A balanced mixture of comedy, drama, musicals, old favorites, modern classics and cutting-edge new theater - truly everything a theater can possibly pack into a single season - makes Lakewood Playhouse's 2015-16 season a natural choice for our readers' pick for Best Local Theater Group.

"We are so honored to have been chosen as the Best Local Theater Group," said Playhouse Managing Artistic Director John Munn. "To have received an award like this is truly because our audience supports the wide array of theater that we are trying to produce, ranging from family classics like Treasure Island to hard-hitting dramas like A Few Good Men and Death of a Salesman, technically challenging comedies like Noises Off and cutting-edge theater like Arcadia and Avenue Q that we never would have dreamed of presenting five years ago.

"This award would not be possible if weren't for the love from our audience both inside the theater and throughout social media," he continued. "To have the Lakewood Playhouse recognized like this is truly because of the passionate and hard-working members of our staff, the amazing creative teams that breathe life into our shows every day and the yearlong efforts of our Education Department, The Lakewood Institute of Theatre. To simply say, ‘Thank you' is not enough. And of course, I forgot to mention that it is extra special to receive this award for last season, because it is also the 50th anniversary of the building that we do all of our shows in."

Since Munn took over some five years ago, after the untimely death of well-loved Artistic Director Marcus Walker, Lakewood Playhouse has taken ever more risky chances on shows such as this season's Avenue Q, with its delightful use of hand-held puppets and risqué humor billed as "‘Sesame Street' Grows Up And Moves to ‘South Park.'"

Death of a Salesman is a highly literate and nuanced modern drama for discerning adults, and A Few Good Men is as hard-hitting as any modern play can be. These are plays that are challenging for directors, actors and audiences alike. Written by Aaron Sorkin, directed by Beau M.K. Prichard and featuring a world-class performance by Jacob Tice and an outstanding ensemble cast, notably Aaron Mohs-Hale, K.E. Jenkins, Christian Carvajal and Jenifer Rifenbery, A Few Good Men alone should warrant the Best Theater award. Add in outstanding plays like Noises Off and Arcadia, and you have theater at its very best.

Lakewood Playhouse, 5729 Lakewood Towne Center Blvd., Lakewood, 253.588.0042, lakewoodplayhouse.org