Top 10 Notable Theatrics of 2011

The Book of Grace

Photo courtesy of KIRK R. TUCK

2011 ARTS TOP 10S

• Shaken, Not Deterred

  Despite the many upheavals in 2011, Austin's arts scene perseveres

  BY ROBERT FAIRES

• Top 10 Arts Events of 2011 in No Particular Order

  How festival goodness and powerful art exhibits made 2011 a year to remember

  BY WAYNE ALAN BRENNER

• > Top 10 Notable Theatrics of 2011

• Top 10 Theatrical Delights of the Latter Half of 2011

  Recapping the fightin', spoonin', boppin' stage sensations of 2011's summer and fall

  BY JILLIAN OWENS

• Top 10 (+ 1) Dances With Big Heart in 2011

  Recalling when contemporary dance and ballet showed huge heart in 2011

  BY JONELLE SEITZ

• Top 10 Classical Music Treasures of 2011

  Ancient voices, singing strings, and lots of Bach made 2011 a fine year for ears

  BY ROBERT FAIRES

• Top 10 Theatrical Wonders of 2011

  Remembering a theatrical year with superheroes, The Tempest, and a mash-up of the two

  BY ROBERT FAIRES

1) 'BIOGRAPHY OF PHYSICAL SENSATION' (Rubber Repertory) Admittedly, I wasn't able to catch the 2011 remount of this wild, boundary-breaking circus of sensations. But if it was anything like the original production of 2010, I'm sure I wouldn't have stopped talking about it (again) for months.

2) 'THE BOOK OF GRACE' (Zach Theatre) Pulitzer-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks' searing glimpse of a family's descent into destruction on the Texas border was heart-wrenchingly moving.

3) 'MEN OF TORTUGA' (Street Corner Arts) Rare indeed is the company whose debut is as deft and precise as was Street Corner Arts' political thriller.

4) 'DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS' (George­town Palace Theatre) If the Palace's productions continue to show the exponential growth in quality that Scoundrels did, I'll be finding myself in Georgetown quite a bit more in 2012.

5) 'THE MAGIC FLUTE' (Austin Lyric Opera) Beleaguered though it's been of late, ALO managed to give Austin a true gem of a production.

6) 'THE JUNGLE' (Trouble Puppet Theater Company) Connor Hopkins' adaptation of Up­ton Sinclair's famous turn-of-the-20th-century novel made for a riveting evening of puppetry.

7) 'HILLCOUNTRY UNDERBELLY' (Paper Chairs) Lisa Larrata's whimsical outdoor set melded creative vision with dusty resonance to create a unique perspective of the Texas Hill Country.

8) 'THE PHYSICISTS' (Vortex Summer Youth Theatre) A fine cast of burgeoning young actors conquered Friedrich Dürrenmatt's highly technical script with impressive rigor.

9) 'A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD' (Summer Stock Austin) The talented Summer Stock youth achieved a remarkable connection with children who watched eagerly from their seats.

10) BERNADETTE PETERS (Paramount Theatre) Peters performing Sondheim: What more need be said?