My 5 Top NY Theater Productions of 2022

It should be no secret to anyone that follows my work or social media that I adore live theater, and in fact spend quite a bit of time working in the industry! To me, it is the greatest artform - a culmination of everything that is great about art, music, cinema, storytelling, literature, and on and on, with the added benefit of the very unique and specific exchange of energy that can occur when seeing a live production. 2022 was a fascinating year for theater and Broadway in particular. Although Broadway re-opened in September of 2021, it was 2022 that truly saw the industry begin to come back to life, with events all over the city - concerts, off Broadway, galas, Broadway, and on and on. It was a bumpy road, to be sure, with shows closing too early, with box office struggles, with uncertainty. But what stood out above all else to me is the pure power of live theater to engage, to inspire, to entertain, to heal. I saw many productions throughout the year - new, old, and everything in between. Here are my 5 favorites from throughout 2022. 

5. Oratorio for Living Things (Composed by Heather Christian; Directed by Lee Sunday Evans)

How does one fully describe the experience of Oratorio for Living Things? The team turned the small theater at the Greenwich House, now under the Ars Nova umbrella, into a sort of interior amphitheater and brought together 12 singers to bring life to Heather Christian's gorgeous and complex music, rich with incredible harmonies. It was a delightfully weird examination of the nature of time and existence, an unforgettable evening that I hope has future life.

4. A Strange Loop (Written by Michael R. Jackson)  

I first saw this brilliant new musical Off Broadway in 2019, and in between then and its long awaited arrival to Broadway in 2022 it won the Pulitzer Prize and then sealed the deal by winning Best Musical at the 2022 Tony Awards. This is not your Grandfather's musical. This is a searing, painful, slyly hilarious examination of what it means to be an overweight, queer, Black man writing musical theater and attempting to traverse living in New York, coming to terms with your identity, and getting the respect of your family. It is an overwhelming mélange of ideas and intent that never loses its sole conceit, performed by an extraordinary cast and stretching the limits of what a Broadway musical can and should be. 

3. Into the Woods (Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim; Book by James Lapine; Revival Directed by Lear deBessonet) 

First premiering as an Encores! production at City Center and shortly thereafter transferring to Broadway, this is the prestige revival of Into the Woods of my dreams. By limiting the sets and production and focusing on the performances (and what performances by an incredible cast including Sara Bareilles, Brian d'Arcy James, Patina Miller/Heather Headley, Gavin Creel, Josh Henry, Julia Lester, and so many more) and the text, is has never been more clear that Into the Woods is one of the great works of musical theater. There is magic in the air every time one steps foot into the St. James theater. A collection of artists with the same mission: presenting this show at its absolute peak. The hilarity, the wit, the magic and mystery, the fantasy and fairy tale, and the underlying pain. I'll never forget it. 

2. Fat Ham (Written by James Ljames; Directed by Saheem Ali)

This play won a Pulitzer Prize for a production filmed during the covid pandemic and made its Off Broadway premiere at the Public Theater in the summer of 2022. It is set to transfer to Broadway in the Spring of 2023. Adapting Shakespeare's classic Hamlet, it has more than a little in common with A Strange Loop on a thematic level. The show's main character, Juicy, gorgeously played by Marcel Spears, is queer and Black and struggling to come to terms with his identity and place in the world. Set at the backyard funeral of his Father, this show is a vibrant powder keg of family drama, so rich in wit and surprise, music and indelible moments, portrayed by an exquisite ensemble. And did I mention that it's absolutely hilarious? I saw this production 3 times and left deeply moved and affirmed each and every time. But more than that, it is filled to the brim with joy. There is pain and generational trauma, to be certain. But more than anything this feels like a celebration. And it is a masterwork. I cannot wait to see the transfer.

1. Kimberly Akimbo (Music by Jeanine Tesori; Book & Lyrics by David Lindsey-Abaire; Directed by Jessica Stone)

Based on David Lindsey-Abaire's 2001 play of the same name, this show made its Off Broadway premiere at the Atlantic Theater late in 2021 before opening on Broadway in the fall of 2022. Those who know me best understand that I am not prone to hyperbole or grand statements, at least not before I have a long time to sit with something. And yet. And yet! I feel confident in saying that, at least for me, Kimberly Akimbo is one of the great new musicals of my lifetime. I believe that it is best to know as little as possible regarding the conceit of the show before seeing it, so I will not spoil anything here. But this is what musical theater dreams are made of. This is not a classic song and dance musical; it is more in the vein of Fun Home or A Band's Visit, but with more of a musical comedy bent. This is a deeply empathetic show, so full of life and feeling, rich in texture and humanity. The lyrics and book are overwhelming with clever wit and a keen understanding of the human condition. It is also at times ridiculously silly and funny. Although I shed many tears, this is not a painful or traumatic show. It is affirming and gorgeous, a testament to the best and the worst of what humanity can offer. The entire ensemble gives the performances of their lifetime - I will never forget the work of Victoria Clark, Justin Cooley, Steven Boyer, Bonnie Milligan, or Alli Mauzzy. Not to mention the absolutely wonderful ensemble! I will never forget this show, and intend to see it many more times. So often we lament that a show had great music but the book needed work, or vice versa. Not the case here. Not at all. The songs are tuneful and lovely. The book is narratively strong, with fabulous dialogue and character development. Kimberly Akimbo is a perfect new musical, and one that should be loved and treasured for generations to come.