Best of 2011 in Theater: Top 10 Performances by an Actor

Before late fall, I had actually seen more theatrical productions than films, which is very strange. I think I simply chose not to see all the films I could logically guess would be bad, or not worth seeing - this can be a problem, since I didn't see 50/50 (I really wanted to, just never did), but I just watched it now and bawled. It was excellent. Anyways, I figured since I see so much theater, I'd comprise some Top 10s of 2011.

The following list comprises any noteworthy performance from an actor either on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-, or any large regional production. What's cool and different from comprising theatrical end-of-the-year lists from cinematic is that awards season for Broadway doesn't happen until June, so it feels like this list is from two different years, and it is: well, different competing years. These actors are both leads and supporting roles, and are from both plays and musicals.

So, here are my Top 10 Performances of 2011 by an Actor in a Theatrical Production:

10. Stacy Keach as Lyman Wyeth in OTHER DESERT CITIES (November 3-present at the Booth Theatre, Broadway)

Still on Broadway, Keach plays the conservative/Republican father of his opposing liberal daughter. An ex-Hollywood actor, Lyman relies on harshness and his wife to prevent his daughter from ruining the family. Keach captures the fall of his character with perfect precision and slope, never allowing the shocks to feel like shocks, but real events and true emotions.

09. Hugo Weaving as Astrov in UNCLE VANYA (August 4-27 at The Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.)

Weaving simply has that voice. That voice that is great for The Matrix or The Lord of the Rings, but he hardly ever has the opportunity to use it in a smart, gripping role (Okay, V for Vendetta was gripping and smart). To see this Australian actor go head to head with a force like Cate Blanchett in an Anton Chekov masterpiece is something one can't forget.

08. Thomas Sadowski as Trip Wyeth in OTHER DESERT CITIES (November 3-January 8, 2012 at the Booth Theatre, Broadway)

As the middleman brother in the Wyeth family, Sadowski delivers his lines and his reactions with a precision one might not expect from a "let's-get-high"/California dude/reality TV creator kind of guy. He demands your attention as he strives to break through to both his battling parents against his sister. He's philosophical, but not cliche or general, and Sadowski proves his role in the drama of the play.

07. Daniel Radcliffe as J. Pierrepont Finch in HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING (March 27-January 1, 2012 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, Broadway)

These days, it's extremely difficult to have a successful Broadway musical without it either being an adaptation of a movie or without it including a major Hollywood star. For this revival, it's the latter with Radcliffe at the helm. However, unlike many Hollywood-hopefuls, the Harry Potter star stepped away from the wand (and the British accent) and into his dancing shoes. Shocking is an understatement at how good this guy is: a true triple threat and an actor who understands chemistry on all levels, with every other actor his role crosses paths with.

06. Bobby Cannavale as Jackie in THE MOTHERFUCKER WITH THE HAT (April 11-July 17 at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, Broadway)

Cannavale, usually a comedic, oddly optimistic character actor, enters the stage with a one-two punch while he played the ex-addict Jackie who is trying to get through the steps of his rehabilitation program. Cannavale breaks himself each scene, between the ferocious battles with his girlfriend, to his deceiving sponsor (played by Chris Rock), his loyal cousin, and his sponsor's unhappy wife, and he does so in a perfect agression that you'd expect from a play with such a censored title.

05. Arian Moayed as Musa in BENGAL TIGER AT THE BAGHDAD ZOO (March 31-July 3 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, Broadway)

Somewhat unstable, somewhat dark, and somehow heroic, Moayed brings to life Musa in a play that can be engulfed by legendary dictators, terrorists, the egos of Americans, and a tiger (played genially by Robin Williams). Moayed is truly the character we follow and is heartbreaking in the ways that a nerdy 7th grader might be amongst the roughest bullies. However, he finds courage, and it comes with a price. (Arian Moayed is to the left in picture.)

04. John Larroquette as J.B. Biggley in HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING (March 27-January 1, 2012 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, Broadway)

You think you're going to see this musical for Daniel Radcliffe, but you come out searching for this man and his autograph. The comedy of John Larroquette is undeniable, outright, and dangerous like a natural disaster, lunging you into an uncontrollable wave of laughter. Every moment he designed for us highlights the strengths of Biggley and his hilarious soft sides. And the truly remarkable thing that Larroqette does is that while he's that supporting character you always want on stage, he never upstages. His timing is impeccable and I can't wait to see him in his upcoming play this spring.

03. Josh Gad as Elder Cunningham in THE BOOK OF MORMON (March 24-present at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre, Broadway)

A little bit Jack Black, a little bit Jonah Hill, this guy brings home most of the laughs in Trey Parker and Matt Stone's insane-hit musical, but one may wonder how much is just Josh being Josh. Is he really acting? Can he actually sing? As the show progesses, the answer is most certainly "yes". Gad brings the ridiculous out, ruffles the feathers, and puts a whole lot of humanity behind the ever-so-perfect Mormon background. Or, does he link the African world with the Mormons? In either case, he is hilarious and very talented.

02. Andrew Rannells as Elder Price in THE BOOK OF MORMON (March 24-present at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre, Broadway)

The difference between Gad and Rannells is that Rannells has to work more strategically and theatrically to get the laughs. His put together, perfect missionary Elder Price reminds me a lot of Mandy Moore in the movie Saved!, except Price is far from evil. He holds himself to a very high standard, but is ridiculous in a less obvious way than Elder Cunningham. Cunningham rises as Price falls, and this fall has some of the biggest laughs of the night, to the point where I was literally the only one still laughing, stalling the show from continuing, and in which the actors began to laugh too and look at me, like "this guy gets it". Or maybe it was "who the fuck is this guy and what is he on?" Oh, did I mention he sings like an archangel, which is way better than the regular angels in heaven. A Mormon archangel. Yeah.

01. Mark Rylance as Johnny "Rooster" Byron in JERUSALEM (April 21-August 21 at the Music Box Theatre, Broadway)

Unstoppable. Mark Rylance is an element of theater that Broadway has no idea what to do with except hand him his Tony, proclaim him as one of the greatest actors to step onto its stage, and wait around for what he has coming next. I've truly never witnessed a man embody another so truthfully, so profoundly, and so perfectly in my life. For three long, exhilarating acts, Rylance conquers the stage.