The theater scene has been a staple of the Chippewa Valley for decades, and the play that took center stage this year, the heart-wrenching The Laramie Project, was presented by Eau Claire Children’s Theatre. This play is dedicated to Matthew Shepard, a gay student from Wyoming who was murdered in 1998. In second place, the Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild’s production of Misery delivered gripping suspense and spine-tingling thrills, bringing Stephen King’s iconic tale to life on stage with masterful performances and atmospheric storytelling. But don’t you forget about the Menomonie Theater Guild and their adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express, which took audiences on a thrilling journey during which secrets unraveled and suspense built to a breathtaking climax. —Nicole Lincoln