Lists – Theater Mirror

Cast of Speakeasy’s ‘A Man of No Importance’. Photos by Nile Scott Studios

As we close the door on what has been an enormously challenging year for most Americans, it was comforting to know that even in a world gone mad, Greater Boston theater companies were there to provide much-needed refuge for theatergoers, if only for a few hours at a time.

This may have been the strongest overall year for theater since COVID first hit, with a mix of pure-entertainment musicals like A.R.T.’s Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York (A.R.T.) and Lyric Stage’s Hello Dolly! balanced with plays (and musicals) with much weightier material, like Arlekin Players’ Our Class, and the national tour of Parade at Emerson Colonial. There were also a number of older plays that spoke to the issues bedeviling America today, including attacks on the LGBTQ+, Jewish, and immigrant communities.

By Michele Markarian and Mike Hoban

Looking back, 2018 was a pretty eclectic year for Boston-area theater, with something for everybody – whether it be “serious” theatergoers or newcomers checking out the latest jukebox musical. So Theater Mirror Co-Editors Michele Markarian and Mike Hoban reflected on some of the more noteworthy theatrical events of 2018 and created their year-end lists. There are four overlaps – which says a lot about the strength of the productions in a year full of quality offerings – but there were also a lot of shows that could have made the lists that we just didn’t have room for.

Tag: Lists

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