In 2006, the Hippodrome played host to 9 major touring productions.  They were, alphabetically: The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Altar Boys, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Golda's Balcony, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Little Women: The Musical, Mamma Mia!, Movin' Out, and Twelve Angry Men.  As there were only two plays, they were 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 2006".  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 between 1 and 5 winners per category, depending on the scores, and numbers of possible winners.  For example, there were only nine possible Outstanding Productions, and I picked three.  But there were over twenty possible Outstanding Supporting Actors, so I picked five.  Again, these are my personal picks for the best of the past year.  Comments?  Email me at jameshoward@broadwayworld.com.

Outstanding Production

• Little Women: The Musical           
• Movin' Out
• Twelve Angry Men

Outstanding Lead Actor

• Sean Allen Krill, Mamma Mia!
• Rasta Thomas, Movin' Out
• Richard Thomas, Twelve Angry Men

Outstanding Lead Actress 

• Valerie Harper, Golda's Balcony
• Susan Spencer, Little Women: The Musical
• Laurie Wells, Mamma Mia!

Outstanding Supporting Actor

• Nick Blaemire, Altar Boyz
• Randle Mell, Twelve Angry Men
• Stephen Patterson, Little Women: The Musical
• Eric Peterson, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee 

Outstanding Supporting Actress

• Hollis Resnik, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
• Jennifer Simard, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
• Julie Voshell, Movin' Out
• Lauren Worsham, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Outstanding Ensemble Acting

• Altar Boys
• Movin' Out
• Twelve Angry Men

Outstanding Direction

• Scott Ellis, Twelve Angry Men
• James Lapine, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee    
• Susan H. Shulman, Little Women: The Musical

Outstanding Choreography

• Christopher Gatelli, Altar Boyz
• Arlene Phillips, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
• Twayla Tharp, Movin' Out      

Outstanding Scenic Design

• James Fouchard, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
• Derek McLane, Little Women: The Musical
• David Rockwell, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Outstanding Lighting Design

• Jeff Croiter, Batwin + Robin,Golda's Balcony
• Howard Harrison, Mamma Mia!
• Donald Holder, Movin' Out   

Outstanding Costume Design

• Gregg Barnes, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
• Catherine Zuber, Little Women: The Musical 

2007 already looks like it will be a great one!  In the next months we have Chicago, Wicked, Annie, Spamalot, Sweet Charity and Doubt!  Happy New Year!  Comments?  Email me at jameshoward@broadwayworld.com.

PHOTOS: TOP to BOTTOM: Richard Thomas in Twelve Angry Men; Laurie Wells (center) in Mamma Mia!; Hollis Resnik (left) in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels; The Cast of Altar Boyz.