For pure production excellence, Fireside’s "Best of the Bands," Milwaukee Shakespeare’s "Twelfth Night," Next Act’s "Irma Vepp," and Wisconsin Lutheran’s "Anything Goes" were standouts.

But this year, our focus is on what we’ve learned from our encounter with the arts, so here goes. Next Act’s sensitive showing of "Faith Healer" dealt with dual ideas: possessing a power that sets you apart, and people’s need to believe in something bigger than themselves. Both can lead you astray. Skylight’s opera "La Traviata" revealed the price of following your dream or succumbing to pressures from others to follow their dream for you. "Fat Pig," one of Renaissance Theatreworks’ choices, was a powerful statement about our society’s obsession with external beauty, often translated into thinness for women, and the havoc this can create in relationships. Milwaukee Chamber’s "Rabbit Hole" beautifully delineated how family members variously deal with the loss of a loved one and the healing power of forgiveness.

Spiral Theatre’s "Butterflies Are Free" elucidated the stereotypes we have regarding the handicapped. Sometimes the sighted are more blind than the blind. Boulevard’s production "Stevie" strongly conveyed the loneliness and dedication of the artist, in this case a poet, but her one strong friendship with her aunt kept her grounded. Sunset’s "Streetcar Named Desire" emphasized the need for illusion as a cushion against reality, and maybe we have to respect that need in those we love. "The Woman in Black," one of Waukesha Civic’s best this year, shows how lasting the effect of trauma can be on a mind and a life.

The Milwaukee Rep had two one-person shows that, besides being played to perfection, afforded us much to think about. "I’m My Own Wife" gave us insights into the evil of prejudice but also the creative gutsiness of those who survive and thrive despite being mistreated by society. "The Blond, the Brunette, and the Vengeful Redhead" sets us on a path of repercussions, how one rash act can lead to a landslide of others. In World War Two there was a poster that read, "A slip of the lip can sink a ship." That thought came to mind.

First Stage’s "Charlotte’s Web" had a lot to say about caring for others and the lasting effect that love can generate. "Girl in the Frame," produced by In Tandem Theatre had some sound insights into romantic relationships and why they often fail. The difference between reality and fantasy is cleverly explored. University of Wisconsin-Waukesha challenged us with its edgy "Suburbia," where we were forced to try to understand a batch of young adults struggling to find some meaning or purpose to their lives, a pursuit we should all frequently engage in.

"How I Learned to Drive," chosen by Carroll College, helped us see how insidious incest can be and how deceptively innocent it can seem at the outset. "Dead Man Walking," a brave undertaking for Wisconsin Lutheran College students, questions the morality of capital punishment, always a controversial topic worth weighing again.

There, of course, were countless other splendid, provocative productions, but these stood out for me. The winter season holds many more delights: "Wit" at Waukesha Civic; "Dogpark" at The Rep; "The Fabulous Fifties" at Fireside; "I Do, I Do" at Skylight; and "I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change" at Sunset, just to name a few of the January offerings. Don’t let the weather isolate you. Enjoy our rich cultural smorgasbord.