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). 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: 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010

Purpose/Steppenwolf Theatre/March 24

Blue/Lyric Opera/November 16

Primary Trust/Goodman Theatre/October 14

Klaus Mäkelä Conducts Shostakovich/Chicago Symphony Orchestra/April 4

Fall Series/Hubbard Street Dance Chicago/November 15

Noises Off/Steppenwolf Theatre/September 22

The Penelopiad/Goodman Theatre/March 11

Atonement/Joffrey Ballet/October 17

Rigoletto/Lyric Opera/September 14

no ideas but in things-Part Two/Hedwig Dances/April 6

At the World’s Edge Festival/Guarneri Hall/May 29

Little Bear Ridge Road/Steppenwolf/June 23

Death Becomes Her/Broadway in Chicago/May 19

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil/Goodman Theatre/July 8

Some Like It Hot/Broadway in Chicago/October 25

I Sing a New Song/The Newberry Consort/March 1

Aida/Lyric Opera/March 9

The Thanksgiving Play/Steppenwolf Theatre/May 5