Fanny Garver Gallery
Museum
1. Chazen Museum of Art
2. Madison's Children Museum
Madison Children's Museum got within four votes of the Chazen Museum of Art - an impressive feat, given that it was closed for half of 2010 as the new building went up on North Hamilton Street. The Madison Museum of Contemporary Art came in a respectable third, suggesting that it's virtually impossible to choose among these three great institutions.
Art Gallery
1. Fanny Garver Gallery
2. Absolutely Art
It was a close call between downtown's Fanny Garver Gallery and the east side's Absolutely Art. So why not visit both? The Overture Center also deserves props for championing local artists.
Theater Company
1. American Players Theatre
2. Broom Street Theater
3. Mercury Players Theatre
American Players Theatre is known for its Shakespeare productions, and Shakespeare is kinda hard to beat in a theatrical contest. But Broom Street Theater and Mercury Players Theatre fill the bill when you're in the mood for contemporary drama.
Actor / Actress
1. Sarah Day
2. James DeVita
3. Kelly Maxwell and Peter Hunt (TIE)
Top honors go to two stalwarts of American Players Theatre. Day and DeVita continue to make us laugh and cry in a variety of meaty roles.
Comedy / Improv
1. Atlas Improv Company
2. Monkey Business
3. Comedy Club on State
Atlas Improv Company does a good job of spinning comedy out of audience suggestions. Can a successful vignette be built around a random noun or verb? Hard to believe, but it can.
Movie Theater
1. Sundance Cinema
2. Star Cinema
3. Orpheum
Sundance Cinemas got more than twice the number of votes as its nearest competitor. Madisonians have spoken: We like challenging films in an elegant venue with topnotch snacks and no commercials.