Follow Us On Twitter
TheatreInChicago presents its annual list of the top-rated plays that were produced in the Chicago area in 2011. The list was compiled objectively from critics' reviews, based on the Highly Recommended to Not Recommended scale.
Somewhat unsurprisingly, 2011 was another good year to be a revival of a classic musical in Chicago. Of the twenty-five plays that make up this list, seven of them are productions of musicals that could be considered "classics": The Sound of Music, 42nd Street, Chicago, two Sondheims (Follies and Sweeney Todd), Porgy and Bess, and The Christmas Schooner (I'm counting this last one as classic, at least locally; it's been around long enough). Two newer musicals also make this list; Spamalot and A Christmas Story, The Musical! Drury Lane-Oakbrook performs well in this category again this year with three top productions, but it's worth noting that two of the above, Follies and Porgy and Bess, were produced by companies (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and Court Theatre, respectively) for whom musicals are not their specialty. Indeed, Follies is the Number 3 show on the list.
Several world premiere productions of new plays or adaptations made the list this year. The most high-profile of these was David Henry Hwang's Chinglish at the Goodman Theatre, which subsequently transferred to Broadway, where it continues to play. But Northlight Theatre in Skokie also did well with their commission of The Outgoing Tide starring John Mahoney, and A Christmas Story, The Musical! (adapted from the 1983 movie) at the Chicago Theatre. Other new works include The Big Meal at American Theater Company and Burning Bluebeard at Neo-Futurists. Other new adaptations to make the list are An Iliad at Court Theatre (from, of course, Homer's Iliad) and Jackie and Me by Chicago Children's Theatre (from Dan Gutman's novel of the same name).
The list is dominated, almost completely this year, by Equity productions. Of the twenty-five top shows, only three were produced by non-Equity theatres: Festen by Steep Theatre, Burning Bluebeard by Neo-Futurists, and Old Times by Strawdog Theatre. This is something of a change; the non-Equity side of town had been much more well-represented in years past.
A caveat, as always, to this list: only those productions that garnered at least seven reviews from recognized publications or blogs were eligible. So a play that had only three reviews, for instance, even if all of those reviews were Highly Recommended, would not be included. This was done to ensure that the list could not be compromised by shows whose small number of reviews give each one undue weight.
Top Plays of 2011
Spamalot
Drury Lane- Oakbrook
Chicago Tribune- Highly Recommended
Chicago Sun Times- Highly Recommended
Time Out Chicago- Highly Recommended
Pioneer Press- Highly Recommended
Chicago Reader- Highly Recommended
NewCity Chicago- Highly Recommended
Centerstage- Highly Recommended
Chicago Stage Review- Highly Recommended
ChicagoCritic- Highly Recommended
Chicago Theater Beat- Highly Recommended
Chicago Stage Style- Highly Recommended
Around The Town Chicago- Highly Recommended
An Iliad
Court Theatre
Chicago Tribune- Highly Recommended
Time Out Chicago- Highly Recommended
NewCity Chicago- Highly Recommended
Centerstage- Highly Recommended
Chicago On the Aisle- Highly Recommended
ChicagoCritic- Highly Recommended
Chicago Theater Beat- Highly Recommended
Chicago Now- Highly Recommended
Chicago Stage Style- Highly Recommended
Follies
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Chicago Tribune- Highly Recommended
Chicago Sun Times- Highly Recommended
Time Out Chicago- Highly Recommended
Examiner- Highly Recommended
NewCity Chicago- Highly Recommended
Talkin Broadway- Highly Recommended
Centerstage- Highly Recommended
Chicago Theatre Addict- Highly Recommended
ChicagoCritic- Highly Recommended
Chicago Theater Beat- Recommended
Chicago Now- Highly Recommended
Chicago Stage Style- Highly Recommended
Around The Town Chicago- Highly Recommended
Festen
Steep Theatre
Chicago Tribune- Highly Recommended
Chicago Sun Times- Highly Recommended
Time Out Chicago- Highly Recommended
Chicago Reader- Highly Recommended
NewCity Chicago- Highly Recommended
Chicago Theatre Addict- Highly Recommended
ChicagoCritic- Highly Recommended
Chicago Theater Beat- Highly Recommended
Chicago Now- Highly Recommended
Chicago Stage Style- Highly Recommended
Around The Town Chicago- Recommended
In the Next Room or the vibrator play
