BEST THEATER COMPANY: Stageworks

Stageworks keeps getting better and better. Its most noticeable defect in recent years — the lack of quality set designers — has been solved with the work of R. T. Williams and T. J. Ecenia, and Anna Brennen’s programming has increasingly featured the best of Off-Broadway, regional theater and the world stage. Last year’s lineup was deeply satisfying: Every production was top-notch in directing, acting and design, and happily, there were no silly crowd-pleasers for “balance.” -Mark E. Leib