Caroline, or Change

Diamonds in the Rough

We pick the best from a so-so season.

by J. Cooper Robb

It wasn’t a great year for Philadelphia-area theater. Theatergoers were subjected to conventional plays and productions that stirred only a modicum of thought and elicited little excitement. The plays that did attempt to challenge and provoke were often either deadly dull or annoyingly didactic.

There were, however, a number of productions and artists that rose above this trough of mediocrity to produce dynamic and rewarding theater. Leading the way were two shows focusing on race relationships: the Lantern Theater Company’s magnificently intimate staging of Athol Fugard’s powerful drama “Master Harold” ... and the Boys and the Arden Theatre Company’s thrilling production of Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori’s explosive musical Caroline, or Change.

Here’s a list of the artists and shows that succeeded in reminding us in 2006 and 2007 that theater can be simultaneously entertaining and enriching.

Top 10 productions

Beauty Is (Hotel Obligado)

Caroline, or Change (Arden Theatre Company)

Cell (Headlong Dance Theater)

Emergence-See (Freedom Repertory Theatre)

Glengarry Glen Ross (Theatre Exile)

“Master Harold” ... and the Boys (Lantern Theater Company)

Nerds:// A Musical Software Satire (Philadelphia Theatre Company)

Of Mice and Men (Walnut Street Theatre)

The Fantasticks (Mum Puppettheatre)

The Pillowman (Wilma Theater)

Honorable mention: Humble Boy (People’s Light & Theatre Company), Far Away (Flashpoint Theatre Company), Kiss of the Spider Woman (InterAct Theatre Company), La Ronde (Lantern Theater Company)

Best play: ”Master Harold” ... and the Boys

Best musical: Caroline, or Change

Best director, play: David O’Connor (“Master Harold” ... and the Boys)

Honorable mention: Jiri Zizka (The Pillowman), Walter Dallas (Emergence-See)

Best director, musical: Terrence J. Nolen (Caroline, or Change)

Honorable mention: Aaron Cromie (The Fantasticks), Phillip Wm. McKinley (Nerds:// A Musical Software Satire)

Best actress, play: Marylouise Burke (Murderers)

Honorable mention: Kristine Nielsen (Murderers), Susan Riley Stevens (Bad Dates), Sarah Sanford (La Ronde)

Best actor, play: Daniel Beaty (Emergence-See)

Honorable mention: Frank X (“Master Harold” … and the Boys), William Zielinski (Glengarry Glen Ross), Scott Greer (Of Mice and Men), James Sugg (Chekhov Lizardbrain)

Best actress, musical: Joliet F. Harris (Caroline, or Change)

Honorable mention: Leslie Uggams (Stormy Weather: Imagining Lena Horne)

Best actor, musical: Mark Jacoby (42nd Street)

Honorable mention: Jeffrey Coon (Annie Get Your Gun), Jim Poulos (Nerds:// A Musical Software Satire)

Best supporting actor, play: Ian Merrill Peakes (Red Light Winter)

Honorable mention: Joe Guzman (Skin in Flames), Anthony Lawton (A Prayer for Owen Meany), Harry Philibosian (Glengarry Glen Ross)

Best supporting actress, play: Julie Czarnecki (Two Rooms)

Honorable mention: Jaidy Schweers (Unwrap Your Candy), Catharine K. Slusar (A Prayer for Owen Meany), Mary Martello (A Prayer for Owen Meany), Nancy Eyermann (Children of Fatima)

Best supporting actor, musical: Dave Jadico (The Fantasticks)

Honorable mention: Jay Pierce (Caroline, or Change), Adam Heller (Caroline, or Change), Austin Durant (The Fantasticks)

Best supporting actress, musical: Kelly J. Rucker (Caroline, or Change)

Honorable mention: Dee Hoty (Stormy Weather: Imagining Lena Horne), Emily Shoolin (Nerds:// A Musical Software Satire)

Best ensemble, play: Of Mice and Men

Honorable mention: A Prayer for Owen Meany, Humble Boy, Glengarry Glen Ross, “Master Harold” ... and the Boys

Best ensemble, musical: Caroline, or Change

Honorable mention: The Fantasticks, Nerds:// A Musical Software Satire

Best scenic design: Jorge Cousineau (The Four of Us)

Honorable mention: Meghan Jones (“Master Harold” ... and the Boys), Corey Lunchuck and Nick Lopez (Spring Awakening), Matt Saunders (Glengarry Glen Ross), Paul Wonsek (Enchanted April), Daniel Conway (Crime and Punishment)

Best costume design: Kimberley Osinski (Far Away)

Honorable mention: Janus Stefanowicz (The Tempest), Alejo Vietti (Nerds:// A Musical Software Satire)

Best lighting design: Curtis V. Hodge (Emergence-See)

Honorable mention: James Leitner (Crime and Punishment), Jerold R. Forsyth (The Tempest)

Best sound design: Nick Kourtides (Chekhov Lizardbrain)

Honorable mention: Bill Moriarty (The Pillowman), Mathew Lorenz (“Master Harold” ... and the Boys)

Best choreography: Robin Marcotte (Beauty Is)

Honorable mention: Randy Skinner (Stormy Weather: Imagining Lena Horne)

Best original music: Hal Goldberg (Nerds:// A Musical Software Satire)

Honorable mention: Bill Buddendorf (Beauty Is)

Best musical direction: Eric Ebbenga (Caroline, or Change)

Honorable mention: Jim Ryan (This Is the Week That Is), Matt Doebler (Nerds:// A Musical Software Satire)

Best new play: Nerds:// A Musical Software Satire

Best theater company: Theatre Exile