Wherein I attempt to rank every show I’ve seen this year, a running list as the year unfolds, regardless of genre (theater, music, dance, art). Note, the company I keep is not a factor, though it often redeems the lesser of such evenings. If I’ve written about them, links are provided. If I published a review, it is linked.

Previous Years: 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010

The Light/The New Colony/January 8

Midsummer Night’s Dream/Joffrey Ballet/April 25

Radio Golf/Court Theatre/ September 8

Traitor/A Red Orchid/January 18

The Wolves/Goodman Theatre/February 20

The Doppelgänger/Steppenwolf/April 15

Patty Carroll: Anonymous Women/One After 909/September 7

La bohème/Lyric Opera/October 6

Carmina Burana/Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus/August 18

Jesus Christ Superstar/Lyric Opera/April 28

Pamplona/Goodman Theatre/July 15

Mozart Violin Concerto/Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus/June 15

To Catch A Fish/TimeLine/May 2

An Enemy of the People/Goodman Theatre/March 19

Heartbreak Hotel/Broadway In Chicago/July 15

Hard Times/Lookingglass/January 10

Downstate/Steppenwolf/September 29

The Cher Show/Broadway In Chicago/June 28

Plantation!/Lookingglass/March 3

Pretty Woman The Musical/Broadway In Chicago/March 28