2023 in Review: Our Favorite Writing and Direction

2023 in Review:

Our Favorite Writing & Direction

(6 Categories)

We were fortunate enough to see 21 different productions in 2023: 14 Broadway, 3 off-Broadway, and 4 regional; these are the shows we considered in all categories for our favorites this year: & Juliet, A Beautiful Noise, Back to the Future, Bad Cinderella, Bob Fosse's Dancin', Camelot, Here Lies Love, Leopoldstadt, Life of Pi, New York New York, Once Upon a One More Time, Pacific Overtures (Signature Theater), Parade, Shucked, Spamalot (Kennedy Center), Sunset Boulevard (Kennedy Center), Sweeney Todd, The Frogs, The Gardens of Anuncia, The Light in the Piazza and The Play That Goes Wrong (Kennedy Center). We also saw Kimberly Akimbo two additional times - what can I say? We are Fanagrams! We made our lists separately - so below you'll see where we agreed, plus performances we each just had to include! This list, in particular, is absolutely uncanny. We agreed on exactly everything except 2 items!

How did we compare to your favorites? Leave a comment below, or catch up with us on Twitter or Instagram! (@jkstheatrescene for both)

 

FAVORITE NEW BROADWAY SONG

"Independently Owned" from Shucked

Sung by Alex Newell

Music and Lyrics: Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally

HONORABLE MENTION

"Only You, Lonely You" from Bad Cinderella

Sung by Jordan Dobson

Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber    Lyrics: David Zippel

TIE:

"God Draws Straight" and "Just Ask the Flowers" from Here Lies Love

Sung by: Moses Villarama and the Ensemble

Music: David Byrne and Fatboy Slim    Lyrics: David Byrne

FAVORITE NEW SCORE OF A MUSICAL

Here Lies Love

Music: David Byrne and Fatboy Slim    Lyrics: David Byrne

HONORABLE MENTION

Shucked

Music and Lyrics: Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally

The Gardens of Anuncia

Music and Lyrics: Michael John LaChiusa

FAVORITE NEW BOOK OF A MUSICAL

Shucked

Book: Robert Horn

HONORABLE MENTION

& Juliet

Book: David West Read

FAVORITE CHOREOGRAPHY

Bob Fosse's Dancin'

Musical Staging: Wayne Cilento    Original Choreography: Bob Fosse

Reproduction of Mr. Fosse's Choreography: Christine Colby Jacques

HONORABLE MENTION

& Juliet

Choreography: Jennifer Weber

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Choreography: Steven Hoggett

FAVORITE PRODUCTION NUMBER

"Best Man Wins"

from Shucked

Choreography: Sarah O'Gleby

Music and Lyrics: Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally

HONORABLE MENTION

"Roar"

from & Juliet

Choreography: Jennifer Weber

Music and Lyrics: Max Martin and Others

"Something About That Boy"

from Back to the Future

Choreography: Chris Bailey

Music and Lyrics: Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard

"Corn"

from Shucked

Choreography: Sarah O'Gleby

Music and Lyrics: Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally

FAVORITE DIRECTION

Parade

Direction: Michael Arden

HONORABLE MENTION

& Juliet

Direction: Luke Sheppard

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Direction: Thomas Kail

The Light in the Piazza

Direction: Chay Yew