I saw a lot of theatre in 2024, and it was challenging to narrow down my favorites. Of course there are several Broadway shows in here, but I do love a good local surprise.
Teeth (Playwrights Horizons, New York)
A new musical based on the 2007 film, with music by Anna K Jacobs and lyrics by Michael R Jackson (A Strange Loop).
My first show at Playwrights Horizons in New York! I will say the subject matter (a woman with teeth… down there) did not draw me in, but knowing that Michael R Jackson was a creator, my curiosity was piqued.
We sat in the front row, the splash zone, and we mostly made it out un-splashed. Though I did wind up getting one drop of “blood” on my forehead. Awesome. The show was funny and exciting, and most importantly I felt that the music was strong.
https://www.playwrightshorizons.org/about/production-history/2020s/202324/teeth
The Notebook (Broadway)
A musical about a romance that stands the test of time, based on the 2004 film, with original music by Ingrid Michaelson.
I’m kind of cheating by adding this show to my favorites. I did very much enjoy the show, and it was great to run into my friend Matt in the audience, but it didn’t quite become a favorite for me until a few weeks later when the cast album came out. Beautiful score and such a romantic story. Several story elements in The Notebook reminds me of Bridges of Madison County, which is one of my all-time favorites.
Natasha Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 (Cygnet Theatre – Old Town San Diego)
A musical inspired by the Russian novel War and Peace.
I missed the show when it was in New York (starring Josh Groban), but I was super pleased to see such a brilliant performance here in my home town. We got to see our friend Luke Henry Jacobs play accordion on stage, and I crushed out on Kürt Norby as Pierre.
Much like the Broadway production, cast members ran up and down the aisles and used the entire theater as a stage. Exciting!
https://www.cygnettheatre.com/season/season-20/natasha-pierre-and-the-great-comet-of-1812/
The Queen of Versailles (Emerson Colonian Theatre, Boston)
A new musical based on a documentary about building the largest and most expensive single family home in America and the family behind it.
I flew out to Boston to see this reunion of Stephen Schwartz (music and lyrics) and Kristin Chenowith (as Jackie Siegal). It’s a good show, and it’s already bound for Broadway. Kristin really won me over with her stage presence. I love her now.
https://queenofversaillesmusical.com/
American Idiot (Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles)
A jukebox musical based on the band Green Day’s album American Idiot.
Deaf West produces musicals that creatively incorporate sign language and captioning as part of the performance. I have always loved American Idiot, but seeing it sung and simultaneously performed in ASL like this takes it to a new level.
https://www.centertheatregroup.org/tickets/mark-taper-forum/2024/american-idiot
Great Gatsby (Broadway)
A new musical based on the F Scott Fitzgerald novel and very much inspired by the Baz Lurmann film.
The cast starred big Broadway names, Jeremy Jordan (Newsies) and Eva Noblezada (Hadestown).
I felt like this was just a perfect Broadway musical. Big numbers, big sets, big stars and classic American literature as the source material. What more could you want?
Swept Away (Broadway)
A jukebox musical about four men on a lifeboat, based on the catalog of Americana band The Avett Brothers.
The show is an American Idiot reunion, sharing the same director (Michael Mayer) and some of the cast (Stark Sands and John Gallagher Jr).
It’s a very dark show, and it gets progressively darker. I had listened to the songs for months leading up to seeing the show, and I loved how they reworked them for the stage. The set itself was quite a marvel, and it makes a big transition partway through.
Sunset Boulevard (Broadway)
Andrew Lloyd Webber revival about a has-been movie star.
Despite some weirdness in the news that I’m not thrilled about regarding Nichole Scherzinger, I would be insincere if I left this triumph of a revival, directed by Broadway pioneer Jamie Lloyd, off of my list.
Nichole Scherzinger’s performance was notably great. There’s just no denying it.
https://sunsetblvdbroadway.com/
La Cage Aux Folles (Pasadena Playhouse)
A Jerry Herman musical about a gay couple, that runs a drag nightclub, dealing with their son’s traditional wedding engagement.
I had never seen La Cage before; it just didn’t appeal to me. But a while back, I heard I Am What I Am on satellite radio and thought, “Ok, fine. This could be good.”
The Pasadena Playhouse’s modernized (and downsized) production stars Cheyene Jackson (many Broadway shows and the tv show Call Me Kat) and Kevin Kahoon, who completely steals the show as the drag performer Albin/Zaza. The tender moments between Cheyene and Kevin’s characters were surprisingly moving for such an otherwise silly show.
https://www.pasadenaplayhouse.org/event/la-cage-aux-folles/
Suffs (Broadway)
An original music about women fighting for the right to vote in America, starring and written by Shaina Taub.
I love musicals about American history; 1776, Hamilton and now this one! We saw Suffs from the front row, and this admittedly may have deeply influenced my engagement and enjoyment of this show, but it was one of those Broadway magic experiences for me. Much like with Hamilton (which coincidentally, it sounds a lot like), I was so moved by Suffs that I found myself getting misty-eyed and even ugly crying at times. It’s not a particularly sad show, it’s just very emotional and inspirational.
Honorable Mentions
Girl from the North Country (Pantages Theatre)
Pacific Overtures (East West Players, Los Angeles)
Fiddler on the Roof (La Mirada Theatre – starring Jason Alexander)
Redwood (La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego – starring Idina Menzel)
Drag the Musical (Bourbon Room, Los Angeles – starring Alaska and Joey McEntyre of New Kids on the Block)
Murder on the Orient Express (Old Globe Theatre, San Diego)
One response to “My Top 10 Theatre Experiences in 2024”
What a lovely recap of this fantastic year in theater. I went to 14 of these.
We are so lucky in San Diego (and areas nearby) to have a plethora of such compelling shows from which to choose. Somehow, heartbreak feels good in a place like this!
Thank you, Mike, for these insights and/or memories.
Some of my other favorites this past year:
• “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” at Chance Theatre in Anaheim
• “Clyde’s” at Moxie Theatre in College East near SDSU
• “Next to Normal” at Oceanside Theatre Company in the Sunshine Brooks Theater
• “A Strange Loop” at the Ahmanson Theatre in LA
• “The Ballad of Johnny and June” at La Jolla Playhouse
• “The Color Purple” at New Village Arts in Carlsbad
• “Nine” at Coronado Playhouse
• “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” at Lamb’s Players in Coronado
• “Rachmaninoff and the Tsar” by Hershey Felder at The (Historic – 100 years this year!) Balboa Theatre in The Gaslamp/Downtown San Diego
• “The Rocky Horror Show” at Cygnet Theatre in Old Town San Diego
• “Kimberly Akimbo” at Broadway San Diego (BSD) at The Civic in Downtown San Diego
• “Midnight at the Never Get” at Diversionary Theatre in University Heights
• “Hadestown” at BSD
• “Maybe Happy Ending” on Broadway (NYC)
• “Your Local Theater Presents …” at La Jolla Playhouse, and
• “Jefferson Mays in ‘A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story’” at the Old Globe Theatre in Balboa Park.
~ “Non-internet” Clark Burnett