Wisconsin theater spotlight’s best of 2019
Outskirts Theatre’s “Disenchanted” is Wisconsin Theater Spotlight’s pick for best show of 2019.
by Marilyn jozwik
Published Jan. 22, 2020
2019 was a year of sparkling musicals, rollicking comedies,
thrilling mysteries and compelling dramas. Wisconsin Theater Spotlight reviewed 62 shows represented by 28 different groups.
Most were community theater groups, but several were professional and virtually all were high-quality entertainment. As I’ve said in years past, the level of talent just keeps rising in local theater, not only in performances but in all aspects of the shows, from lighting to set design.
For the first time this year I’d like to acknowledge set
designer Terri Field who has created such marvelous sets for several years, but especially this year. Her handling of the set for Lake Country Playhouse’s “The Music Man,” especially for the well-executed “Rock Island” train scene, was nothing short of spectacular. Following are several shows that featured sets by Field that caught my eye through the year.
Terri Field’s set design for Lake Country Playhouse’s “The Music Man,” was amazing, especially the well-executed “Rock Island” scene to open the show.
Outstanding Set Design
Terri Field
“The Music Man” – Lake Country Playhouse; “Mamma Mia” – Lake Country Playhouse; “Dogfight” – Lake Country Playhouse; “Pinkalicious” – The Box Theatre; “The Addams Family” – The Box Theatre
Here are my top picks for 2019:
My Very Favorite Show 2019
“Disenchanted” — Outskirts Theatre
“Director Ryan Albrechtson and his Outskirts Theatre found
nine anti-princesses to rant and rave in one of the funniest shows I’ve ever seen.”
Musicals
“The Music Man” – Lake Country Playhouse
“A marvelous, faithful rendition of one of America’s most
beloved musicals.”
“Spamalot” – Sunset Playhouse
“Thoroughly Modern Millie” – Waukesha Civic Theatre
“25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” – All In
Productions
“Wonderful Town” – Falls Patio Players
Non-Musicals
“The Revolutionists” – Next Act Theatre
“In “The Revolutionists,” playwright Lauren Gunderson keeps
the historical context, but updates all the characters with witty, fast-paced repartee that sounds more like an “SNL” comedy sketch than 18th century speakers. We hear the kind of passionate voices of women who fought for their own rights and those of others, right up to the hashtag movements of today.”
“The Tin Woman” – Lake Country Playhouse
“The Underpants” – Waukesha Civic Theatre
“The Last Cyclist” – Cardinal Stritch University Performing
Arts Department
“Who ‘s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” – Milwaukee Entertainment Group
youth Theater
“Peter Pan” – Christian Youth Theatre
“Characters flying through the air, pixies with lighted
wings, sets that sparkled with a star-lit sky and a soaring cavern, colorful costumes, well-executed sword play, snappy choreography – even a crocodile! All this from a cast of … 96! Ninety-six kids, ages 8-18, singing, dancing and flying like true professionals!”
“The Addams Family” -- The Box Theatre
“Footloose” – Sudbrink Academy
Performances - Actor
Jim Skiba – “The Music Man,” Lake Country Playhouse
“Skiba’s Hill nimbly navigates the fast-moving lyrics as he
slithers his way through the townsfolk, not missing any effective pauses, gestures or inflections.”
Noah Maguire – “The Underpants,” Waukesha Civic Theatre; “Hairspray,” Sunset Playhouse
Noah Maguire, right, was outstanding in Waukesha Civic Theatre’s “The Underpants.”
Mike Owens – “Leaving Iowa,” Falls Patio Players; “The Bad
Seed,” Waukesha Civic Theatre; “Leading Ladies,” Sunset Playhouse
Zachary Klahn – “Tin Woman,” Lake Country Playhouse; “The Music Man,” Lake Country Players; “Explorers’ Club,” Lake Country Playhouse; “The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge,” Lake Country Playhouse; “Wonderful Town,” Falls Patio Players
Matthew Huebsch – “God of Hell,” The Constructivists
Eric Bergendahl – “Jekyll and Hyde,” West Allis Players
Performances - Actress
Hannah Esch – “Spamalot,” Sunset Playhouse; “Once Upon a Mattress,” Theater RED & Carrol University’s Theatre and Arts Management Program
Hannah Esch is luminous as Lady of the Lake in Sunset Playhouse’s “Spamalot.”
“In Sunset’s “Spamalot,”Esch takes the Lady of the Lake on a wild vocal ride, getting bluesy, soulful and often outrageous as she belts out in true diva style the show-stopping tunes ‘The Song That Goes Like This’ and ‘The Diva’s Lament.’ Her voice seems to know no bounds in volume – from hushed to bombastic – and range.”
Amanda Satchell – “Mamma Mia,” Lake Country Playhouse; “The Music Man” – Lake Country Playhouse
Wendy Rightler – “Wonderful Town” – Falls Patio Players
Megan Rose Miller – “Thoroughly Modern Millie” – Waukesha
Civic Theatre; “Hairspray,” - Sunset Playhouse
Bree Beelow – “The Revolutionists” – Next Act Theatre
Jo Ann Husslein – “Do Not Go Gentle” – Kettle Moraine
Players
Goo – “Glorious” – Falls Patio Players