: The Musical") (Brookfield Theatre for the Arts) Desi Amato (The Witch in "Into the Woods") (Castle Craig Players)
Christy McIntosh-Newsom (Miss Adelaide in "Guys and Dolls") (Fairfield Center Stage)
McKenzie Campbell (Charity Hope Valentine in "Sweet Charity") (Kingswood Oxford)
Kerrie Maguire (Gynecia in "Head Over Heels") (Connecticut Theatre Company)
Rebecca Borowik (Sarah Brown in "Guys and Dolls") (Fairfield Center Stage)

Emily Fink (Maria in "The Sound of Music") (Black Rock Theater)
Kennedy Morris (Wendla Bergman in "Spring Awakening") (Brookfield Theatre for the
Arts)
Montana Telman (Wendla Bergman in "Spring Awakening") (Connecticut Theatre Company)
Montana Telman (Mopsa in "Head Over Heels" (Connecticut Theatre Company)
Destiny Whitten (Mimi Marquez in "Rent") (White Rabbitt Theatre)

Best Featured Actress in a Musical

Erin Campbell as Cinderella's Stepmother, Nicole Zolad as Florinda and Erin Aldrich as Lucinda in "Into the Woods" (Castle Craig Players)
Kerrie Maguire (Ilse Newmann in "Spring Awakening) (Connecticut Theatre Company)
Joyce Jeffrey (Mrs. Paroo in "The Music Man" (Seven Angels Theatre) 
Diana Yeisley (Mark's Mom in "Rent") (White Rabbitt Theatre)
Olivia Ciaffaglione (Maureen Johnson in "Rent") (White Rabbitt Theatre) 

Emma Gulick (Kate in "Zanna Don't!") (Connecticut Theatre Company)
Erin Aldrich (Roberta in "Zanna Don't!) (Connecticut Theatre Company)
Chelsea Dacey (Suzy in "The Marvelous Wonderettes Dream On") (Castle Craig Players)
Krystina Diaz (Joanne Jefferson in "Rent") (White Rabbitt Theatre)
Jocelyn Titus (Ilse Newmann in "Spring Awakening") (Brookfield Theatre for the Arts)
Lindsay Anderson (Deb in "Elf") (Fairfield Center Stage) 

Best Costume Design

Brendon Rogers ("Rent") (White Rabbitt Theatre)
Jimmy Johansmeyer ("Panto of the Opera") (Pantochino Productions)
Ian Galligan, Melanie Del Sole and Kate Bunce ("Into the Woods") (Castle Craig Players)
Margaret Teed Jones ("Urinetown: The Musical") (Brookfield Theatre for the Arts)
Kate DeAngelis ("Spring Awakening") (Brookfield Theatre for the Arts)
Krysten Drachenberg ("Wife/Worker/Whore") (Hole in the Wall Theater)

From the Desk of Jim R, Take 2, Column 447, Best Actor in a Play, Best Featured Actor in a Play, Best Actress in a Play, Best Featured Actress in a Play, Best Lighting Design

 By James V. Ruocco

The actor.
The actress.
The play.
The performance.
The interpretation.

Who stood out?
Who deserves the recognition?
Who went above and beyond?
Whose talents were award-winning?
Whose work left a lasting impression?
Whose performance was unmissable?

In 2023, Hole in the Wall Theater and Brookfield Theatre for the Arts, among other venues, featured a stellar line up of non-equity actors whose work - outstanding, expressive, inspired, thematic - was deeply felt, emotional, amplified, confident and handsomely presented within the framework of the individual storytelling.

My choices are as follows:

Best Actor in a Play

Rick Malone (David in "Mentors") (Backyard Theatre Ensemble)
Rick Calvo (Stephen in "Straight Men Can't Dance") (Brookfield Theatre for the Arts)
Jordan Pita (George Hay in "Moon Over Buffalo") (Sacred Heart University)
Terrance J. Peters (Frankie in "Wife/Worker/Whore") (Hole in the Wall Theater) 
Tony Palmieri (Brian in "Mentors") (Backyard Theatre Ensemble)

Best Featured Actor in a Play

Terrance J. Peters (Hyde 3, Surgical Student 1 and Man 3 in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde") (Hole in the Wall Theater)
John Garfield (Javier in "Wife/Worker/Whore") (Hole in the Wall Theater)
Billy Dempster (Winston in "Straight Men Can't Dance") (Brookfield Theatre for the Arts) 
Jamie Reopell (Morris in "Wife/Worker/Whore") (Hole in the Wall Theater)
Dennis Hull (Charlie Aiken in "August: Osage County") (Hole in the Wall Theater)
Ethan Timothy (Elmer Sweeney in "Night of January 16th") (Castle Craig Players)

