It Was a Very Good Year

Humble Boy Echoes of Hamlet reverberated in the Rep's Studio Theatre as a strong ensemble brought Charlotte Jones' sharp script into focus under the watchful eye of director Steven Woolf. As fresh as the apple that strategically fell from the tree, Humble Boy juggled topics as disparate as gardening, beekeeping and the meaning of life.

The Sugar Syndrome Magan Wiles and Terry Meddows served up Lucy Prebble's startling script with zest in this Echo Theatre production, directed by Eric Little. Produced in the tiny Tin Ceiling theater, Wiles' manic portrayal of recovering anorexic Dani contrasted brilliantly with Meddows' calm portrayal of recovering (or is he?) pedophile Tim. We've heard of odd couples, but this one puts Oscar and Felix to shame.

Zombozo This silent movie/zombie/ romance/horror/clown story, featuring live (?) music by an all-zombie band, offered the Tin Ceiling audience the opportunity to laugh and be drenched in stage blood — what more could you want from a night at the theater?

American Buffalo Proving that the NonProphet Theater Company can do more than sketch comedy, this production featured sizzling performances by Bob Mitchell, Rory Flynn and Brendan Allen in David Mamet's taut and still-relevant examination of crime and poverty.

The Oldest Profession What was the play about? Elderly hookers. But nobody remembers the plot — the images that remain are of the exuberant sexuality of four of the city's most experienced actresses (Jane Abling, Dorothy Farmer Davis, Cindy Duggan, Nancy Lewis), who sang and danced their way through burlesque interludes that were the brightest spot in this West End Players Guild production.

The Last Days of Judas Iscariot Intelligent, offensive, hilarious and heartbreaking — Stephen Adly Guirgis's script was infused with the talents of a strong cast and shaped by the playful staging of HotCity Theatre's artistic director Marty Stanberry. Overshadowing the play's ambitious debate over the culpability of Judas is the final scene: Jesus washing Judas' feet — a searing image of love and forgiveness.

Quidam It may be fitting that the final theater memory on this list combined elements of all the performing arts: dance, music, theater and circus came together in this unique and unforgettable Cirque du Soleil fantasia. You could follow a story about a family learning about life through a series of children's games or ignore the plot and enjoy the amazing acts. Either way, it was entertainment that moved performers and audience alike out of their comfort zone and into a soul-refreshing realm of imagination.