Holli Henderson made a lasting impression as a dog in Live Theatre Workshop's "Sylvia."

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— John Barrymore

Though we suspect none of the actors who appeared on Tucson stages this year might have the hubris to echo Barrymore's sentiments, we do feel for them.

This has been a year full of theater that has excited, provoked, evoked laughter and encouraged tears. Oh that the actors who gave us such joys could have seen what we saw. We Tucsonans have been very lucky, theatrically speaking.

While there was something to recommend many productions, some just rose above the others. It is those that we present with the 2005 Mac Awards, named after the late Mary MacMurtrie, who spent much of the last century turning Tucson children into actors, directors, stage technicians and appreciative audiences.

Best Actor

Matt Loney played the title character in Arizona Theatre Company's production of Shakespeare's "Macbeth" with cool swagger that turned into hot madness; he gave new insight into Macbeth.

The behemoth role of Eugene in Arizona Repertory Theatre's "Brighton Beach Memoirs" was played by baby-faced J. Michael Trautmann with an innocence mixed with spunk.

Bob Sorenson's Barrow in ATC's "Permanent Collection" was a nuanced, well-rooted performance.

Arizona Onstage Production's musical, "Ruthless," starred a long-legged, throaty David Olsen in a deliciously outrageous portrayal of a Rosalind Russell-esque character.

Jeremy Thompson's nebbishy Barney in Live Theatre Workshop's "Last of the Red Hot Lovers" was hilariously real.

But it's Anthony Marble — Darcy in Arizona Theatre Company's production of "Pride and Prejudice" — to whom we give the Mac. His was a difficult role: Darcy's not likable. But in order to care about the love story, one has to care about him. Marble managed to be arrogant and vulnerable at the same time, making the character immensely likable. And believable.

Best Actress

Mexican actress Luisa Huertas was riveting as Rita in Borderlands Theater's production of "The Woman Who Fell From the Sky/La Mujer Que Cayo del Cielo."

Amy Almquist's upper-crust crime-victim-turned-crook in Beowulf Alley Theatre's "Criminal Hearts" was well-shaded and tragically funny.

Maedell Dixon was a last- minute replacement in Invisible Theatre's two-character suspense, "Dead Certain." You'd never have known it — she was nearly flawless as the conniving, wheelchair-bound one-time dancer.

Carlisle Ellis and Toni Press-Coffman were a sublime odd couple in Live Theatre's "A Perfect Ganesh."

Oh how we loved Erika Rolfsrud in ATC's "Bad Dates." She invited us into her bedroom and made the audience members feel they were her best friends.

Marissa Garcia was subtle, true and heartbreaking as the Salvadoran nanny Ana in Borderlands' production of "Living Out."

Betty Craig's mother in Arizona Onstage Production's "A New Brain" broke your heart with the depth of her pain and her cheery attempts to cover it up.

In Arizona Onstage's "Ruthless," little Jalyn Wheatley as Tina Denmark was achingly saccharin one moment, murderously evil the next. She's an enormously talented child.

However, no one made as lasting an impression as Holli Henderson in her role as the dog in Live Theatre's "Sylvia." She nailed the character of the frisky, swearing, humping, sniffing, shedding, licking, furniture-climbing, talking, standing dog. The Mac goes to Henderson.

Best Musical

The University of Arizona's Arizona Repertory Theatre had audiences talking back and cheering its production of "The Rocky Horror Show."

Arizona Onstage Productions had two winners with "Ruthless" and "A New Brain."

But our hearts were stolen by ATC's production of "Hank Williams: Lost Highway." The music was sublime, made even more so by a cast of musicians/ actors/singers. We give "Hank" the Mac for Best Musical. And if we gave Macs for best ensemble, we think we'd give that to this cast, too.

Best Comedy

Arizona Repertory Theatre's production of "Brighton Beach Memoirs" reminded us of how funny and wise Neil Simon can be.

ATC did great justice to Jane Austen with its witty production of "Pride and Prejudice."

And we rarely stopped laughing at Live Theatre Workshop's production of "Sylvia."

But it was ATC's "Bad Dates" that wins the Mac. It's a wispy little comedy made endearing and enduring by this stellar production.

Best Drama

Borderlands Theater brought the plight of political prisoners vividly alive with its production of "Guantanamo."

ATC's delicious "Permanent Collection" forced us to examine our own racism, and the company's production of "Macbeth" was sometimes forced but almost always insightful and riveting.

Borderlands' production of "Living Out" insisted we look at stereotypes — but never preached — in its compelling production of "Living Out." It receives the Mac for Best Drama.

Best Director

Samantha K. Wyer directed ATC's "Permanent Collection" with a deep and balanced sensitivity. The issues addressed in the play became clear and profound under her guidance.

Eva Tessler's direction of Borderlands' "Living Out" was smart, funny and visual.

Brent Gibbs' keen casting eye and sense of timing and storytelling served Arizona Repertory's production of "Brighton Beach Memoirs" well.

Aaron Posner's direction of ATC's "Bad Dates" rang true in every line and movement.

Jeremy Thompson's direction was witty and well-paced in Live Theatre's "Sylvia."

And Randal Myler's love and understanding of the music in "Hank Williams: Lost Highway" made that production the power piece it was.

But it's another ATC play that we award the Mac for directing to — "Pride and Prejudice." Jon Jory, who also co-wrote the script, clearly showed a reverence for and understanding of Jane Austen's work, as well as a fine knack with actors.

Best Road Show

We loved the version of "Oklahoma!" that UApresents brought here this fall — it breathed new life into an old musical.

And Broadway in Tucson/A Nederlander Presentation brought in an unknown actor in an unknown play, "The Male Intellect: An Oxymoron." The gamble worked: It was slap-your-knee funny.

But "Chicago," brought here by Broadway in Tucson, takes the Mac. Even with cast changes, the musical captured the hearts of Tucsonans with great dancing, great music and great fun.