Victory Gardens Theater - Biograph
Chicago Tribune- Highly Recommended
Chicago Sun Times- Highly Recommended
Time Out Chicago- Highly Recommended
NewCity Chicago- Highly Recommended
Centerstage- Highly Recommended
Chicago Theatre Addict- Highly Recommended
ChicagoCritic- Highly Recommended
Chicago Theater Beat- Highly Recommended
Chicago Now- Highly Recommended
Chicago Stage Style- Recommended
Around The Town Chicago- Highly Recommended
The Sound Of Music
Drury Lane- Oakbrook
Chicago Tribune- Highly Recommended
Chicago Sun Times- Highly Recommended
Time Out Chicago- Highly Recommended
Chicago Reader- Highly Recommended
NewCity Chicago- Highly Recommended
Centerstage- Highly Recommended
ChicagoCritic- Highly Recommended
Chicago Theater Beat- Recommended
Chicago Stage Style- Highly Recommended
Around The Town Chicago- Highly Recommended
42nd Street
Marriott Theatre In Lincolnshire
Chicago Tribune- Highly Recommended
Chicago Sun Times- Highly Recommended
Examiner- Recommended
NewCity Chicago- Highly Recommended
ChicagoCritic- Highly Recommended
Chicago Theater Beat- Highly Recommended
Chicago Stage Style- Highly Recommended
Around The Town Chicago- Highly Recommended
Sweeney Todd
Drury Lane- Oakbrook
Chicago Tribune- Highly Recommended
Chicago Sun Times- Highly Recommended
Time Out Chicago- Highly Recommended
Chicago Reader- Recommended
NewCity Chicago- Highly Recommended
Windy City Times- Highly Recommended
Talkin Broadway- Highly Recommended
Centerstage- Highly Recommended
Chicago Stage Review- Highly Recommended
Chicago Theatre Addict- Highly Recommended
ChicagoCritic- Highly Recommended
Chicago Theater Beat- Highly Recommended
Chicago Stage Style- Recommended
Around The Town Chicago- Highly Recommended
Jackie and Me
Chicago Children's Theatre at Ruth Page Center For Arts<
Chicago Tribune- Highly Recommended
Chicago Reader- Highly Recommended
Windy City Times- Highly Recommended
ChicagoCritic- Highly Recommended
Chicago Theater Beat- Highly Recommended
Chicago Stage Style- Recommended
Around The Town Chicago- Highly Recommended
Black Watch
Chicago Shakespeare Theater at Broadway Armory
Chicago Tribune- Highly Recommended
Chicago Sun Times- Highly Recommended
Time Out Chicago- Highly Recommended
Examiner- Highly Recommended
NewCity Chicago- Highly Recommended
Centerstage- Highly Recommended
Chicago Stage Review- Highly Recommended
ChicagoCritic- Recommended
Chicago Theater Beat- Highly Recommended
Chicago Stage Style- Recommended
Around The Town Chicago- Highly Recommended
The Big Meal
American Theatre Company
Chicago Tribune - Highly Recommended
Chicago Sun Times - Highly Recommended
Time Out Chicago - Highly Recommended
Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended
NewCity Chicago - Highly Recommended
Copley News Service - Highly Recommended
ChicagoCritic - Recommended
Chicago Theater Beat - Highly Recommended
Chicago Stage Style - Highly Recommended
Around The Town Chicago - Recommended
Chicago
Ford Oriental Theatre
Chicago Tribune- Recommended
Chicago Sun Times- Highly Recommended
NewCity Chicago- Highly Recommended
Chicago Stage Review- Highly Recommended
Chicago Theatre Addict- Recommended
ChicagoCritic- Highly Recommended
Chicago Theater Beat- Highly Recommended
Chicago Now- Highly Recommended
Chicago Stage Style- Highly Recommended
Around The Town Chicago- Highly Recommended
A Christmas Story, The Musical!
Chicago Theatre
Chicago Tribune- Highly Recommended
Chicago Sun Times- Highly Recommended
Time Out Chicago- Highly Recommended
NewCity Chicago- Highly Recommended
Chicago Theatre Addict- Highly Recommended
Chicago On the Aisle- Highly Recommended
ChicagoCritic- Highly Recommended
Chicago Theater Beat- Highly Recommended
Chicago Stage Style- Recommended
Around The Town Chicago- Recommended
The Real Thing
Writers' Theatre
Chicago Tribune- Highly Recommended
Chicago Sun Times- Highly Recommended
Time Out Chicago- Highly Recommended
Chicago Reader- Recommended
NewCity Chicago- Highly Recommended
Chicago On the Aisle- Highly Recommended
ChicagoCritic- Highly Recommended
Chicago Theater Beat- Highly Recommended
Around The Town Chicago- Recommended
Wishful Drinking
Bank of America Theatre
Chicago Tribune- Highly Recommended
Chicago Sun Times- Recommended
Time Out Chicago- Highly Recommended
NewCity Chicago- Highly Recommended
Centerstage- Highly Recommended
Chicago Stage Review- Highly Recommended
ChicagoCritic- Recommended
Chicago Theater Beat- Highly Recommended
Around The Town Chicago- Highly Recommended
