2022 and 2023: Incredible Musicals and Great Plays

David Brush says "for 2023 it is hard to pin down just a few highly anticipated shows, but I would say the Norm Lewis-led national tour of A Soldier's Play is near the top of that list." A Soldier's Play will be in Dayton in February.

By David Brush, LCT Reviewer

The 2022 theatre season felt back in full swing in every regard. One of the most incredible musical highlights included the dynamic production of Disney’s Newsies at Incline. Incredible cast–incredible choreography. Another was Rent at The Carnegie (as I mentioned in my review, it was THE summer 2022 show not to miss!)

Additionally, the fantastic work at The Human Race yielded some of my favorite theatre experiences this year–including Everything That’s Beautiful, Incident at our Lady of Perpetual Help, Grounded and Deadline. All of the shows at The Loft were of such varying genres and all showcasing the Race at the top of their game. 

cast of newsies
Cast of Disney’s Newsies at the Incline.
cast of RENT
Cast of RENT at the Carnegie. Photo by Mikki Shafner.
Cast of EVERYTHING THAT'S BEAUTIFUL. Photo by Scott J. Kimmins
Cast of EVERYTHING THAT’S BEAUTIFUL. Photo by Scott J. Kimmins

2023 Shows

For 2023, it is hard to pin down just a few highly anticipated shows, but I would say the Norm Lewis-led national tour of A Soldier’s Play is near the top of that list. It will be at Dayton’s beautiful Victoria Theatre Feb 14-19, presented by The Human Race Theatre Company and Dayton Live. A Soldier’s Play, is the 1982 Pulitzer Prize-winning thriller by Charles Fuller, which has rocketed back into the spotlight, thanks to this 2020 Tony Award®-winning Best Revival from Roundabout Theatre Company. “This is a play that deserves to be staged regularly all over America—though it’s hard to imagine that it will ever be done better than this. It keeps you guessing all the way to the final curtain” (The Wall Street Journal).

From A Soldier’s Play. Photo: Joan Marcus

In addition, I have been long awaiting the local arrivals of both Hadestown and Jagged Little Pill – both landing at the Aronoff this year, Jagged Little Pill in March and Hadestown in April.

As an enormous supporter of new work, I am also eager to see the premiere of the new musical Indigo at The Human Race in early summer. Indigo will be helmed by Broadway Director and native Daytonian, Schele Williams.

Theatre in 2023 is looking incredibly bright and I cannot wait to see what’s next!

A new Calendar for everything onstage from LCT’s member theatres.

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