Review: Don Grigware Picks His Best in LA Theatre for 2018
The Best of LA Theatre for 2018
There are undoubtedly other productions worthy of merit in 2018 which I did not cover. This list is based solely on what I saw and reviewed.
- Equity, Equity-waiver & Non-Equity productions are mixed
- Artists performing outside LA may be included in performance categories
- No set, costume, technical awards. I leave those to the bigger awards and to the expertise of those who really know those fields inside out.
- Don't take these choices too seriously. After all, it's just one man's opinions.
- I have trimmed down categories to include a smaller number of winners in each. I have also separated plays/musicals into Large Space and Intimate Space.
BEST PRODUCTIONS in a Large Space
A Christmas Carol - Geffen
Aladdin - Hollywood Pantages
Million Dollar Quartet - 3D- Theatricals
Nice Work If You Can Get It - MTW, Long Beach
Significant Other - Geffen
West Side Story - Glendale Centre Theatre
Come From Away - Ahmanson
Dear Evan Hansen - Ahmanson
On Your Feet! - Hollywood Pantages
Bright Star - MTW
The Humans - Ahmanson
BEST PRODUCTIONS in an Intimate Space
A Carol Christmas - GroupRep
Ragtime The Musical - Candlelight Pavilion - Claremont
Priscilla Queen of the Desert - Celebration
Cabaret - Celebration
Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde - LGBTQ
The Mousetrap - Crown City Theatre
Damaged Furniture - Whitefire
The Cape and the Klan - GroupRep, Upstairs
A Man for All Seasons - Actors Co-op
She Loves Me - Actors Co-op
The Gin Game - Sierra Madre Playhouse
BEST PERFORMANCES
Martha Hackett - Occupant - Garry Marshall Theatre
Adam Jacobs, Michael James Scott - Aladdin - Hollywood Pantages
Jefferson Mays - A Christmas Carol - Geffen
Laura Bell Bundy - Sweet Charity - Reprise 2.0, Freud, UCLA
Gina Yates - Deathtrap - GroupRep
Will Von Vogt - Significant Other - Geffen
Jason Graae, Kathy Fitzgerald - Nice Work If You Can Get It - MTW
Michael Mullen - The Mousetrap - Crown
Hartley Powers - A Carol Christmas - GroupRep
Janet Wood, Debi Tinsley, John Schroeder - A Carol Christmas - GroupRep
Burt Grinstead, Anna Stromberg - Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde - LGBTQ
Sandra Tsing Loh - Sugar Plum Fairy - Skylight Theatre
George Takei - Allegiance - East West Players/Aratani Theatre
Anna Mintzer - Bright Star - MTW
Susan Egan - Beauty and the Beast - 5 Star Theatricals
Alan Blumenfeld, Katherine James - The Gin Game - Sierra Madre
Ensemble Casts
The Humans - Ahmanson
Damaged Furniture - Whitefire
Come From Away - Ahmanson
Dear Evan Hansen - Ahmanson
On Your Feet! - Hollywood Pantages
Ain't Too Proud - Ahmanson
BEST DIRECTORS
Larry Raben - Nice Work If You Can Get It - MTW
Michael Arden - A Christmas Carol - Geffen
Bruce Kimmel - A Carol Christmas - GroupRep
Cate Caplin - She Loves Me - Actors Co-op
Stephen Brackett - Significant Other - Geffen
Stan Mazin - The Cape and the Klan - GroupRep
Anna Stromberg - Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde - LGBTQ
BEST SOLO / CABARET/ CONCERT SHOWS
Comfy - Jeffrey Scott Parsons - Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal
Legacy in the Key of Bing - D. Scott Eads - Sterling's
The Soul of Richard Rodgers - Billy Porter - The Soraya
Six Characters in Search of a Play - Del Shores - Celebration
To Dad with Love - Kiki Ebsen - Theatre West
An Evening of Classic Broadway - December Show with multiple performers- Rockwell Table and Stage
Christmas Is - Robyn Spangler - Rockwell Table and Stage
BEST CDs
Christine Andreas - No Regrets
Lyn Stanley - London Calling
Robyn Spangler - Christmas Is
Kevin Odekirk - Season of Hope
Steve Ross - It's Almost Christmas Eve
LeAnn Rimes - It's Christmas, Eve
A Carol Christmas - Kritzerland Cast Recording
Reader Reviews
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The Most Happy Fella North Coast Repertory Theatre (6/03-6/28) |
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A Haunting Revue II Impro Theatre (6/06-6/26) |
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Born This Cabaret Renberg Theatre (6/24-6/24) |
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Bus People – A Hilarious & Optimistic Take on L.A. Public Transit The Actors Company (6/06-6/28) |
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MISS MAGNOLIA BEAUMONT GOES TO PROVINCETOWN Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Davidson/Valentini Theatre (6/17-6/28) |
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Mike Blaha: Pivotal Nomad Broadwater Studio (6/07-6/24) |
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My Life is a Sonnet Broadwater Studio (6/07-6/27) |
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STRAITJACKET SIRENS The Three Clubs (6/01-6/30) |
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Storytellers Theater: PINOCCHIO @ Sac Fine Arts Sacramento Fine Arts Center (6/26-6/26) |
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The Show Has Been Cancelled (Due to the End of The World) Broadwater Second Stage (6/16-6/27) |