Wednesday, December 20, 2023

2023 in Review: Our Favorite Design Elements

2023 in Review:
Our Favorite Design Elements
(8 Categories + 2 Special Citations)

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! 

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


FAVORITE SHOW LOGO
 

Musical: 
Shucked
Play: Leopoldstadt
Regional: Pacific Overtures (Signature Theater)

FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA



TIE:
Shucked & Sweeney Todd

FAVORITE SHOW WEBSITE


Here Lies Love

FAVORITE OVERALL MEDIA CAMPAIGN


Shucked


FAVORITE SCENIC DESIGN


Musical:
 Here Lies Love
Design by David Korins


Play:
 Life of Pi
Design by Tim Hatley

HONORABLE MENTION



New York New York
Design by Beowulf Boritt

The Play That Goes Wrong (Kennedy Center)
Design by Nigel Hook

FAVORITE COSTUME DESIGN


Musical:
 & Juliet
Design by Paloma Young


Play:
 Life of Pi
Design by Tim Hatley

HONORABLE MENTION



Bad Cinderella
Design by Gabriela Tylesova

Pacific Overtures (Signature Theater)
Design by Helen Q. Hwang


FAVORITE LIGHTING DESIGN


Here Lies Love
Design by Justin Townsend

HONORABLE MENTION



& Juliet
Design by Howard Hudson

Sweeney Todd 
Design by Natasha Katz


FAVORITE PROJECTION DESIGN


Musical:
 Parade
Design by Sven Ortel


Play:
 Life of Pi
Design by Andrzej Goulding

HONORABLE MENTION


Back to the Future 
Design by Finn Ross


SPECIAL CITATIONS


Here Lies Love 
For creating a completely immersive and all-audience inclusion experience. Kudos to the entire design team and director Alex Timbers for their eye to the future of live theater, and for not forgetting theatrical tradition.




Life of Pi
Puppetry 
For creating the next generation of theatrical puppetry. Kudos to Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell for such stunning creations, and Mr. Caldwell's brilliant movement direction, which brought many different animals to life, while still managing to convey the human element. And of course to the entire team of puppeteers, artists of the highest order, all.

Monday, December 18, 2023

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

Friday, December 15, 2023

Name That Show!: 2000s Broadway Songs

Hello, show tune lovers! Today's game is all about songs from Broadway musicals that opened in the first decade of the 2000s. You've probably at least heard of most of the shows included here, but how familiar are you with the song lists from each? Some of these are easy, but many are challenging. It's all about learning some Broadway history, right?

Good luck!

Broadway Games:
Name That Show: 2000s Broadway Songs

Multiple Choice: Pick the show that contains the song listed.


1. "Scrap"
   A. Movin' Out  B. Passing Strange  C. Urinetown  D. The Full Monty

2. "Under Separate Cover"
   A. Amour  B. A Class Act  C. Lovemusik  D. Taboo

3. "We Built This City"
   A. Rock of Ages  B. Xanadu  C. High Fidelity  D. Memphis

4. "Superboy and the Invisible Girl"
   A. Little Women  B. The 25th...Spelling Bee  C. Next to Normal  D. 13

5. "Backwoods Barbie"
   A. Urban Cowboy  B. Memphis  C. The 25th...Spelling Bee  D. 9 to 5

6. "Solla Sollew"
   A. Seussical  B. Fela!  C. Amour  D. Aida

7. "If You've Got It, Flaunt It"
   A. The Wild Party  B. The Producers  C. The Full Monty  D. Spamalot

8. "Run, Freedom, Run"
   A. Hairspray  B. Urinetown  C. Hot Feet  D. Shrek

9. "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do"
   A. The Wedding Singer  B. Lovemusik  C. The Story of My Life  D. Mamma Mia

10. "Forget About the Boy"
   A. The Pirate Queen  B. 13  C. Thoroughly Modern Millie  D. Contact


11. "Run and Tell That"
   A. Hairspray  B. Hot Feet  C. Spring Awakening  D. Spamalot

12. "Uptown Girl"
   A. The Wild Party  B. Jersey Boys  C. Movin' Out  D. Memphis

13. "Fantasies Come True"
   A. Aida  B. Xanadu  C. A Year With Frog and Toad  D. Avenue Q

14. "My Strongest Suit"
   A. The Pirate Queen  B. Billy Elliot  C. Little Woman  D. Aida

15. "Queenie Was a Blonde"
   A. Thou Shalt Not  B. Taboo  C. The Wild Party  D. The Pirate Queen

16. "Dancing Through Life"
   A. Wicked  B. Movin' Out  C. Thoroughly Modern Millie  D. Never Gonna Dance

17. "Karma Chameleon"
   A. Bombay Dreams  B. Taboo  C. A Year With Frog and Toad  D. Mamma Mia

18. "16 Feet Below Sea Level"
   A. Lestat  B. The Little Mermaid  C. Caroline, or Change  D. Tarzan

19. "The Beauty Is"
   A. Hairspray  B. The Light in the Piazza  C. Dance of the Vampires  D. Lestat