Burning Bluebeard
Neo-Futurists
Chicago Tribune- Highly Recommended
Chicago Sun Times- Highly Recommended
Chicago Reader- Highly Recommended
Centerstage- Somewhat Recommended
Chicago Stage Review- Highly Recommended
Chicago On the Aisle- Highly Recommended
Chicago Theater Beat- Highly Recommended
Chicago Now- Highly Recommended
Chicago Stage Style- Highly Recommended
Chinglish
Goodman Theatre
Chicago Tribune- Highly Recommended
Chicago Sun Times- Recommended
Time Out Chicago- Highly Recommended
Examiner- Highly Recommended
NewCity Chicago- Highly Recommended
Windy City Times- Highly Recommended
Talkin Broadway- Highly Recommended
Chicago Theatre Addict- Highly Recommended
ChicagoCritic- Highly Recommended
Chicago Theater Beat- Recommended
Chicago Now- Highly Recommended
Chicago Stage Style- Recommended
Around The Town Chicago- Highly Recommended
As You Like It
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Chicago Tribune- Highly Recommended
Chicago Sun Times- Recommended
Time Out Chicago- Recommended
Chicago Reader- Highly Recommended
NewCity Chicago- Recommended
Windy City Times- Highly Recommended
Copley News Service- Highly Recommended
Centerstage- Highly Recommended
ChicagoCritic- Highly Recommended
Chicago Theater Beat- Highly Recommended
Chicago Stage Style- Highly Recommended
Around The Town Chicago- Highly Recommended
The Doyle & Debbie Show
Royal George Theatre
Chicago Tribune- Highly Recommended
Chicago Sun Times- Highly Recommended
Time Out Chicago- Highly Recommended
Chicago Reader- Highly Recommended
NewCity Chicago- Highly Recommended
Windy City Times- Recommended
Chicago Theatre Addict- Highly Recommended
Chicago On the Aisle- Highly Recommended
ChicagoCritic- Recommended
Chicago Theater Beat- Highly Recommended
Chicago Now- Highly Recommended
Around The Town Chicago- Recommended
The Outgoing Tide
Northlight Theatre
Chicago Tribune- Highly Recommended
Chicago Sun Times- Highly Recommended
Daily Herald- Highly Recommended
Chicago Reader- Highly Recommended
Windy City Times- Highly Recommended
Copley News Service- Highly Recommended
Talkin Broadway- Highly Recommended
Chicago Stage Review- Highly Recommended
ChicagoCritic- Highly Recommended
Chicago Theater Beat- Recommended
Chicago Stage Style- Somewhat Recommended
Around The Town Chicago- Highly Recommended
The Pitmen Painters
TimeLine Theatre Company
Chicago Tribune- Highly Recommended
Chicago Sun Times- Highly Recommended
Time Out Chicago- Highly Recommended
Chicago Reader- Somewhat Recommended
Examiner- Recommended
Windy City Times- Highly Recommended
Centerstage- Highly Recommended
Chicago On the Aisle- Highly Recommended
ChicagoCritic- Highly Recommended
Chicago Theater Beat- Highly Recommended
Chicago Stage Style- Highly Recommended
Around The Town Chicago- Highly Recommended
A Christmas Carol
Goodman Theatre
Chicago Tribune- Recommended
Chicago Sun Times- Recommended
Centerstage- Highly Recommended
Chicago On the Aisle- Highly Recommended
ChicagoCritic- Highly Recommended
Chicago Theater Beat- Highly Recommended
Chicago Now- Highly Recommended
Around The Town Chicago- Highly Recommended
Old Times
Strawdog Theatre
Chicago Tribune- Highly Recommended
Chicago Sun Times- Highly Recommended
Time Out Chicago- Highly Recommended
Chicago Reader- Highly Recommended
NewCity Chicago- Recommended
Windy City Times- Highly Recommended
Centerstage- Recommended
ChicagoCritic- Recommended
Chicago Theater Beat- Highly Recommended
Chicago Now- Highly Recommended
Chicago Stage Style- Highly Recommended
The Christmas Schooner
Mercury Theatre
Chicago Tribune- Recommended
Chicago Sun Times- Highly Recommended
Chicago Reader- Highly Recommended
Windy City Times- Highly Recommended
Talkin Broadway- Recommended
Centerstage- Highly Recommended
ChicagoCritic- Highly Recommended
Chicago Theater Beat- Highly Recommended
Chicago Now- Highly Recommended
Chicago Stage Style- Recommended
Around The Town Chicago- Highly Recommended
Porgy and Bess
Court Theatre
Chicago Tribune- Highly Recommended
Chicago Sun Times- Highly Recommended
Daily Herald- Highly Recommended
Time Out Chicago- Highly Recommended
Examiner- Highly Recommended
NewCity Chicago- Recommended
Windy City Times- Somewhat Recommended
Talkin Broadway- Highly Recommended
Chicago Theatre Addict- Highly Recommended
ChicagoCritic- Highly Recommended
Chicago Theater Beat- Highly Recommended
Chicago Now- Highly Recommended
Chicago Stage Style- Recommended
Around The Town Chicago- Highly Recommended
Luke Heiden
Contributing Writer