One of the year’s most moving (and symbolically representative) stage moments happened recently — but it wasn’t scripted, and the performer had just taken her bows with the show’s cast.

Following the second performance of MorrisCo Art Theatre’s production of Tennessee Williams’ “The Night of the Iguana,” Colby Halloran (who’d played aging spinster Hannah) voiced a plea for donations to support MorrisCo.

While explaining that other local, non-professional theater groups that have used the space (Ypsilanti’s Riverside Arts Center) had recently folded, Halloran noted that MorrisCo was currently facing the same fate; and as she voiced her love for the company and her wish for its survival, her voice broke — causing me to make a dive for my wallet to see what cash I had on hand.

And indeed, according to company founder Susan Morris, the troupe has raised enough funds to stay afloat for now, and they’re planning to stage two shows next year.

This outcome, in a way, is also a snapshot of the past year in local theater. Companies struggled financially and asked for help, and again and again, the community answered the call.

In April, Performance Network, Ann Arbor’s professional theater, sent out a distress signal, citing drastically reduced corporate sponsorships and government funds as a primary source of the company’s fiscal troubles. They had $20,000 in matching funds, and reported that they needed to raise a total of $40,000 in one week in order to make it through a rough patch. In short order, donors from the area and far beyond stepped forward so that the company not only made its goal, but received another $10,000 in matching funds. (The Ann Arbor Summer Festival is also currently using a matching challenge and, as of December 15, had raised 80 percent of its goal.)

Of course, not every theater story had a happy ending. Michigan Classical Repertory Theatre, after staging Harold Pinter’s “Betrayal” at Riverside in May, went on hiatus indefinitely; and due to financial concerns, the University Musical Society had to cancel performances of Sulayman Al-Bassam Theatre's "Richard III — An Arab Tragedy," which had been scheduled to run March 19-22 at the Power Center.

Yet despite a tough economy and soaring unemployment, many local theater artists seized the moment as an opportunity. In January, while still in the process of renovating a building in Dexter, Encore Musical Theatre Company came to life and presented its inaugural production, “Evita” (followed up by “Guys and Dolls,” “Little Shop of Horrors,” “Oklahoma!,” “Sweeney Todd,” and “Annie”). In November, a new community theater group called Dynamic Stage Productions offered “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” at Riverside, and the troupe’s web site lists “Cheaper by the Dozen” and “Fame” as upcoming shows.

Finally, the Blackbird Theatre recently announced that it would be moving from its Pauline Avenue location, where it’s co-existed for six years with the Children’s Creative Center, to an as-yet-unnamed location in downtown Ann Arbor. Founder Barton Bund noted that due to the growth of the edgy theater company’s schedule and productions, the troupe needed to find a new home, so the Blackbird’s season is temporarily suspended until after they make the move to their new home in the new year.

So while times have been hard, most local theater companies have weathered the storm, thanks in large part to a community that responds when arts groups ask for help.

As for the year’s best, most memorable scripted moments on stage, check out my 2009 Ann Arbor area theater highlights list.

Jenn McKee is the entertainment digital journalist for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at jennmckee@annarbor.com or 734-623-2546, and follow her on Twitter @jennmckee.