On Theater:

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first of two columns reviewing local theater in 2009.

Time now to take a look back at local theater — professional, community and collegiate — in 2009 and to bring the top productions and performances center stage for a year-end curtain call. As usual, excellence was in abundance, so here are a few extra laurels for some local Christmas stockings.

First up is South Coast Repertory. The best production is a reprise, but nevertheless the stellar show of the year is “Collected Stories,” directed by Martin Benson. Runners-up: “Noises Off,” directed by Art Manke, and “Saturn Returns,” directed by David Emmes.

Best performances at SCR: Raphael Sbarge, “The Happy Ones,” and Kandis Chappell, “Collected Stories.” Runners-up: Bill Brochtrup, “Noises Off”; Jenny O’Hara, “Our Mother’s Brief Affair”; Melanie Lora, “Collected Stories.”

At the Costa Mesa Civic Playhouse, the best production by far was “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?,” directed by Michael Dale Brown. Runner-up: “City of Angels,” directed by Victoria Miller.

Best performances at CMCP: Tim Thorn and Carrie Snider, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” Runners-up: Jaycob Hunter for both “Lend Me a Tenor” and “The Woman in Black”; Norma Jean Riddick, “Lend Me a Tenor.”

The Newport Theater Arts Center’s best production was the gripping revival of “Wait Until Dark,” directed by Terri Miller Schmidt. Runner-up: “Ruthless,” directed by Jack Millis.

Best performances at NTAC: Theresa Finamore and Michael Keeney, “Wait Until Dark.” Runners-up: Beverly Turner, “Hay Fever”; Adriana Sanchez, “Ruthless.”

Orange Coast College’s best production clearly was “Macbeth,” directed by Peter Uribe. Runner-up: “The Three Sisters,” directed by Alex Golson.

Best performances at OCC: Jay Wallace and Chloe Stewart, “Macbeth.” Runners-up: Jake Wells, “Macbeth”; Shantiel Vasquez, Liliana Frandsen and Travis McHenry, all for “The Three Sisters.”

Finally, at Vanguard University, the best production by a narrow margin was “12 Angry Jurors,” directed by Susan Berkompas. Runners-up: “The Foreigner,” directed by Amick Byram, and “Guys and Dolls,” directed by Vanda Eggington.

Best performances at Vanguard: Donna Johnson and Ryan Miller, “12 Angry Jurors.” Runners-up: Michael Dye, “The Foreigner,” and Kelsi Roberts, “Inspecting Carol.”

Which two artists rose above the local field in 2009? These will be honored next week when the Daily Pilot’s 35th annual Man and Woman of the Year in Theater are announced.