12 Artistic Experiences That Made Me Go “Oh Sh*t” in 2024
Another year, another list! I’m back with another list of inspiring art. As always, instead of my “best” picks of the year, I’ve highlighted moments or full experiences across mediums that grabbed me and caused a visceral “oh sh*t” reaction. This year’s list spans theatre, podcasts, music, tv, film and videogames. And I’ll be honest, I was surprised how many Broadway shows found its way onto this list, but they deserve it! About half of these selections are still running or accessible so I highly recommend you check them out and then please let me know what you think. Presented in no specific order, here we go…
Maybe Happy Ending (on Broadway)
This dynamic new musical about robots falling in love is best described as “if Pixar made a musical.” Featuring among the best production design and direction of any show on Broadway in the last 25 years, it flows effortlessly and gorgeously with a blend of cinematic and theatrical magic. MHE is a massive breath of fresh air and reminds us “oh we can still make things like this???” Go see it now before it wins the Best Musical Tony Award in June.
Caissie Levy’s “Back to Before” in Ragtime (City Center)
I feel very lucky to have witnessed the power, rawness, and energy of Caissie Levy’s rendition of this phenomenal song just days before the election. The song, usually sung in a soprano headvoice, was delivered here with Levy’s punching belt, further driving the urgency of the lyrics. Hearing a performer at the apex of her craft fill the beautifully cavernous City Center with the words “we will never go back to before” in a week where the country was on the brink of doing just that, was an experience I will not soon forget. Shoutout to the rest of the cast and team including Joshua Henry’s as Coalhouse Walker and Lear Debessonet as director.
Hell Divers 2 (PC/PlayStation)
One of the biggest new video games of the year, co-op shooter Helldivers 2, asks players to help “spread democracy” while fighting robots and alien bugs. It makes this list not only for the joy it brought me, playing alongside friends around the country, but also for being a fantastic reminder of just how huge the gaming audience is. During launch, Helldivers was the fastest selling game ever with 12 million copies in 12 weeks, and broke the all time concurrent player record with over 400,000 players. The servers were so busy, I sometimes had to wait 30 minutes before I could start playing.
The Title Sequence from Sunset Boulevard (on Broadway)
It’s highly likely you’ve already heard the raves for this reimagined production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard featuring a crackling performance at its center by Nicole Scherzinger and directed by shooting star director Jamie Lloyd. While the internet is abuzz due to the sequence known as “The Walk” that takes Tom Francis from the dressing room out into the street and back in a continuous shot during the title number at the top of Act II, I want to give a shout out to an earlier moment in the production. About 15 minutes in, a car chase takes the form of a cinematic title sequence, complete with stand in props, windshield wipers, and cast introductions. This offers a delicious introduction to the cinematic techniques employed throughout the show, while leaning into film noir aesthetics, building momentum towards the critical moment our two leads meet. A growing number of other shows have used live camera work in recent years, but Sunset Boulevard gives the choice clear and impressive purpose.
Sora Shorts (Tribeca Film Festival)
This year was AI Mania so it feels only fitting that work made with AI tools be part of this list. This Spring, OpenAI partnered with the Tribeca Film Festival to give Sora, its new video generation tool, to select filmmakers, and the results were extremely impressive and eye opening. The films spanned style, genre, and tone, and were a great example of how AI is a tool to empower artists’ own creativity. Even as someone deep in the AI space, sitting in the screening felt like a huge moment for AI accessibility and publicity. While I don’t believe these films are available to stream, I saw another collection of films made with AI earlier this month that made me go “oh sh*t” and really ponder our future. I invite you to watch them here to challenge what you think these tools can do (and to decide how you feel about it).
