See the Favorites by Year page for general info about our yearly favorites lists, as well as links to other years.
Within each 2025 category (Favorite Productions of Established Plays and Musicals, and Favorite Premiere Productions of Intriguing New Plays), entries are listed in alphabetical order.
We’ve also included two short bonus categories—a couple of unforgettable large-orchestra musicals, and three captivating student productions (two college and one high school).
Favorite Productions of Established Plays and Musicals
- Angels in America, Parts 1 and 2 by Tony Kushner: Invictus Theatre Company
- As You Like It by Shakespeare, musical adaption by Taub and Woolery: Writers Theatre
- August: Osage County by Tracy Letts: Wheaton Drama
- Big White Fog by Theodore Ward: Court Theatre
- The House That Will Not Stand by Marcus Gardley: Invictus Theatre Company
- Lobby Hero by Kenneth Lonergan: Shattered Globe
- Passion by Stephen Sondheim: Blank Theatre Company
- Prayer for the French Republic by Joshua Harmon: co-produced by Northlight Theatre and Theater Wit
- Superior Donuts by Tracy Letts: Artistic Home
- The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee by Finn/Sheinkin: Paramount’s BOLD Series
- Urinetown by Hollmann and Kotis: Theo Ubique
Favorite Premiere Productions of Intriguing New Plays
- Black Bone by Tina Fakhrid-Deen: Definition Theatre Company
- The Cave by Sadieh Rifai: A Red Orchid Theatre
- Iraq, But Funny by Atra Asdou: Lookingglass Theatre
- Neighborhood Watch by Rehana Lew Mirza: Jackalope Theatre
- One Party Consent by Omer Abbas Salem: First Floor Theater
- Revolution(s) by Dohrn and Morello: Goodman Theatre
We also relished a number of developmental readings of promising new plays, such as The Last Senior Home in Bronzeville by Nikki Carpenter (at DCASE) and Sister Chemistry by Affelder and Cain (at The Den).
Favorite Large-Orchestra Musicals
- Hairspray by Shaiman and Wittman: Uptown Music Theater of Highland Park with the JAM Orchestra
- Mary Poppins by Sherman, Sherman, and Fellowes: Metropolis Performing Arts Center with the JAM Orchestra
Favorite Scholastic Productions
- February House by Kahane and Bockley: Northwestern
- Hadestown by Anais Mitchell: After School Matters
- POTUS by Selina Fillinger: Loyola
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