Helen and Morris Zoren Awards for World Theater, 2013-2014
Since September 4, 1967, the first day I saw a professional theatrical performance, I have kept diaries that list every show seen, a catalog of every actor and actress ever seen, and an ongoing ranking for each theater season.
This season, the diary began with “Mothers and Sons,” seen at the Bucks County Playhouse in June 2013 and ended with “Evita,” seen at Philadelphia’s Academy of Music in June 2014. Within the span covered by the diary, I saw 191 productions that ranged from classics to world premieres and from the complex and thought-provoking to the inanely ludicrous. The diary comprises Broadway shows and regional productions from small or nascent theaters. It shows what an interesting theater year 2013-2014 was. As usual, the theater provided much entertainment, many great experiences, ideas that challenged, and performances to admire and cherish as 2013-2014 becomes a fond memory.
Last year, I named my annual award the Helen and Morris Zoren Award for World Theater in honor of my parents who passed away between 2011 and 2013. The award is given to the production, actor, actress, supporting actor, supporting actress, and director I judge to have done the finest job during the last theater season. In addition to the recipient of the award, I will list the Top 25 in each category. These are not the only people who provided joy and enlightenment during the past season. They are the ones whose placement on the ranking lists dictate they deserve special recognition.
These are the recipients of the Helen and Morris Zoren Award for World Theater in 2013-2014.
BEST PRODUCTION
RICHARD III, by William Shakespeare, Globe Theatre production, Belasco Theatre, New York
BEST ACTOR
MARK RYLANCE, Richard III, Belasco Theatre, New York
BEST ACTRESS
CHERRY JONES, The Glass Menagerie, Booth Theatre, New York
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
JOSEPH TIMMS, Richard III and Twelfe Night, Belasco Theatre, New York
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
CELIA KEENAN-BOLGER, The Glass Menagerie, Booth Theatre, New York
BEST DIRECTOR
TIM CARROLL, Richard III and Twelfe Night, Belasco Theatre, New York
These are the Top 25 in the ranked categories.
BEST PRODUCTION
| 1. | RICHARD III, Globe Theatre Production, Belasco Theatre, New York |
| 2. | The Glass Menagerie, Broadway, Booth Theatre, New York |
| 3. | King Lear, Chichester Festival, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn |
| 4. | Present Laughter, Two River Theatre, Red Bank, New Jersey |
| 5. | Julius Caesar, Donmar Warehouse, St. Ann’s Warehouse, Brooklyn |
| 6. | Twelfe Night, Globe, Belasco Theatre, New York |
| 7. | The Phantom of the Opera, National Tour, Academy of Music, Philadelphia |
| 8. | The Marriage of Figaro, McCarter Theatre, Princeton, New Jersey |
| 9. | A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder, Walter Kerr Theatre, New York |
| 10. | Everyman, Villanova Theatre, Villanova, Pa. |
| 11. | Wicked, National Tour, Academy of Music, Philadelphia |
| 12. | The Pillowman, Luna Theatre, Philadelphia |
| 13. | Little Me, Encores, City Center, New York |
| 14. | The Barber of Seville, McCarter Theatre, Princeton, New Jersey |
| 15. | Dancing at Lughnasa, Curio Theatre, Philadelphia |
| 16. | Dear Elizabeth, People’s Light & Theatre Company, Malvern, Pa. |
| 17. | Parade, Arden Theatre, Philadelphia |
| 18. | The Convert, Wilma Theatre, Philadelphia |
| 19. | Jersey Boys, National Tour, Forrest Theatre, Philadelphia |
| 20. | Act One, Lincoln Center, New York |
| 21. | Tuesdays with Morrie, Bristol Riverside Theatre, Bristol, Pa. |
| 22. | All the Way, Neil Simon Theatre, New York |
| 23. | Proof, McCarter Theatre, Princeton, New Jersey |
| 24. | I Am My Own Wife, Theatre Horizon, Norristown, Pa. |
| 25. | Bullets Over Broadway, St. James Theatre, New York |
BEST ACTOR
| 1. | MARK RYLANCE, Richard III and Twelfe Night, Belasco Theatre, New York |
