Best Local Theatre Production '95

Best Theatre Production

"Dancing At Lughnasa"
Arizona Theatre Company

READERS' AND STAFF PICK: As champions of the underdog, it pains us a little to give top honors to the big dog, but Arizona Theatre Company's production of Dancing at Lughnasa was passionate, exhilarating and, quite honestly, the best play produced by ATC in several seasons. If you didn't get in touch with your dark, repressed, pagan side during the uninhibited dance scene--if you didn't rush home, blast some music, pound your fists on the counter and dance on your kitchen table after watching that scene, well then you simply don't have a dark, pagan side. Too bad for you.

READERS' POLL RUNNER-UP: TIE--Oklahoma! and Dracula. "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning" vs. children of the night: We have a split vote over opposites, both from the Arizona Theater Company. The comfortably familiar, sunny, energetic and corny Oklahoma! was enjoyed by the same number of people as the dark and spooky Stephen Deitz adaptation of everyone's favorite neckbiter, Dracula. One play exists for its music; the other used music, recorded in surround-sound for movie-type moods and effect. A cup of tea or a goblet of Type-O? Something for everybody.

1998 Winner: Five Guys Named Moe
1997 Winner: Arizona Theatre Company
1996 Winner: A Midsummer's Night Dream