2005 top
10: performance

Doubt This drama about a nun and a corrupt priest was a hit in New York (with Cherry Jones) and L.A. (with Linda Hunt).

The Light in the Piazza Craig Lucas's book helped win six Tonys for this soaring musical about love and letting go.

The Paris Letter Tracking the destinies in the lives of two gay friends, Jon Robin Baitz showed the cost of the closet.

Sweeney Todd This Broadway reinvention captured Sondheim's masterpiece with one set and 10 performer-musicians.

The Book of Liz Ann Magnuson as an Amish cheese-ball wizard anchored the L.A. run of this David and Amy Sedaris comedy.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Brilliant musical on spelling bees from out composer William Finn.

Play Without Words Director-choreographer Matthew Bourne reworked the classic film The Servant--very sexy!

Ghetto Superstar: The Man That I Am Out actor-singer Billy Porter's solo show ruled at New York's Public Theater.

The Color Purple Not yet open on Broadway at press time, but its lesbian love duet and its triumphant Atlanta tryout sold us.

Fiddler on the Roof With out stars Harvey Fierstein and Rosie O'Donnell as the married leads, "tradition" turned to "pride."

In a category all its own:

Wisecrack Logo's series of 30-minute sets from America's best queer comics brought big gay laughs to the nation.