See the Favorites by Year page for general info about our yearly favorites lists, as well as links to other years.
Within each 2024 category (Favorite Productions of Established Plays and Musicals, Favorite Premiere Productions of Intriguing New Plays, and Favorite Concert Productions), entries are listed in alphabetical order.
We’ve also included a bonus category of Special Experiences—two unforgettable solo performances, and two captivating student productions (one college and one high school).
Favorite Productions of Established Plays and Musicals
- The Band’s Visit by Yazbek and Moses: Writers Theatre
- Beautiful: The Carole King Musical by King, Goffin, Mann, Weil, and McGrath: Paramount Theatre
- A Bright Room Called Day by Tony Kushner: Blank Theatre Company
- Falsettos by Finn and Lapine: co-produced by Court Theatre and TimeLine Theatre
- Jersey Boys by Gaudio and Crewe: Mercury Theater Chicago
- A Little Night Music by Stephen Sondheim: Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
- Network adapted by Lee Hall from the Paddy Chayefsky film: Invictus Theatre Company
- On the Twentieth Century by Coleman, Comden, and Green: Blank Theatre Company
- A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams: Paramount’s BOLD Series
- Topdog/Underdog by Suzan-Lori Parks: Invictus Theatre Company
Favorite Premiere Productions of Intriguing New Plays
- Beneath the Willow Tree by Isis Elizabeth: Pulse Theatre Chicago
- brother sister cyborg space by Paul Michael Thomson: Raven Theatre
- Happy Days Are Here (Again) by Omer Abbas Salem: Steep Theatre
- In His Hands by Benjamin Benne: First Floor Theater (second professional production)
- the love object by Justine Gelfman: The Story Theatre
- Pro-Am by Brynne Frauenhoffer: First Floor Theater
- Purpose by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins: Steppenwolf Theatre
- The Singularity Play by Jay Stull: Jackalope Theatre
- Wipeout by Aurora Real de Asua: Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
Favorite Concert Productions
- Merrily We Roll Along by Stephen Sondheim: a concert staging by the artists in White Horse Theatre Company’s 2004 award-winning production of Merrily, reuniting 20 years later
- Ragtime in Concert by Ahrens and Flaherty: Highland Park Players and the JAM Orchestra
- Sunday in the Park with George by Stephen Sondheim: Porchlight Music Theatre (performed at the Studebaker Theater)
Special Experiences
Solo Performances
- How I Learned What I Learned by August Wilson, performed by Harry Lennix: Congo Square Theatre Company and Broadway in Chicago co-production
- The Smuggler by Ronán Noone, performed by Andrew Burden Swanson: Jackalope Theatre
Scholastic Productions
- Fabulation or, The Re-Education of Undine by Lynn Nottage: Columbia College Chicago
- The Wedding Singer by Sklar and Beguelin: After School Matters