Teeth (Playwrights Horizons)
Yes..this is a musical adaptation of the movie “Teeth.” Yes, that “Teeth.” You may be thinking, “what an insane idea for a musical!!” and you would be right. But the creative team absolutely nailed it, crafting a hilarious and dark show that is one of my favorite musicals of the last five years. Think Spring Awakening meets Rocky Horror. Teeth’s transfer production is closing after a shockingly short run on January 5th so get your tickets now if you’re in NYC! This will be a major cult hit and you’ll be a cool kid for having seen it live in 10 years (like Urinetown or Heathers). Just don’t go with your parents or children.
Starlight Express (Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre — London)
During COVID lockdown, in my pent up stupor, I became obsessed with Starlight Express, a musical, in case you don’t know, about trains where all the actors are on roller-skates. It is essentially Cats but trains. But in typical Andrew Lloyd Webber fashion the score is infectious and this new production breathes vibrant contemporary air into this 70s fever dream of a show. This production is in a custom-built venue, allowing the actors to zip around the audience and by immersive lighting and LED screens. If you are in London and want pure joy, check it out. (P.S. the second ALW show on this list! What a time to be alive!)
“Why Didn’t Chris & Dan Get into Berghain?” from Search Engine (Podcast)
There are few audio storytellers like PJ Vogt, formerly of the extremely popular Reply All podcast and now leading Search Engine, a very similar series exploring life’s questions too big for Google. This particular episode, exploring this history and infamously shrouded door policy of Berlin club Berghain, exemplifies PJ’s innate ability to hook, educate, and transport you with his stories. He manages to take extremely specific cultural questions and leads you to an epic “oh sh*t” worthy conclusion about humanity. Highly recommended for a long drive or walk.
Warriors (Album)
Very few artists in recent memory have had the sort of pressure that Lin Manuel-Miranda has had to follow up Hamilton with another major musical project. Warriors, a concept album made in collaboration with Eisa Davis, and based on the cult classic film “The Warriors,” manages to live up to that pressure big time and showcase two these as two aces of their field. Featuring a kaleidoscopic array of musical styles and stars (from Amber Gray to Ms. Lauryn Hill), this album showcases the vast possibilities of musical storytelling when we weave exceptional technique with unbound creativity. In a truly inspired choice, each gang is given a discreet musical style, painting a symphonic mural of New York City.
When the Dancers Fell in Illinoise (on Broadway)
One of my favorite choreographers, Justin Peck, created a dance musical based on Sufjan Stevens music? Of course I’m in. But the hook alone doesn’t do justice for what a masterwork of choreography and storytelling Ilinoise is, with its swirling, emotive, fluid movement. While I enjoyed it all, one particular moment that truly made me gasp came towards the end of the show theatricalizing a character committing suicide. Each member of the ensemble fell from the second level of the set with an arresting level of ease, disappearing behind the set, as if they were hundreds of feet in the air. It was heartwrenching, terrifying, and beautiful all at once.
Survivor 47 (TV)
An earlier edition of this list included a Survivor season for the 40th season and this year deserves it again, with an action packed and entertaining season that is amongst the tops of “the new era.” Without any spoilers, what made this season special was a really great collection of smart players leaving it pretty open to who could win for a large majority of the game. If you like drama and strategy, Survivor is the place to be!
The Ally (Public Theatre)
My friends will know that two of the biggest issues I believe our society faces are a lack of appreciating nuance and that we’ve forgotten how to talk to people who disagree with us. Itamar Moses’ play, The Ally, exploring the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, manages to combat both with striking clarity. It took a heated issue unfolding in real time and crafted a narrative that doesn’t feel “watered down.” In fact, the writing was extremely dense yet clear, featuring extremely long monologues worthy of the complex thematic material. All the actors brought humanity and intelligence to the text to captivating effect, brewing a riveting experience that reflected the real world. And isn’t that what theatre is literally for?
Honorable Mentions:
The choreography of The Outsiders (Broadway), Volcano (St. Anne’s Warehouse), Beyonce’s “Cowboy Carter”, Stereophonic Cast Album, the shipwreck sequence in Swept Away (Broadway).
