2023 in Review: The Movers and Moments of the Year

Every year, there are huge hits, big flops, news makers and fan favorites, scandals and groundbreaking ideas in the theater scene. And when we pause to review the year just ending, we always think of things that deserve recognition, but don't really fit any single category. 2023 was no exception. Here are some of those people and moments:

2023 in Review:

The Movers and Moments of the Year

The Movers

New Faces of 2023 - Performers

Here are six individuals who made a huge impression on us this year, and we think each these remarkable performers are set to have huge careers in the coming years.

Erin Rose Doyle (Mary Phagan - Parade)

Jake Pedersen (Frankie Epps - Parade)

J. Savage (Gawain/"Hunk" - Bad Cinderella)

Ben Jackson Walker (Romeo Montague - & Juliet)

Kalyn West (Young Anuncia - The Gardens of Anuncia)

Anna Zavelson (Clara - The Light in the Piazza)

New Faces of 2023 - Creatives

Here are four people who made their mark in the world of theater this year in the creative areas of theater production. Each has already excelled in their respective fields, but 2023 really brought them to our attention. And now we can't wait to see what they do next!

Sammi Cannold - Director - Sunset Boulevard (Kennedy Center), How To Dance in Ohio

Brandy Clark & Shane McAnally - Composers (Music & Lyrics) - Shucked

Jamie Lloyd - Director - A Doll's House, Sunset Boulevard (West End)

Performer of the Year - Jordan Dobson

We've kept an eye on this fantastic performer ever since we saw him go on as Tony in the 2020 revival of West Side Story. 2023 was a great year for this uber talented young actor: he was in the original companies of two new Broadway musicals! As featured soloist and ensemblist in A Beautiful Noise, he delivered one of the few highlights of the evening, singing "Shilo." He left that show to be the lead - Prince Sebastian - in the highly underrated Bad Cinderella. His "Only You, Lonely You" in that show was a highlight of the entire season.

The Moments

Best Intermission - Ben Platt in Parade

Though most people used his presence at the interval as a photo op/Insta post, it was actually in interesting study in maintaining a challenging role and reminding everyone in the theater that even as life goes on for the rest of us, the incarcerated are trapped in their prison cell, guilty or not. Kudos to both Platt and director Michael Arden.

Best Curtain Call - Bad Cinderella

Fun, campy and energized! Just like the rest of the show. A great reminder to not take everything so seriously.

The Jaw-Droppers

Here are those moments that catch you off guard, make you gasp, and remind you of why live theater is the thrill of being there. Some are big effects, others are surprising small details, and all of them are exciting.

The flying DeLorean in Back to the Future

The orchestra reveal and title number of New York New York

The final exit of Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd

The Best Moment of 2023:

"The Turnaround Heard 'Round the World" - When the divine Ruthie Ann Miles started to walk of the stage, paused and turned back to look at us one last time... nirvana.

Broadway Games: Theater Vocabulary-ish Quiz

I thought we'd have a nice, easy quiz to send us off on the holiday weekend. So, here's a vocabulary-ish quiz on theater related words. You probably know them all...

Broadway Games:

Theater Vocabulary-ish Quiz

1. The place in front of and below the stage is called this:

   a. the pit   b. the pendulum   c. the box   d. the conductor's booth

2. All of these people are "front of house staff" EXCEPT:

   a. the ushers   b. the house manager   c. the sound guy   d. the box office guy

3. A "sitzprobe" is:

   a. the small lights on end seats that illuminate the aisles

   b. the rehearsal where the full orchestra plays and the company sings with them

   c.  the final rehearsal before the invited dress reshearsal

   d. the small light that illuminates the stage manager's desk

4. The proper term for a legal copy of the music as sung by the actors is:

   a. the Broadway soundtrack

   b. a bootleg

   c. cast recording

   d. "Now That's What I Call Broadway!"

5.  True or False: "House Right" and "Stage Right" are on the same side of the theater.

6. All of these terms apply to the picture above EXCEPT:

   a. marquee

   b. logo

   c. show art

   d. key art

7. When the stage manager announces "places," she means:

   a. ushers report to the doors

   b. actors report to the pit for sound check

   c. actors report to their opening positions on or off stage

   d. the audience is being allowed to their seats

8. Actors engage in a "fight call" when:

   a. Equity is announcing the results of an arbitration between 2 company members

   b. when there's a disruption in the audience

   c.  when there's a last minute cast change and the company decides which understudy will go on

   d. when actors rehearse fight scenes that will occur at that day's performance

9. The backstage area where actors wait to make an immediate entrance is called:

   a. the wings

   b. the green room

   c. the fly gallery

   d. the Waverly Gallery

10. Which of these are called a "marquee"?

a.     b. 

c.      d. 

STOP SCROLLING NOW UNLESS YOU ARE READY FOR THE ANSWERS!!

1. The place in front of and below the stage is called this:

   a. the pit   

2. All of these people are "front of house staff" EXCEPT:

   c. the sound guy

3. A "sitzprobe" is:

   b. the rehearsal where the full orchestra plays and the company sings with them

4. The proper term for a legal copy of the music as sung by the actors is:

   c. cast recording

5.  False: "House Right" and "Stage Right" are on the same side of the theater.

6. All of these terms apply to the picture above EXCEPT:

   a. marquee

7. When the stage manager announces "places," she means:

   c. actors report to their opening positions on or off stage

8. Actors engage in a "fight call" when:

   d. when actors rehearse fight scenes that will occur at that day's performance

9. The backstage area where actors wait to make an immediate entrance is called:

   a. the wings

10. Which of these are called a "marquee"?

c.      

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.