#1 Angels in America, Parts 1 & 2 – Invictus

Invictus has received significant praise for its ambitious staging of Tony Kushner’s 1993 Pulitzer Prize winner, which will likely dominate the 2026 non-equity Jeff Awards. The script itself is one of American theater’s greatest masterpieces, melding the realism of 1980’s America with delusions involving ghosts and an angelic prophet. What I remember most is the perfect cast of eight performing more than 20 roles. If forced to name a standout, I would pick Michael D. Graham as Roy Cohn, who hints as Cohn’s self-hatred even as he brags about being the most powerful AIDS victim in America.

#2 Mr. Wolf – Steppenwolf

Steppenwolf might have experienced some difficulty promoting this play, which centers on a girl named Theresa (Emilie Maureen Hanson), who returns to her family as a teenager after being abducted as a child. I saw it twice to explore the dynamic characters and powerful dialogue created by playwright Rajiv Joseph. In particular, Theresa is a marvel of complexity – a 16-year-old whose narrow worldview has been shaped by interactions with just one person. Ensemble members Kate Arrington (Hana), Tim Hopper (Mr. Wolf), Caroline Neff (Julie), and Namir Smallwood (Michael) round out the stacked cast.

Continue reading “Year in Review — 2025’s Best Non-musicals” →