Shubow's Picks for Baltimore/Washington's Best Theater of 2013

I now begin my 8th year as a writer for Broadwayworld.com and 2013 was certainly a remarkable year for theater. This season I have reviewed 41 plays and written 14 other articles and reviews. My visits included the following theaters: Center Stage (6), Everyman (6), Signature (6), Shakespeare Theatre Company (4), Olney Theatre Center (4), Round House Theatre (3), National Theatre (3), Kennedy Center (2), Toby's Dinner Theatre (2), Arena Stage (1), Rep Stage (1) , Folger Theatre (1), Spotlighters (1), and Dundalk Community Theatre (1). I've had the pleasure of reporting on four vocal concerts: Brian Stokes Mitchell (twice), Donna McKechnie, and Ann Hampton Callaway.

I've reviewed the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (five) and the National Symphony Orchestra (2).

So here are the list of the best of 2013 in no particular order:

BEST MUSICALS:

GYPSY - Signature Theatre Company

MISS SAIGON - Signature Theatre Company

COMPANY - Signature Theatre Company

IF/THEN - National Theater

GERSHWINS' PORGY AND BESS - National Theatre

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM - Shakespeare Theatre Company

THE KING AND I - Olney Theatre Center

A CHORUS LINE - Olney Theatre Center

ANIMAL CRACKERS - Center Stage

ONE NIGHT WITH Janis Joplin - Arena Stage

BEST PLAYS:

THIS - Round House Theatre

BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE - Round House Theatre

AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY - Everyman Theatre

RED - Everyman Theatre

GOD OF CARNAGE - Everyman Theatre

CLYBOURNE PARK - Center Stage

NEVILLE'S ISLAND - Olney Theatre Center

MEASURE FOR MEASURE - Shakespeare Theatre Company

PRIDE IN THE FALLS OF AUTREY MILL- Signature Theatre Company

FANNY AND ALEXANDER - Kennedy Center

SPECIAL EVENT:

The amazing HAIRSPRAY in Concert by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra with John Waters as Narrator.

Special kudos to Toby's Dinner Theatre for both LES MISERABLES and IN THE HEIGHTS.

A special thank you to PBS for showcasing Center Stage in their national broadcast "A RAISIN IN THE SUN : Revisited: The Raisin Cycle at Center Stage" on October 25, 2013.

An event to remember, a special free concert at the Metropolitan Opera House with Barbra Streisand. She sang for sixty minutes and it was just plain heavenly.

A special thank you to the all the writers on the Baltimore and Washington, DC sites for their amazing work during the year.

And finally, to the wonderful public relations people at the various theaters who make this work possible, a special thank you for your courtesy and assistance.

See you at the theater!

cgshubow@broadwayworld.com

BROADWAY ALERT:

You can see Broadway shows between January 21 and February 6, 2014 during a special 2 for 1 promotion. Visit www.nycgo.com/broadwayweek and see all the old hits, the new hits, and upcoming hits.

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