It was a starry year on Broadway and beyond, as a Hollywood slump drove A-listers east to light up marquees (and juice ticket prices). This is not that list! For every celebrity vehicle, there were dozens (and dozens) more potent productions powered by the chemistry of companies in perfect sync. On D.C. and New York stages, powerhouse ensembles were the year’s MVPs, whether lending a spirit of reinvention to the classics or an original stamp on riveting premieres. Here were my favorites.