Best Actress in a Play

Ingrid M. Smith (Violet Weston in "August: Osage County") (Hole in the Wall Theater)
Sarah Etkin (Barbara Fordham in "August: Osage County") (Hole in the Wall Theater)
Kerrie Maguire (Scarlett in "Wife/Worker/Whore" (Hole in the Wall Theater)
Sarah Etkin (Donna in "Wife/Worker/Whore") (Hole in the Wall Theater)
Tina Parziale (Jenna in "Mentors") (Backyard Theatre Ensemble)
Sydney Yargeau (Athena in "Athena") (Andromeda Theatre Guild) 
Carolyn Doherty (Karen Andre in "Night of January 16th") (Castle Craig Players)

Best Featured Actress in a Play

Dawn Maselli (Mrs. Sportelli in "Night of January 16th") (Castle Craig Players)
Marie R. Altenor (Liz in "Wife/Worker/Whore") (Hole in the Wall Theater) 
Krysten Drachenberg (Johnna Monevata in "August: Osage County") (Hole in the Wall
Theater)
Lindsay Campbell (Ivy Weston in "August: Osage County") (Hole in the Wall Theater)
Jan Andree (Poole and Woman 1 in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde") (Hole in the Wall Theater)
Lynn Nissenbaum (Bitsy in "Straight Men Can't Dance") (Brookfield Theatre for the Arts)
Maggie Devlin (Ethel in "Moon Over Buffalo") (Sacred Heart University) 

Best Lighting Design

Stephen Cihanek ("Spring Awakening") (Brookfield Theatre for the Arts)
Stephen Cihanek ("Urinetown: The Musical") (Brookfield Theatre for the Arts)
Lucas Veo ("Rent") (White Rabbitt Theatre)
Jakob Kelsey ("Into the Woods") (Castle Craig Players)
Jim Nason ("August: Osage County") (Hole in the Wall Theater)

From the Desk of Jim R, Take 2, Column 446, Best Direction of a Musical, Best Direction of a Play, Best Musical Direction, Best Choreography, Best Set Design

 

By James V. Ruocco 

The musical.
The play.
The director.
The musical director.
The choreographer.
The set designer.

Every production needs one.
Every production wants one.

In 2023, LIVE theatre from a Non-Equity perspective was in top form throughout Connecticut.

Brookfield Theatre for the Arts
White Rabbitt Theatre.
Hole in the Wall Theater.
Connecticut Theatre Company.
Castle Craig Players, to name a few.

Who stood out?
Who deserves the recognition?
Who went above and beyond?
Whose talents were award-winning?
Whose work left a lasting impression?
Who was the recipient of theatrical excellence in a certain field?

My choices are as follows:

Best Direction of a Musical

Adam Tortorello and Lena Felix ("Rent") (White Rabbitt Theatre)
David Anctil ("Urinetown: The Musical") (Brookfield Theatre for the Arts)
Beth Bonnabeau ("Spring Awakening") (Brookfield Theatre for the Arts)
Erin Campbell and Becky McLean ("Spring Awakening") (Connecticut Theatre Company)
Ian Galligan ("Into the Woods") (Castle Craig Players)

Best Direction of a Play

Warren Dutkiewicz ("August: Osage County") (Hole in the Wall Theater)
Kirsten Easton-Hazzaa ("Wife/Worker/Whore") (Hole in the Wall Theater)
Terrance J. Peters ("Athena") (Andromeda Theatre Guild)
Teresa Langston ("Mentors") (Backyard Theatre Ensemble)
Pam Amodio ("Night of January 16th") (Castle Craig Players)
Craig David Rosen ("Straight Men Can't Dance") (Brookfield Theatre for the Arts)

Best Musical Direction

Mark Sokolson ("Rent") (White Rabbitt Theatre)
Sarah Fox ("Urinetown: The Musical") (Brookfield Theatre for the Arts)
David Anctil ("Spring Awakening") (Brookfield Theatre for the Arts)
Nick Stanford ("Spring Awakening") (Connecticut Theatre Company)
Frank Martignetti ("Guys and Dolls") (Fairfield Center Stage)

