Berkshire on Stage

9. I Just Stopped By to See the Man – The Black Theatre Troupe of Upstate New York at theREP

A slice-of-life story about two musicians and an activist in the Mississippi Delta circa 1975, I Just Stopped By to See the Man was one of two triumphant productions from the Black Theatre Troupe of Upstate New York this year. BTTUNY did well in this play to make everything look vintage, from the modest set (by David Zwierankin) to the flashy costumes (by Sheilah London-Miller). Along with the excellent design elements, the three-person cast all performed beautifully and made I Just Stopped By to See the Man on overall riveting production.

8. Swing State – Harbinger Theatre at the Sand Lake Center for the Arts

I wasn’t expecting to enjoy Swing State as much as I did, but Harbinger Theatre’s production of this simple play about love, loss, and small-town grudges was absolutely delightful. Robin Leary’s portrayal of the no-nonsense leading lady was a joy to watch, and the supporting cast was similarly enjoyable. But Swing State’s greatest triumph was its homey and detailed set, designed by Adam Coons. I’ve seen many of Coons’s sets over the years and they rarely disappoint; but this one was particularly noteworthy and deserves mention as my favorite set of 2025.

7. A Few Good Men – Creative License Theater Collective at the Cohoes Music Hall

It can be easy to forget productions from early in the year when writing an end-of-year best-of list, but I cannot forget the excellent production of A Few Good Men that played at Cohoes Music Hall in January and February of 2025. Aaron Sorkin’s trademark banter was delivered by a large and exceptionally talented cast under the direction of Aaron Holbritter, who clearly understood the assignment and loved the material. Kudos to this show for putting together such a sizable cast of volunteer actors without a weak link!

6. The Girl on the Train – Schenectady Civic Players

I love a thriller with a complicated female protagonist, so I knew The Girl on the Train at Schenectady Civic Playhouse would be easy for me to love. But a play like this, with its flawed and unreliable protagonist and its twisting, fast-paced plot, can have its pitfalls. These potential pitfalls were skillfully side-stepped by a talented cast under the direction of Jennifer Van Iderstyne. The show was led by a flawless performance from Jennifer Schnurr and supported by similarly superb performances from Laura Darling and Siobhan Shea. The Girl on the Train was a sad, sometimes frustrating, sometimes thrilling, and overall cathartic play about violence and victimhood as well as a showcase of some of the region’s most talented female performers.

5. Eclipsed – The Black Theatre Troupe of Upstate New York at theREP

Another sad and riveting play with an exceptional female-lead cast, Eclipsed by Danai Gurira was performed at Capital Repertory Theater by the Black Theater Troupe of Upstate New York. It tells the story of four “wives” of a Liberian war general, all of whom are prisoners in a rebel army camp and one female peace activist looking for her missing daughter. Eclipsed is a beautifully written meditation on war and violence against women, and the cast of this production handled the material flawlessly.

4. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead – Albany Civic Theater

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead is a favorite play of mine, so I went to see Albany Civic Theater’s production with high hopes and high expectations, and ACT’s 2025 production lived up to my expectations. Though it had striking costumes and an enjoyable supporting cast, this production’s main strength was its two leading actors. Adam Coons and Ryan Palmer played the titular duo earnestly and hilariously, and their chemistry as they played off one another made each of their individually exceptional performances even better! If there was a theater award I could give for “Best Leading Duo,” Palmer and Coons would take it by a landslide.

3. Once – Capital Repertory Theatre

With beautiful music, a multi-talented ensemble, and exceptional leading lady, there was so much to love in The Rep’s production of Once. This show was an enchanting musical whirlwind centered on a morose Dubliner and a fiery Czech emigrant who bond over their romantic misfortunes and their shared love of music. I could not get enough of Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová’s music, nor could I get enough of leading actress Lily Talevski. The show came together with whirlwind staging and a wealth of musical talent from the entire cast and made for a truly enchanting spectacle.

2. Oklahoma! – Playhouse Stage Company at Park Playhouse

If you had told me at this time last year that I’d be putting a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical in my top picks for 2025, I think I’d have told you that your crystal ball was broken. But Playhouse Stage Company’s production of Oklahoma! at Park Playhouse was such an excellent production that I couldn’t help loving it. This was in large part to the talent of leading man JJ Razzano, whose stage presence and vocal talent were both flawless. It took a truly spectacular production to make me love a Rodgers and Hammerstein show, and Playhouse Stage Company put on a truly spectacular production!

1. The Pillowman – Albany Civic Theater

I cannot say enough good things about the strange, dark, dystopian drama, The Pillowman, that played at Albany Civic Theater under the expert direction of Ellen Cribbs. A truly disturbing story about a man who writes disturbing stories, The Pillowman was a metatheatrical mixed media spectacular that was thoughtful and riveting from start to finish. With an excellent cast and masterful stagecraft designed to pull the audience in but never let them get comfortable, The Pillowman was the ultimate theatrical triumph of 2025!