The Best of Baltimore Theatre 2007 – Professional Tours
In 2007, the Hippodrome and National Theatre played host to 12 major touring and "sit down" productions that were reviewed on Baltimore.BroadwayWorld.com. They were, alphabetically: Annie, Avenue Q, Cats, Chicago, Doubt, Hairspray, Menopause: The Musical, My Fair Lady, Spamalot, Sweet Charity, The Wedding Singer, and Wicked. As there was only one play, it was considered for the same categories as the musicals, as opposed to musical and play categories considered separately.
So, how did I get my picks? Throughout the year, as I reviewed each show, I divided the outstanding elements of each show into the appropriate categories, and "graded" them from 0 to 100. I kept nothing that received a score of less than 80. The top scores in each category, except Outstanding Production, were chosen as my "Best of 2007". Outstanding Production was based on the top averages of each show (scores in all other categories were added up and divided by the number of entries per show). The "winners" are arranged alphabetically, not necessarily from top best to lowest best. I selected 1 or 2 winners (in bold) per category, depending on the scores, and numbers of possible winners. For example, there were only 12 possible Outstanding Productions, and I picked two. But there were over twenty possible Outstanding Supporting Actresses, so I picked two, plus 2 honorable mentions (listed below the winners).
Again, these are my personal picks for the best of the past year, and have no bearing on the Readers' Choice Awards.
Outstanding Production
- Avenue Q
- Doubt
Outstanding Actor
- Chris McGarry (Father Flynn) Doubt
- Jerry O'Boyle (Edna Turnblad) Hairspray
- Rob McClure (Princeton/Rod) Avenue Q
Outstanding Actress
- Cherry Jones (Sister Aloysius) Doubt
- Lisa O'Hare (Eliza Doolittle) My Fair Lady
- Michelle DeJean (Roxie) Chicago
- Kelli Sawyer (Kate Monster/Lucy T. Slut) Avenue Q
Outstanding Supporting Actor
- Patrick Heusinger (Sir Lancelot, etc.) Spamalot
- Jeff Dumas (Patsy) Spamalot
Outstanding Supporting Actress
- Lisa Joyce (Sister James) Doubt
- Jenny Kwan (Christmas Eve) Avenue Q
- Alyssa Malgeri (Penny Pingleton) Hairspray
Outstanding Ensemble Acting
- Avenue Q
Outstanding Direction
- Jason Moore Avenue Q
- Doug Hughes Doubt
Outstanding Choreography
- Ann Reinking/Gary Chryst Chicago
- Danny James Austin/Jerry Mitchell Hairspray
Outstanding Lighting
- Kenneth Posner Wicked
- Hugh Vanstone/Elaine J. McCarthy Spamalot
Outstanding Costumes
- Anthony Ward My Fair Lady
- Tim Hatley Spamalot
Outstanding Scenic Design
- Anthony Ward My Fair Lady
- Eugene Lee Wicked
Comments? Email me at jameshoward@broadwayworld.com.
PHOTOS: TOP to BOTTOM: Logo: Avenue Q, Doubt; Best Actor: Chris McGarry in Doubt, Jerry O'Boyle (left) in Hairspray; Best Actress: Cherry Jones in Doubt, Lisa O'Hare in My Fair Lady; Best Supporting Actor: Patrick Huesinger (second from left) in Spamalot; Best Supporting Actress: Lisa Joyce in Doubt; Best Ensemble: The Cast of Avenue Q; Best Choreography: Chicago (Best Actress Honorable Mention: Michelle DeJean, center); Outstanding Lighting: Wicked; Outstanding Lighting and Honorable Mention Costumes: Spamalot; Outstanding Costumes and Scenic Deign, My Fair Lady. Photo Credit: The First National Tour of Avenue Q by Carol Rosegg; The National Tour of Chicag: The Musical by Joan Marcus; The First National Tour of Doubt by Craig Schwartz; The National Tour of Hairspray by Chris Bennion; The National Tour of the CAmeron Macintosh/National Theatre of Great Britain; My Fair Lady by Joan Marcus; The First National Tour of Spamalot by Joan Marcus; The First National Tour of Wicked by Joan Marcus. Logos courtesy of BroadwayWorld.com.
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