Best Choreography

Josephine Harding ("Spring Awakening") (Brookfield Theatre for the Arts)
Josephine Harding ("Urinetown: The Musical") (Brookfield Theatre for the Arts)
Kyle Reynolds and Meghan McDermott ("Sweet Charity") (Kingswood Oxford)
Chantel Martin ("Rent") (White Rabbitt Theatre)
Marissa Follo Perry ("The Music Man") (Seven Angels Theatre)

Best Set Design

David Anctil ("Urinetown: The Musical") (Brookfield Theatre for the Arts)
Bill Arnold ("August: Osage County") (Hole in the Wall Theater)
Mark Laucella and Bill Westermeyer ("Night of January 16th") (Castle Craig Players)
Kimberly Jackson ("The Music Man") (Seven Angels Theatre)
Bill Arnold ("Wife/Worker/Whore") (Hole in the Wall Theater)

From the Desk of Jim R, Take 2, Column 445, "The Best Musicals of 2023 - Non-Equity"

By James V. Ruocco 

Passionate.
Whimsical.
Engaging.
Lively.
Hypnotic.
Well-played.
Uplifting.

The beauty of LIVE theatre - Non-Equity - had its defining moments throughout 2023 with musicals that stood out full of lush scores, brilliant directorial choices, thrilling emotionality, casting coups, standout performances and award-winning Broadway composers like no other.

Duncan Sheik. Mark Hollmann. Jonathan Larson. Stephen Sondheim. Cy Coleman. Frank Loesser. Meredith Willson. Rodgers and Hammerstein.

Opening night was a hit.
Standing ovations were plentiful.
The reviews came out.
Critics were quoted in big, colorful adverts.
Ticket sales skyrocketed.
Several performances were sold out.
Audiences went wild.
There were lots and lots of productions to choose from.

Looking back, 2023 was a great year for Non-Equity musical fare all across Connecticut.

What worked?
What stood out?
What was the big blockbuster?
What musical reduced its audience to tears?
What was the "after party" buzz and chatter?
What musical did audiences choose to see a second or third time?

This year, things fell quickly into place.
Picking the very "best" musicals was pretty much - "one, two, three."

Fun?
Yes.
An open mind?
Always.
Personal favorites?
It comes with the territory.
Rereading the reviews?
Naturally.
Playing fair?
Of course.

But first, a few simple rules.

Only "press invited shows" (i.e., invites from Non-Equity theaters or marketing departments within the actual venue) are eligible for "Best Musical " consideration. 

To place on the annual "best" list, all productions must be completely consistent in terms of excellence, execution, performance, direction, design, casting and showmanship.
No exceptions. 

Please note: Normally, there's a tie for first place between two productions.
This year: There are four.

"Urinetown: The Musical, "Spring Awakening," "Rent" and a second production of "Spring Awakening" have each received first honors in this year's round up of eligible "Best Musical" productions.

My choices are as follows:

The Best Musicals of 2023 - Non-Equity 

"Urinetown: The Musical"

(Brookfield Theatre for the Arts)

director: David Anctil

"Spring Awakening"

(Brookfield Theatre for the Arts)

director: Beth Bonnabeau

"Rent"

(White Rabbit Theatre)

directors: Adam Tortorello and Lena Felix

"Spring Awakening"

(Connecticut Theatre Company)

directors: Erin Campbell and Becky McLean

"Into the Woods"

(Castle Craig Players)

director: Ian Galligan

"Guys and Dolls"

(Fairfield Center Stage)

director: Brian Crook

"Elf"

(Fairfield Center Stage)

director: Marcelle Morrisey

"Zanna Don't!"

(Connecticut Theatre Company)

director: Duane Campbell

"Head Over Heels"

(Connecticut Theatre Company)

directors: Duane Campbell and Emma Gulick

"The Sound of Music"

(Black Rock Theatre)

director: Connor Deane

"The Music Man"

(Seven Angels Theater)

director: Jimmy Donahue

"Sweet Charity"

(Kingswood Oxford)

director: Kyle Reynolds

"Panto of the Opera"

(Pantochino Productions)

director: Bert Bernardi

"{title of show}"

(The Arts at Angeloria's)

director: Lori Katherine Holm

"The Marvelous Wonderettes: Dream On"

(Castle Craig Players)

director: Ian Galligan

"I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change"

(Sacred Heart University)

director: Justin Zenchuk

"Jack and the Beanstalk"

(Downtown Cabaret Theatre)

director: Ashley Depascale