Theatrely's Best Of 2023

It’s that time of year! Over the past 365 days, the team here at Theatrely has traveled far (Brooklyn) and wide (London) to cover hundreds of productions and as always, Editor-in-Chief Kobi Kassal and Chief Critic Juan A Ramírez sat down to decide their favorites. From Midtown Manhattan to London’s West End, there have been many incredible productions during 2023. Here’s our picks: 

Broadway 

Juan: Parade

Kobi: Merrily We Roll Along 

‍Off-Broadway 

Juan: Stereophonic and Public Obscenities

Kobi: Toros and The Comeuppance

Regional 

Kobi: The Outsiders (La Jolla Playhouse), Every Brilliant Thing (Geffen Playhouse), A New Brain (Barrington Stage) 

London 

Juan: Shirley Valentine

Kobi: Sunset Boulevard and Phaedra at the National Theatre

Cabaret 

Juan: John Cameron Mitchell & Amber Martin’s Cassette Roulette and Love from the Lunt-Fontanne (Jeanna de Waal & Maria Bilbao)

Kobi: Michelle Collins at Joe’s Pub and Jackie Hoffman’s It’s Over. Who Has Weed?

Solo Show 

Juan: Sugar Daddy

Kobi: Rachel Bloom’s Death, Let Me Do My Show and Sorry For Your Loss 

Unexpected Fav 

Juan: Dear World

Kobi: Bad Cinderella and The Hook 

Best Number 

Juan: “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered” from Pal Joey

Kobi: “Independently Owned” from Shucked

Movie Musical 

Juan: Waitress

Kobi: Waitress 

Television Series 

Kobi: Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies  

Standout Star(s)

Juan: Kara Young in Purlie Victorious, Sarah Pidgeon in Stereophonic, Juan Castano in Toros, Tessa Albertson in I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire, Janae Robinson in I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire), Maleah Joi Moon in Hell’s Kitchen in, Anna Zavelson The Light in the Piazza

Kobi: Anna Zavelson in The Light in the Piazza, Tom Francis in Sunset Boulevard, Parker Posey in The Seagull/Woodstock, NY, Salome B. Smith in A New Brain, Paul Mescal in A Streetcar Named Desire, Marin Ireland in Uncle Vanya, Marisha Wallace in Guys & Dolls

See you next year!

P.S. - Thanks to all of the wonderful photographers for capturing the magic on stage this year