Best Theatre Company 

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• Photo by Bob Doran
• Dell’Arte

In a community rich with live theater companies, none can match the geographic reach and artistic ambitions of Dell’Arte. Founded in Berkeley 30 years ago with an eye toward bringing European styles of physical comedy, mime and, of course, the Italian tradition of commedia dell’arte stateside, the theater troupe soon relocated to Humboldt County. In the intervening decades the company of “actor-creators” has expanded to include an internationally renowned school of physical theater, a youth academy and study-abroad programs in Bali and Denmark. But for locals the main draw remains the live productions, including the annual Mad River Festival, last year’s triumphant Blue Lake: The Opera and this year’s raucously entertaining rumination on marijuana, Mary Jane: The Musical.

 -- Ryan Burns

The Breakdown: Dell’Arte 26.5%, North Coast Repertory Theater 20.6%, Ferndale Repertory Theater 15.9%, Redwood Curtain 9.0%, Humboldt Light Opera Company 5.9%, Voter Turnout: 28th.