Bubbling up with Helena

I’ve had the immense privilege of seeing a lot of great theater in 2023, and I thought it would be fun to celebrate some of my favorite moments in the theater this year.

Anthony Rapp’s Without You

I. love. Rent, and I have since I was too young to be obsessed with Rent. Anthony Rapp’s one man show about his experiences in Rent and Jonathan Larson’s death was incredibly moving. Of course, the story of Jonathan’s untimely death just as Rent was about to open off-Broadway has become musical theater lore, but it was so special to hear a first hand account of what happened. I also never thought I would hear Anthony sing “Without You” live, and it was incredible to hear him sing some of Rent‘s iconic score (even parts he didn’t sing in the show). I honestly have no idea how Anthony got through that show every day.

The Light in the Piazza at City Center

Light in the Piazza is my favorite musical. The score is unimaginably gorgeous, and I love how it centers a mother/daughter relationship just as much as it tells a story about a romance. The moment I heard that Ruthie Ann Miles was playing Margaret Johnson in this piece at City Center, I knew I couldn’t miss it. It lived up to every single expectation. Literally every element of this production was perfection – the cast, the set, the costumes. Ruthie’s performance blew me away. Knowing that Ruthie herself lost two daughters, it was especially devastating to hear her deliver Margaret’s monologues about motherhood and watching her daughter grow up. I need a Broadway revival of Piazza starring Ruthie Ann Miles stat.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Shakespeare’s Globe

As my husband and I made plans to go to London, we knew that a trip to Shakespeare’s Globe had to be part of our agenda. It was fortuitous that Midsummer, my favorite of his plays, happened to be playing at the Globe while we were there. It was an incredible night at the theater, even though it rained a little bit (in true London fashion). It honestly felt like seeing a show on hallowed ground. We stood right at the front of the stage and lived our best groundling life. The show was spectacular – the cast breathed new life into the words that I know so well. The show cast all women as the Mechanicals which felt like a cool antithesis to the all-male casts of Shakespeare’s day. I won’t lie, my body hurt after standing for the whole show, but it was worth it.

Merrily We Roll Along

I bought tickets to the Broadway revival of Merrily We Roll Along the day presale started. Merrily famously flopped on Broadway when it opened in the early 1980s, but theater nerds like me have fallen in love with it. The show centers around the unraveling of the friendship of Franklin Shepard, Charlie Kringas, and Mary Flynn. Jonathan Groff, Daniel Radcliffe, and Lindsay Mendez pour themselves into portraying these characters. Watching them, you’d think they’d known each other forever. Katie Rose Clarke’s rendition of “Not a Day Goes By” as Beth, Frank’s first wife, also ripped my heart out. I can’t wait to see the show again soon to catch all of the nuance I missed the first time while sobbing my eyes out.

POTUS at Berkeley Rep

POTUS is a feminist farce about the women behind the President of the United States and is one of the funniest plays I’ve ever seen. It is so smart and unafraid to address difficult truths of the American political system. I am so glad I got to see the production at Berkeley Rep after falling in love with the show on Broadway. It was extra special to get to share the experience with two of my oldest friends, two women I admire very much. It was also so good to see Stephanie Styles, one of my favorite performers, shine onstage for the first time in years, and to get to hug her and catch up after the show.

Wicked 20th Anniversary Green Performance

Wicked celebrated 20 years on Broadway this October, and I got to attend the special Elphaba-themed performace the day before the actual anniversary. As someone who loves Wicked very much, I knew I had to find a way to attend at least one of the celebratory performances. There was a bag of gifts on every chair and former Elphabas were there to introduce the show. It truly felt like a rock concert. It was clear that everyone in the audience was a massive fan of the show, and the energy was thrillifying. Mackenzie Kurtz and Alyssa Fox, the current Broadway witches, are delivering incredible performances. I’ve seen a LOT of people in these roles, and it remains a gift to see what each new person brings to these iconic characters.

& Juliet Singalong Performance

The singalong performance of & Juliet is a night at the theater I will never forget. The audience was full of people who know the show very well, and it was not just the songs people were reciting along with the actors. There were parts about it that felt fun and silly, like the entire audience yelling, “Yas girl, yas” along with Betsy Wolfe, but there were also parts of it that were incredibly emotionally impactful. It was beautiful to be part of an audience yelling, “I really love me” along with Lorna Courtney as Juliet. It was also clear that the cast was realizing how much their show means to people. I hope they decide to do another performance like this again.

Last Show of the Broadway 2.0 Six Queens

I saw Six a lot of times in 2023, but the most special was the last performance of the 2022-2023 Broadway queens. The show did a full cast turnover in December, and I feel so lucky that I was able to celebrate the incredible reign of the second set of Broadway Queens. The performance itself was electric, and the cast was absolutely on fire. It was clear they were having a ball. The audience was also nearly as enthusiatic and energetic as the show onstage. Nasia Thomas invited the whole audience to “Get Down” with her, and the whole audience stood up and danced during her song. I hope the performers felt all of that love and support from the audience.