| 2. | Frank Langella, King Lear, BAM, Brooklyn |
| 3. | Jefferson Mays, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder, Walter Kerr Theatre, New York |
| 4. | Neil Patrick Harris, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Belasco Theatre, New York |
| 5. | Michael Cumpsty, Present Laughter, Two River Theatre, Red Bank, N.J. |
| 6. | Adam Green, The Marriage of Figaro and The Barber of Seville, McCarter Theatre, Princeton, N.J. |
| 7. | Bryan Cranston, All the Way, Neil Simon Theatre, New York |
| 8. | Andy Karl, Rocky, Winter Garden Theatre, New York |
| 9. | Charlie DelMarcelle, I Am My Own Wife and Macbeth, Theatre Horizon, Norristown, Temple Theater, Philadelphia |
| 10. | Bryce Pinkham, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder, Walter Kerr Theatre, New York |
| 11. | Tony Shalhoub, Act One, Lincoln Center, New York |
| 12. | Adrian Lester, Red Velvet, Tricycle Theatre, St. Ann’s Warehouse, Brooklyn |
| 13. | Michael C. Hall, The Realistic Joneses, Lyceum Theatre, New York |
| 14. | Christian Borle, Little Me, Encores, City Center, New York |
| 15. | John Zak, The Pillowman, Luna Theatre, Philadelphia |
| 16. | Peter DeLaurier, The Train Driver, Lantern Theatre, Philadelphia |
| 17. | Keith Conallen, Don Juan Comes Home from Iraq, Wilma Theatre, Philadelphia |
| 18. | Christopher Peterson, La Cage Aux Folles, Clear Space Productions, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware |
| 19. | Stanley Bahorek, Nerds, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Philadelphia |
| 20. | Christopher Sutton, Elf and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia |
| 21. | Stuart Ward, Once, National Tour, Academy of Music, Philadelphia |
| 22. | Rinde Eckert, Dear Elizabeth, People’s Light & Theatre Company, Malvern, Pa. |
| 23. | Lucas Steele, Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812, Kazino, New York |
| 24. | Samuel Barnett, Twelfe Night, Belasco Theatre, New York |
| 25. | Roger Rees, The Winslow Boy, Roundabout, American Airlines Theatre, New York |
BEST ACTRESS
| 1. | CHERRY JONES, The Glass Menagerie, Booth Theatre, New York |
| 2. | Audra McDonald, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Circle in the Square, New York |
| 3. | Ann Crumb, Sunset Boulevard, Media Theatre, Media, Pa. |
| 4. | Frederica von Stade, A Coffin in Egypt, Opera Philadelphia, Perelman Theater, Philadelphia |
| 5. | Harriet Walter, Julius Caesar, St. Ann’s Warehouse, Brooklyn |
| 6. | Anne-Marie Duff, Macbeth, Lincoln Center, New York |
| 7. | Nancy Moricette, The Convert, Wilma Theatre, Philadelphia |
| 8. | Cush Jumbo, Julius Caesar, St. Ann’s Warehouse, Brooklyn |
| 9. | Marsha Mason, The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife, Bucks County Playhouse, New Hope, Pa. |
| 10. | Susan Wilder, Other Desert Cities, Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia |
| 11. | Ellen McLaughlin, Dear Elizabeth, People’s Light & Theatre Company, Malvern, Pa. |
| 12. | Rachel York, Little Me, Encores, City Center, New York |
| 13. | Jessie Mueller, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Stephen Sondheim Theatre, New York |
| 14. | Kelli O’Hara, The Bridges of Madison County, Schoenfeld Theatre, New York |
| 15. | Kristen Bush, Proof, McCarter Theatre, Princeton, N.J. |
| 16. | Ellie Mooney, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia |
| 17. | Phillipa Soo, Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812, Kazino, New York |
| 18. | Denise Whelan, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia |
| 19. | Laura Benanti, The Most Happy Fella, Encores, City Center, New York |
| 20. | Toni Collette, The Realistic Joneses, Lyceum Theater, New York |
| 21. | Marisa Tomei, The Realistic Joneses, Lyceum Theater, New York |
| 22. | Leah Walton, Bunny Bunny and Macbeth, 1812 Productions and Temple University, Philadelphia. |
| 23. | Sutton Foster, Violet, Roundabout, American Airlines Theatre, New York |
| 24. | Rachel Camp, Side Show, 11th Hour, Philadelphia |
