By Shari Barrett
It’s always difficult for me to select my favorite plays each year since there are so many I really enjoyed. This year. my “Best Of” list is composed of productions that stick in my memory for the overall emotional impact I experienced during the live performance. After going through all my 2025 reviews and interviews, here are my favorite musicals, plays, and solo shows from the past 12 months.
Musicals: SUFFS at the Hollywood Pantages, 44 The Obama Musical at The Bourbon Room and Kirk Douglas Theatre, 42nd Street by Kentwood Players, A Man of No Importance at A Noise Within, Stephen Sondhein’s Old Friends at The Ahmanson, The Camp at the JACCC Aratani Theatre, Little Shop of Horrors by Torrance Theatre Company.
Plays: The Play That Goes Wrong at La Mirada Theatre, Jane Austen in 89 Minutes by Theatre 40 at Greystone Mansion, A Christmas Carol at A Noise Within, Heisenberg at Skylight Theatre, Peter Pan Goes Wrong at La Mirada Theatre, Paper Walls at The Broadwater, All These Women at Theatre 40, Go Play! at the Odyssey, Adolescent Salvation at Rogue Machine, Nice Girl at Rogue Machine, The Life of PI at the Ahmanson, Corktown 39 at Rogue Machine, The Violin Maker at International City Theatre, Love! Valour! Compassion! by Kentwood Players, Torch Song at Morgan-Wixson, These Shining Lives at The Actors Co-Op, Here There are Blueberries at The Wallis, Bacon at Rogue Machine, Noises Off at Geffen Playhouse, The Brothers Abelson at Electric Lodge, Cry it Out at Little Fish.
Solo Shows: HA HA HA HA HA HA HA at Pasadena Playhouse, GUAC at Kirk Douglas Theatre, One Man Poe at Hollywood Fringe, The Ann Miller Story: Shake it Away at Hollywood Fringe.
Concerts: Have You Heard of Etta James? by MUSE/IQUE, Cyndi Lauper Farewell Tour at the Hollywood Bowl, Jesus Christ Superstar at the Hollywood Bowl, According to Ray by MUSE/IQUE.
Please support local theaters during 2026 by purchasing tickets to live performances to keep the Arts alive in Los Angeles. It’s especially important this year when funding has been cut and theaters are struggling to keep their doors open and seats filled. For lower cost tickets, please consider subscribing to Sold Out Crowd at https://soldoutcrowd.com, or visit websites and sign up for ticket lotteries. For local theater news, reviews and interviews delivered to your email, sign up for daily eBlasts from Broadway World Los Angeles at https://www.broadwayworld.com/los-angeles where you can read more reviews and interviews I write about local theatre. And of course, keep reading my Stage Page column in the Culver City News and Gardena Valley News in print and online each week!
Here’s to a great year gone by and to the exciting one ahead. And remember, anyone who says L.A. is not a theater town has no idea about the artistic greatness in our city!
