First Place: McLean Jesse

Second Place: Eva DeVirgilis

Third Place (Tie): Grey Garrett and Audra Honaker

McLean Jesse’s recognition comes after tearing up local stages for the past couple of years, showing remarkable range along the way. Her searing starring role as an anthropologist embedded with troops in Iraq for last March’s “The Human Terrain” at 5th Wall earned her a best actress award from the Richmond Theatre Critics Circle — and she’s performed in a half-dozen shows since. From ditzy dilettante to brain-damaged abuse victim to stressed-out Manhattanite, she brings a refreshing immediacy to all of her roles. After her turn in “Maple and Vine” at the Firehouse, she’s on her way to graduate school at the Academy of Classical Acting in Washington. Eva DeVirgilis has connections to two of this year’s best actors: She starred with Fred Iacovo in “Unexpected Tenderness” and she’s engaged to Scott Wichmann. Honaker and Garrett are incredible vocal talents. Honaker headlined Swift Creek Mill’s “Little Shop of Horrors” and Garrett is starring in this summer’s “The Boy From Oz” at Richmond Triangle Players.