2008 - A Theatrical Look Back

Since it is New Year’s Day, it seems appropriate to take a look back at the year in theatre, 2008.

What a mixed year for DC theatre. There were hits, there were misses, and there were shows that premiered here and moved to Broadway way too soon … opening and closing on the same night. Oops. Oh, if only theatre provided a “do over” option.

Let’s start with the hits. One of the best shows of the year was Next to Normal. I saw this show during its premiere at New York's SecondStage Theatre , and was excited to see that Arena Stage would serve as the show’s next venue. Alice Ripley, who starred in both productions, is a gift to theatre audiences everywhere. The show is smart, touching, funny, and extremely well crafted. In my mind, Alice Ripley gets my vote for performer of the year, and Next to Normal gets my vote for best show of the year.



The Signature Theatre had Ace, a funny and poignant show with a great sound, a very catching score, and a breathtaking set. The performances were outstanding, especially the child actors. Signature billed this show as a pre-Broadway production but I have yet to hear of plans for a NY mounting. It’s a great show, and it deserves a successful future.

Signature had another hit with The Visit, starring Chita Rivera and George Hearn. While the show itself was a bit flawed, the incredible performances by this magnificent duo make this production one of the year’s standouts. Chita Rivera looked fabulous, sounded terrific, and was completely captivating. George Hearn was nothing short of breathtaking. When he sings, you are immediately drawn in. Two national treasures sharing a stage, and sharing their gift with their audience.

On the Broadway scene, two shows are worth special mention, Passing Strange and In the Heights. Each was original and offered something never before seen on Broadway. Stew, star and creator of Passing Strange brought a commanding performance from the minute he walked onto the stage to the minute he walked off. This story…so original, so personal, so real, and so moving…caught the eye of Spike Lee who turned it into a feature film (distribution yet to be announced).

In the Heights, featuring its creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, offered one of the most unique theatre experiences I’ve ever had. The sound, a combination of Latin rap and hip hop, fuels the show’s explosion onto the stage. The choreography is original, and the cast has so much energy they consume the audience with their joy. In the Heights is a must see experience.

There were a few other noteworthy productions of 2008, including the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Argonautika, Signature Theatre’s The Tricky Part, and the national tour of Legally Blonde (Omigod, you guys! This show really rocks!). And the Signature production of Glory Days (which I didn’t hate), was in no way ready for Broadway where it opened and closed on the same day. The biggest surprise of the year was Studio Theatre’s Jerry Springer, the Opera. And, the best one-person event of the year was Sandra Bernhard’s Without You I’m Nothing at Theatre J. Get that woman going and you’re in for a treat.

Now for the bad news. There were some really, really bad theatrical efforts in 2008. Let’s start the list with the Arena Stage production of The Mystery of Irma Vep. With a headliner cast, I just expected more. What were they thinking?

The Signature Theatre production of The Lieutenant of Inishmore left me asking, why? And their production of Les Miserables (which was celebrated as original and intimate) was such a terrible disappointment. In my opinion, no theatre company should do any show that they cannot produce as written. To change the story because of production logistics is distasteful and should not be tolerated. If you can’t do the show as written, choose another show. In this case, Javert’s suicide was “reinvented” eliminating some of the most beautiful and sweeping sections of the score. Very bad and very disappointing.

On the Broadway stage, Is He Dead was a disaster—offensive, dated, and just plain poorly directed and acted. Norbert Leo Butz should be ashamed, and poor Mark Twain is still spinning.

But, let’s close out 2008 on a high note. I recently saw the pre-Broadway production of West Side Story at the National Theatre in DC. While the show is dated, the production is smart and will be a hit in New York.

Have a favorite 2008 theatre story or show? Share your thoughts.