The first complete calendar year of Phindie’s existence is almost at a close. This year Phindie published almost 500 pieces on local theater, dance, and other arts. We look back at the articles which you liked the most in 2014. Here are the top ten most-read articles in various categories.
Overall impressions
Articles and pages on Phindie.com received a little over 185,000 views in 2014, but not every article got equal interest. The ten most-read articles of the last year—features, interviews, and reviews by various talented Phindie writers—accounted for about a tenth of that total.
- Deb Miller’s 15 Top Picks for the 2014 Philadelphia Fringe Festival by Debra Miller
Phindie provided the best and most extensive coverage of the Philadelphia Fringe of any publication in the world. This preview, Phindie’s most popular article of 2014 (and ever!), kicked off coverage. - 2013/14 Critics’ Awards: The best in Philadelphia theater
- Nudity or Crudity: a conversation with Mary Tuomanen about THE BODY LAUTREC by Julius Ferraro
- GREEN PORNO (Isabella Rossellini): Sex and celebrity in the service of a serious message by Debra Miller
There are certain words and phrases that attract a lot of internet search traffic, and perhaps “Isabella Rossellini” is one of them. - SUSPENDED (Brian Sanders’ JUNK): Fringe Review by Debra Miller
- Doug Williams’s 5 Fringe Picks: Festival fave reveals his not-to-miss shows by Douglas Williams
- Orbiter 3: A new producing playwrights collective to launch in Philadelphia by Christopher Munden
Expect to hear a lot more about this new writer-centric production company in the next few years. - Is there money in theater? Where does it come from? Who gets it? by Christopher Munden
Phindie’s annual Tax Day exploration into theater finances continues to attract interest. - Philadelphia Misses Kate Brennan: Interview with the now NYC-based actor and producer by Christopher Munden
- Making Dreams Happen: The closing of the Shubin Theatre by Rich Rubin
Features
Phindie is known for its in-depth coverage of Philadelphia theater and arts. Thoughtful features on local performing arts formed the backbone of Phindie’s most popular content in 2014.
- 2013/14 Critics’ Awards: The best in Philadelphia theater
For the second year, Phindie’s annual theater awards, voted on by local critics, proved to be the one of the most-read articles on the site. - Orbiter 3: A new producing playwrights collective to launch in Philadelphia by Christopher Munden
- Is there money in theater? Where does it come from? Who gets it? by Christopher Munden
- Making Dreams Happen: The closing of the Shubin Theatre by Rich Rubin
With a squeeze on small and mid-sized theater space in the city, this idiosyncratic little theater will be much missed. - Introduction, parts one, two, and three, and conclusion of a multi-part critical experiment by Michael Fisher
- The Ups and Downs of Success: Theatre artists between jobs by Henrik Eger
The viability of careers in the performing arts was much discussed in 2014. - Parts one, two and three of the three-part series on the Walnut Street Theatre by Katelyn Behrman
- Fringe Bike Tour diaries, parts one and two by Julius Ferraro
- Photo Essay: Kyle Cassidy captures DANCING AT LUGHNASA by Kyle Cassidy
- The International Philly Fringe: A welcome to far-flung artists by Henrik Eger
Theater Reviews
Phindie reviews more theatrical productions than any publication in Philadelphia (about 300 in 2014). These were the ten most-read of the last twelve months:
- ROMEO AND JULIET (Philly Shakes): A Love to Die For by Kathryn Osenlund
- DR. SEUSS’S THE CAT IN THE HAT (Arden): A Review in Seussical Verse by Debra Miller
Deb Miller’s creative and fitting review of this children’s play was one of the highlights of Phindie’s theater writing in 2014. - GREAT EXPECTATIONS (Arden): Exceeds all expectations by Nicholas Ryan
- VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE (PTC): Absurdist Farce on Russian Angst by Debra Miller
- THE BODY LAUTREC (Aaron Cromie and Mary Tuomanen): Fringe Review by Debra Miller
- HENRY V (Philly Shakes): Bringing history to life and making learning fun by Debra Miller
- QUILLS (Luna): Sadism never felt so good by Christopher Munden
- ARTHUR AND THE TALE OF THE RED DRAGON: A MUSICAL PANTO (People’s Light): Coming of age in the Middle Ages by Debra Miller
- THE LADY FROM THE SEA (Egopo): Bare production showcases Ibsen’s mental gymnastics by Michael Fisher
- ARCADIA (Lantern): A great play is always timely by Christopher Munden
Interviews
Phindie published over 60 interviews with local performance artists in 2014, providing a unique intimate look at the city’s cultural life. These were the most-viewed of those interviews:
- Nudity or Crudity: a conversation with Mary Tuomanen about THE BODY LAUTREC by Julius Ferraro
- Philadelphia Misses Kate Brennan: Interview with the now NYC-based actor and producer by Christopher Munden
- Talking Sex, Substance, and SUSPENDED with Brian Sanders by Debra Miller
- Gunnar Montana rises: Interview with the experimental Fringe stalwart about his show RESURRECTION ROOM by L. Haber
- Manon Manavit: Taking Philadelphia by Sturm und Drang by Julius Ferraro
- One of the oldest taboos in history: Interview with Dan Hodge on The Rape of Lucrece by Henrik Eger
- 30/30 Vision: Tamanya Garza on Latinos in Philadelphia theater by Christopher Munden
- THE FUTURE has arrived: Interview with Peter Gaffney, musical creator of BRAT’s latest production by Christopher Munden
- Celebrating Shakespeare at 450: An Interview with The Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre’s Carmen Khan by Debra Miller
- From Mormon Boy to Rent Boy: Interview with solo performer Steven Fales by Henrik Eger
Dance
Though it is best known for its theater coverage, Phindie is seeing increased interest in its coverage of local dance.
- SUSPENDED (Brian Sanders’ JUNK): Fringe Review / Talking Sex, Substance, and SUSPENDED with Brian Sanders by Debra Miller
- WHAT I LEARNED ABOUT OUTER SPACE (Pennsylvania Ballet, Curtis Institute of Music, FringeArts): Fringe Review by Christopher Munden
- Gunnar Montana rises: Interview with the experimental Fringe stalwart about his show RESURRECTION ROOM by L. Haber
- AFTER THE SUMMER SUN (BalletFleming): Fringe Review by Debra Miller
- Communitas Organizer: Interview with Ben Grinberg about his dance circus theater by Christopher Munden
- Scratch Night provides a preview of a family-friendly holiday special from Brian Sanders’ JUNK by Debra Miller
- About, or in, the Liminal Space: John Ollom at 954 Dance Movement Collective by Katelyn Bobek
- (SOME) LOVE AND (SOME) INFORMATION (Ira Brind School and Headlong Dance Theater): Fringe Review by JB Farley
- “IT ONLY GETS HARDER”: Randy Swartz on the dance scene in economically strapped times by Henrik Eger
- 10 Fringe Dance Picks: Lew Whittington on the best of the 2014 Fringe Festival by Lewis Whittington for Dance Journal
What did you like about Phindie in 2014? What would you like to see in 2015? Comment below or email feedback@phindie.com with comments or suggestions.
Happy New Year!
Chris, you can be proud of your achievements as an important bridge builder between reviewers and the Philadelphia theatre community. I liked your short introductions in each section and was delighted that five of my articles and/or interviews had made it into this illustrious list.
You might be happy to know that even more readers read those Phindie articles and interviews of mine since I began featuring them on my new http://www.DramaAroundTheGlobe.com Facebook page.
Long live good and thought provoking theatre in the Philly area.
Thank you, 2014 and curtain up for 2015.