| 25. | Margo Seibert, Rocky, Winter Garden Theatre, New York |
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
| 1. | JOSEPH TIMMS, Richard III and Twelfe Night, Belasco Theatre, New York |
| 2. | Samuel Barnett, Richard III,, Belasco Theatre, New York |
| 3. | Stephen Fry, Twelfe Night, Belasco Theatre, New York |
| 4. | Nick Cordero, Bullets Over Broadway, St. James Theatre, New York |
| 5. | Derek Smith, The Barber of Seville and The Marriage of Figaro, McCarter Theatre, Princeton, N.J. |
| 6. | Tom McGowan, Casa Valentina, MTC, Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, New York |
| 7. | Pat Shortt, The Cripple of Inishmaan, Cort Theatre, New York |
| 8. | Joshua Henry, Violet, Roundabout, American Airlines Theatre, New York |
| 9. | Max Bennett, King Lear, Chichester Festival, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn |
| 10. | Cole Escola, Present Laughter, Two River Theatre, Red Bank, N.J. |
| 11. | Christopher Patrick Mullen, Cinderella: A Musical Panto, People’s Light & Theatre Co., Malvern, Pa. |
| 12. | Alvin Crawford, Porgy and Bess, National Tour, Academy of Music, Philadelphia |
| 13. | Jered McLenigan, Julius Caesar and The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, Lantern, Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia |
| 14. | Jeffrey Coon, Parade, Cinderella: A Musical Panto, and Side Show, Arden, People’s Light, and 11th Hour, Philadelphia |
| 15. | Derrick Cobey, Parade, Arden Theatre, Philadelphia |
| 16. | Denis Conway, King Lear, Chichester Festival, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn |
| 17. | U.R., Stick Fly, Arden Theatre, Philadelphia |
| 18. | Mark Jacoby, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia |
| 19. | Jake Epstein, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Stephen Sondheim Theatre, New York |
| 20. | Brandon Pierce, Dutch Masters, Azuka Theatre, Philadelphia |
| 21. | Peter DeLaurier, Emma and Ghosts, Lantern and People’s Light, Philadelphia and Malvern, Pa. |
| 22. | Zachary Quinto, The Glass Menagerie, Booth Theatre, New York |
| 23. | Robert Jason Jackson, Mourning Becomes Electra and Macbeth, Quintessence and Temple Theaters, Philadelphia |
| 24. | Harry Melling, King Lear, Chichester Festival, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn |
| 25. | Matteo Scammell, Other Desert Cities, Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia |
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
| 1. | CELIA KEENAN-BOLGER, The Glass Menagerie, Booth Theatre, New York |
| 2. | Zainab Jah, The Convert, Wilma Theatre, Philadelphia |
| 3. | Mare Winningham, Casa Valentina, MTC, Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, New York |
| 4. | Jennifer Summerfield, Dancing at Lughnasa, Curio Theatre, Philadelphia |
| 5. | Trice Baldwin, Dancing at Lughnasa, Curio Theatre, Philadelphia |
| 6. | Marcia Saunders, Pride and Prejudice, Cherokee, and Incorruptible, People’s Light, Wilma, and Arden Theatres, Philadelphia |
| 7. | Karina Arroyave, Water by the Spoonful, Arden Theatre, Philadelphia |
| 8. | Marilu Henner, The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife, Bucks County Playhouse, New Hope, Pa. |
| 9. | Emily Jon Mitchell, The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife, Bucks County Playhouse, New Hope, Pa. |
| 10. | Frances Barber, Julius Caesar, Donmar Warehouse, St. Ann’s Warehouse, Brooklyn |
| 11. | Anika Larsen, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Stephen Sondheim Theatre, New York |
| 12. | Jeanne Paulsen, The Marriage of Figaro and The Barber of Seville, McCarter Theatre, Princeton, N.J. |
| 13. | Erin Partin, The Importance of Being Earnest, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Center Valley, Pa. |
| 14. | Kim Zimmer, Wicked, National Tour, Academy of Music, Philadelphia |
| 15. | Lauren Worsham. A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder, Walter Kerr Theatre, New York |