20. "Magic Foot"
   A. The 25th...Spelling Bee  B. Hot Feet  C. A Year With Frog and Toad  D. 13


21. "Walk Like a Man"
   A. Rock of Ages  B. Aida  C. Tarzan  D. Jersey Boys

22. "I'm Here"
   A. The Color Purple  B. 9 to 5  C. Passing Strange  D. Grey Gardens

23. "All About the Green"
   A. Wicked  B. Legally Blonde  C. Grey Gardens  D. The Wedding Singer

24. "Show Off"
   A. The Producers  B. The Full Monty  C. The Drowsy Chaperone  D. Avenue Q

25. "Two Worlds"
   A. Mary Poppins  B. Tarzan  C. Xanadu  D. The 25th...Spelling Bee

26. "The Five-Fifteen"
   A. High Fidelity  B. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang  C. Contact  D. Grey Gardens

27. "Practically Perfect"
   A. Caroline, or Change  B. Seussical  C. Mary Poppins  D. Legally Blonde

28. "All That's Known"
   A. Bombay Dreams  B. Spring Awakening  C. In the Heights  D. The Light in the Piazza

29. "Show People"
   A. The Wedding Singer  B. [title of show]  C. Curtains  D. A Class Act

30. "Bend and Snap"
   A. Thoroughly Modern Millie  B. Legally Blonde  C. Urinetown  D. Never Gonna Dance


31. "Magic"
   A. Xanadu  B. Mary Poppins  C. The Drowsy Chaperone  D. Billy Elliot

32. "Astonishing"
   A. 13  B.  Little Women  C. The Drowsy Chaperone  D. Thoroughly Modern Millie

33. "I Am Not Dead Yet"
   A. Spamalot  B. Next to Normal  C. Spring Awakening  D. Lestat

34. "Great Big Stuff"
   A. Shrek  B. The Story of My Life  C. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels  D. Hairspray

35. "A Little More Homework"
   A. 13  B. Billy Elliot  C. Spring Awakening  D. 9 to 5

36. "Die Vampire, Die!"
   A. Lestat  B. [title of show]  C. Dance of the Vampires  D. Spamalot

37. "Electricity"
   A. Little Women  B. Bombay Dreams  C. Billy Elliott  D. Next to Normal

38. "Breathe"
   A. Memphis  B. Next to Normal  C. Contact  D. In the Heights

39. "Freak Flag"
   A. Xanadu  B. The Pirate Queen  C. Urinetown  D. Shrek

40. "Steal Your Rock 'n' Roll"
   A. Memphis  B. Rock of Ages  C. High Fidelity  D. Jersey Boys



STOP! 
If you aren't ready for the answers yet!
GO!
If you are ready to check your answers!

1. "Scrap"
   D. The Full Monty

2. "Under Separate Cover"
   B. A Class Act 

3. "We Built This City"
   A. Rock of Ages

4. "Superboy and the Invisible Girl"
   C. Next to Normal

5. "Backwoods Barbie"
   D. 9 to 5

6. "Solla Sollew"
   A. Seussical

7. "If You've Got It, Flaunt It"
   B. The Producers

8. "Run, Freedom, Run"
   B. Urinetown

9. "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do"
   D. Mamma Mia

10. "Forget About the Boy"
   C. Thoroughly Modern Millie

11. "Run and Tell That"
   A. Hairspray

12. "Uptown Girl"
   C. Movin' Out 

13. "Fantasies Come True"
   D. Avenue Q

14. "My Strongest Suit"
   D. Aida

15. "Queenie Was a Blonde"
   C. The Wild Party

16. "Dancing Through Life"
   A. Wicked

17. "Karma Chameleon"
   B. Taboo 

18. "16 Feet Below Sea Level"
   C. Caroline, or Change

19. "The Beauty Is"
   B. The Light in the Piazza 

20. "Magic Foot"
   A. The 25th...Spelling Bee 

21. "Walk Like a Man"
   D. Jersey Boys

22. "I'm Here"
   A. The Color Purple

23. "All About the Green"
   D. The Wedding Singer

24. "Show Off"
   C. The Drowsy Chaperone 

25. "Two Worlds"
   B. Tarzan 

26. "The Five-Fifteen"
   D. Grey Gardens

27. "Practically Perfect"
   C. Mary Poppins

28. "All That's Known"
   B. Spring Awakening 

29. "Show People"
   C. Curtains 

30. "Bend and Snap"
   B. Legally Blonde

31. "Magic"
   A. Xanadu

32. "Astonishing"
   B.  Little Women

33. "I Am Not Dead Yet"
   A. Spamalot

34. "Great Big Stuff"
   C. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

35. "A Little More Homework"
   A. 13

36. "Die Vampire, Die!"
   B. [title of show]  

37. "Electricity"
   C. Billy Elliott

38. "Breathe"
   D. In the Heights

39. "Freak Flag"
   D. Shrek

40. "Steal Your Rock 'n' Roll"
   A. Memphis 


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