2022 was a year of spectacular performances on DC-area stages as actors came back from COVID closures ready to give it their all. Here are the performances in community theaters that stuck with our writers throughout the year.
Note: DC Theater Arts does not publish a “best of” list. If you got on a stage this year, we think you are the best. Since our writers all see different shows, and no DCTA writer sees all the shows produced in our region, this list only represents the subjective opinions and recollections of our writers. These are the performances that left an indelible impression on us.
Cheers,
Nicole Hertvik
Editor and Publisher
Individual Performances
Ashleigh Bayer as Agnes in Agnes of God at Colonial Players of Annapolis
A memorable ‘Agnes of God’ probes a nun’s secret at Colonial Players by Charles Green
Meghan Bentley as Maria in The Sound of Music at Prince William Little Theatre The Hylton is alive with ‘The Sound of Music’ and top-tier acting by Alexandra Bowman
Cody Boehm in Bright Star at Reston Community Players
Bright Star is a resounding success at Reston Community Players by Kendall Mostafavi
Chuck Dluhy in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder at the Little Theatre of Alexandria
‘A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder’ at The Little Theatre of Alexandria is a comedic romp through the lines of succession and love by Em Skow
Chuck Dluhy as Nostradamus in Something Rotten! at the Little Theatre of Alexandria
‘Something Rotten!’ is a joyous farce at the Little Theatre of Alexandria by Alexandra Bowman
Allison Fitzgerald as Jo in Little Women at Montgomery College Summer Dinner Theatre
‘Little Women’ is a treat and a treasure at Montgomery College Summer Dinner Theatre by Sarah Shah
Shaun Michael Johnson in Sobriety of Fear at the Capital Fringe Festival
‘Sobriety of Fear’ by Shaun Michael Johnson by John Stoltenberg
Ben Lowater as Nick Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at The Arlington Players
‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ set in the 1920s at Arlington Players by Bob Ashby
Mary MacLeod as Mother Miriam Ruth in Agnes of God at the Colonial Players of Annapolis
A memorable ‘Agnes of God’ probes a nun’s secret at Colonial Players by Charles Green
Evan Napier as Mr. Laurence in Little Women at Montgomery College Summer Dinner Theatre
‘Little Women’ is a treat and a treasure at Montgomery College Summer Dinner Theatre by Sarah Shah
Spencer Pilcher in Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play at Montgomery Playhouse
Montgomery Playhouse’s ‘Mr. Burns’ is dystopian chaos ripe for our times by Nicole Hertvik
Ellen Quay as Trix in The Drowsy Chaperone at Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre
‘Drowsy Chaperone’ goes meta at Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre by Charles Green
Jennifer Redford as Desiree Armfeldt in A Little Night Music at Reston Community Players
Vocal splendors shine in ‘A Little Night Music’ at Reston Community Players by Bob Ashby
Tom Wyatt as Man in Chair in The Drowsy Chaperone at Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre
‘Drowsy Chaperone’ goes meta at Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre by Charles Green
Jacqueline E. G. Youm as Stool Pigeon in King Hedley II at Dominion Stage
A searing ‘King Hedley II’ at Dominion Stage by Bob Ashby
Devora Zack as Juror 8 in 12 Angry Women at Greenbelt Arts Center
The verdict on ‘Twelve Angry Women’ at Greenbelt: a drama worth watching by Andy Arnold
Ensemble and Collaboration
Sometimes an entire cast works so beautifully together that they all deserve recognition for their collective achievement.
Christopher Andersen as Lee and Mikael Johnson as Austin in True West at City of Fairfax Theatre Company
Two sparring brothers spur ‘True West’ at City of Fairfax Theatre Company by William Powell
Lindsey Capuno as Zazzalil and Glenn Williams as Smelly-Balls in Firebringer at Dominion Stage
A fun ‘Firebringer’ at Dominion Stage is both goofy and wise by John Stoltenberg
A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Little Theatre of Alexandria
King Hedley II at Dominion Stage
A searing ‘King Hedley II’ at Dominion Stage by Bob Ashby
Newsies, The Arlington Players
‘Newsies’ impresses with fantastic performances at Arlington Players by Kendall Mostafavi
Ragtime, The Sterling Playmakers
Sterling Playmakers’ visually stunning ‘Ragtime’ unmasks the American Dream by Alexandra Bowman
Something Rotten! at the Little Theatre of Alexandria
‘Something Rotten!’ is a joyous farce at the Little Theatre of Alexandria by Alexandra Bowman
The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, Wildwood Summer Theatre
Wildwood Summer Theatre’s ‘The Lightning Thief’ proves the kids are alright by Nicole Hertvik