| 16. | Lauren O’Neil, King Lear, Chichester Festival, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn |
| 17. | Carolyn Johnson, A Coffin in Egypt, Opera Philadelphia, Perelman Theater, Philadelphia |
| 18. | Ann Crumb, Other Desert Cities, Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia |
| 19. | Sarah Shafer, Dialogues of the Carmelites, Opera Philadelphia, Curtis Opera, Philadelphia |
| 20. | Lena Hall, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Belasco Theatre, New York |
| 21. | Kecia Lewis, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Delaware Theatre Company, Wilmington, Delaware |
| 22. | Lisa O’Hare, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder, Walter Kerr Theatre, New York |
| 23. | Michelle Alves, West Side Story, National Tour, DuPont Theatre, Wilmington, Delaware |
| 24. | Judy Kaye, Little Me, Encores, City Center, New York |
| 25. | Ingrid Craigie, The Cripple of Inishmaan, Cort Theatre, New York |
BEST DIRECTOR
| 1. | TIM CARROLL, Richard III and Twelfe Night, Globe Theatre, Belasco Theatre, New York |
| 2. | Darko Tresnjak, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder, Walter Kerr Theatre, New York |
| 3. | Stephen Wadsworth, The Marriage of Figaro and The Barber of Seville, Princeton, N.J. |
| 4. | David Lee, Present Laughter, Two River Theatre, Red Bank, N.J. |
| 5. | Angus Jackson, King Lear, Chichester Festival, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn, N.Y. |
| 6. | Phyllida Lloyd, Julius Caesar, Donmar Warehouse, St. Ann’s Warehouse, Brooklyn |
| 7. | John Tiffany, The Glass Menagerie and Once, Booth Theatre, New York and National Tour, Academy of Music, Philadelphia |
| 8. | Laurence Connor, The Phantom of the Opera, National Tour, Academy of Music, Philadelphia |
| 9. | Michael Mayer, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Belasco Theatre, New York |
| 10. | John Rando, Little Me, Encores, City Center, New York |
| 11. | Joe Mantello, Casa Valentina and Wicked, MTC, Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, New York and National Tour, Academy of Music, Philadelphia |
| 12. | Susan Stroman, Bullets Over Broadway, St. James Theatre, New York |
| 13. | Rev. David Cregan, Everyman, Villanova Theatre, Villanova, Pa. |
| 14. | Michael John Garces, The Convert, Wilma Theatre, Philadelphia |
| 15. | Bill Rauch, All the Way, Neil Simon Theatre, New York |
| 16. | Warren Carlyle, After Midnight, Brooks Atkinson Theatre, New York |
| 17. | Des McAnuff, Jersey Boys, National Tour, Forrest Theatre, Philadelphia |
| 18. | Gregory Scott Campbell, The Pillowman and A Clockwork Orange, Luna Theatre, Philadelphia |
| 19. | Susan D. Atkinson, Tuesdays with Morrie, Bristol Riverside Theatre, Bristol, Pa. |
| 20. | James Lapine, Act One, Lincoln Center, New York |
| 21. | Gay Carducci, Dancing at Lughnasa, Curio Theatre, Philadelphia |
| 22. | Lisa Rothe, Dear Elizabeth, People’s Light & Theatre Company, Malvern, Pa. |
| 23. | Samantha Bellomo, Pride and Prejudice, People’s Light and Theatre Company, Malvern, Pa. |
| 24. | Leonard Foglia, A Coffin in Egypt, Opera Philadelphia, Perelman Theater, Philadelphia |
| 25. | Christopher Sutton, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia |
SPECIAL MENTION
To Aaron Cromie for his outstanding creativity in directing “Ondine” for Idiopathic Ridiculosity, “Man of La Mancha” for Act II Playhouse, and “Frost/Nixon” for New City Stage; to Shirley Jones, Leslie Uggams, Patti LuPone, Justin Guarini, and Steve Ross for exhilarating cabaret or concert performances; to Susan D. Atkinson and Keith Baker for the America Rising series at Bristol Riverside Theatre; to Derek Hough, Peta Murgatroyd, Cheryl Burke, and Tony Dovolani for their featured turns in “Ballroom with a Twist 2.”
The Helen and Morris Zoren Awards for World Theater are conferred in July. In January, the Philadelphia Theater Critic’s Awards, for work in the Philadelphia area alone, will be given.
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