2018 Cloris Leachman Awards Nominees Announced
By: Alan Henry Aug. 15, 2018
Founded in 2015, the Cloris Awards celebrate excellence in theatre in Greater Des Moines. The annual awards program brings together the theatre community and the public to celebrate their work and enhance the visibility of locally-produced theatre. The 2017-2018 season featured 43 productions by 12 participating companies.
The Cloris Leachman Excellence in Theatre Arts Awards, affectionately known as the Clorises, celebrate excellence in theatre in greater Des Moines. The annual awards program brings together the theatre community and enhances the visibility of local theatre companies and their productions.
The Cloris Awards are named for the legendary actress Cloris Leachman, who was born in Des Moines in 1926, started performing at age 7 at Drake University's Children Theater and continued at the Kendall Playhouse (now the Des Moines Community Playhouse) while a student at Roosevelt High School. She attended Northwestern University and, as Miss Chicago, parlayed a run for the 1946 Miss America crown into a stint on Broadway. She married actor-director-producer George Englund in 1953, moved to Los Angeles in 1954 and raised five children before stepping into the roles that made her a household name in the 1970s. She starred as the nosy landlady Phyllis Lindstrom in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and its spin-off "Phyllis," as Frau Blucher in "Young Frankenstein," and as Nurse Diesel in "High Anxiety." She won an Oscar for her role as a neglected housewife in the 1971 film "The Last Picture Show" and appeared in many other shows, including "The Facts of Life," "The Beverly Hillbillies," "Malcolm in the Middle" and "Dancing with the Stars.
The Awards will be handed out on August 26th.
Check out this year's list of nominees below!
BEST PLAY
THE FLICK, Iowa Stage Theatre Company
ON GOLDEN POND, Tallgrass Theatre Company
PROWESS, Pyramid Theatre Company
SOUVENIR, Noce
A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE, Iowa Stage Theatre Company
BEST MUSICAL
BRING IT ON THE MUSICAL, Des Moines Young Artists' Theatre
A CHORUS LINE, Des Moines Community Playhouse
COMPANY, Iowa Stage Theatre Company
ELEPHANT & PIGGIE'S "WE ARE IN A PLAY!," Des Moines Community Playhouse
RAGTIME, Des Moines Community Playhouse
YOUTH & FAMILY PRODUCTION
BRING IT ON THE MUSICAL, Des Moines Young Artists' Theatre
DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID, Des Moines Community Playhouse
ELEPHANT & PIGGIE'S "WE ARE IN A PLAY!," Des Moines Community Playhouse
I NEVER SAW ANOTHER BUTTERFLY, Des Moines Young Artists' Theatre
A LITTLE HOUSE CHRISTMAS, Des Moines Community Playhouse
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE, PLAY
Debra Garner as Ethel in ON GOLDEN POND, Tallgrass Theatre Company
Gina Gedler as Florence Foster Jenkins in SOUVENIR, Noce
Vic(toria) O'Bryant as Zora in PROWESS, Pyramid Theatre Company
Kerry Skram as Beatrice in A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE, Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Davida Williams as Sharonne Chapin in DEAD DOG PARK, Open Door Rep
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE, PLAY
Jim Arthur as Norman in ON GOLDEN POND, Tallgrass Theatre Company
Ryan Joseph Broussard as Mark in PROWESS, Pyramid Theatre Company
Jonathan Delima as Pastor Paul in THE CHRISTIANS, Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Michael Ladell Harris as Sam in THE FLICK, Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Shawn Wilson as Eddie Carbone in A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE, Iowa Stage Theatre Company
ACTRESS IN A FEATURED ROLE, PLAY
Alison Buechler as Sister James in DOUBT, Ankeny Community Theatre
Maia Craddock as Avery in RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN, Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Kim Haymes as Jenny in THE CHRISTIANS, Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Kellie Kramer as Angela MacDonald in DEAD DOG PARK, Open Door Rep
Alissa Tschetter-Siedschlaw as Gwen RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN, Iowa Stage Theatre Company
ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE, PLAY
Thomas Gill as Fred in A CHRISTMAS CAROL, Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Michael Ladell Harris as Rodolpho in A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE, Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Louis Reyes McWilliams as Andy in PROWESS, Pyramid Theatre Company
James Serpento as Alfieri in A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE, Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Aman Soni as Jax in PROWESS, Pyramid Theatre Company
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE, MUSICAL
Dani Boal as Mother in RAGTIME, Des Moines Community Playhouse
Kellie Kramer as Donna Sheridan in MAMMA MIA!, Des Moines Community Playhouse
Lauren Malcomson as Janet Weiss in THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, Kata Klysmic Productions
Allyson Martens as Piggie in ELEPHANT & PIGGY'S "WE ARE IN A PLAY!" Des Moines Community
Playhouse
Marisa Spahn as Campbell in BRING IT ON THE MUSICAL, Des Moines Young Artists' Theater
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE, MUSICAL
Blake Clyde as Coalhouse Walker Jr. in RAGTIME, Des Moines Community Playhouse
Greg DiMarco as Gilligan in GILLIGAN'S ISLAND THE MUSICAL, Carousel Theatre of Indianola
Derek Phelp as William Barfée in THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTMAN COUNTY SPELLING BEE, Ankeny
Community Theatre
Charlie Reese as Robert in COMPANY, Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Connor Ripperger as Hedwig Robinson in HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH, Kata Klysmic Productions
ACTRESS IN A FEATURED ROLE, MUSICAL
Lorena Eclatt as Diana Morales in A CHORUS LINE, Des Moines Community Playhouse
Erin Horst as Marta in COMPANY, Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Rachel Meyer as Yitzhak in HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH, Kata Klysmic Productions
Maddie Ripperger as Bridget in BRING IT ON THE MUSICAL, Des Moines Young Artists' Theater
Jackie Schmillen as Ursula in DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID, Des Moines Community Playhouse
ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE, MUSICAL
Blake Clyde as Sebastian in DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID, Des Moines Community Playhouse
Demarius Fisher Jr. as Richie in A CHORUS LINE, Des Moines Community Playhouse
Spencer Gilbert as Zach in A CHORUS LINE, Des Moines Community Playhouse
Adam Haselhuhn as Drake & Others in HONK!, Ankeny Community Theatre
Mark Maddy as Pop Hanson & Others in MISS NELSON IS MISSING!, Des Moines Community Playhouse
RISING STAR (Performer Under Age 18)
Jack Gabby as Winthrop Paroo in THE MUSIC MAN, Des Moines Community Playhouse
Elyse Hall as Eva in BRING IT ON THE MUSICAL, Des Moines Young Artists' Theater
Ryan Henzi as The Little Boy in RAGTIME, Des Moines Community Playhouse
Sage Johnson as Young Raja in I NEVER SAW ANOTHER BUTTERFLY, Des Moines Young Artists' Theatre
Asher Suski as Ugly in HONK!, Ankeny Community Theatre
Savannah Trotter as Ariel in DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID, Des Moines Community Playhouse
YOUTH & FAMILY ENSEMBLE
HAIRSPRAY JR., Des Moines Young Artists' Theatre
HONK!, Ankeny Community Theatre
I NEVER SAW ANOTHER BUTTERFLY, Des Moines Young Artists' Theatre
A LITTLE HOUSE CHRISTMAS, Des Moines Community Playhouse
MISS NELSON IS MISSING!, Des Moines Community Playhouse
TECHNICAL AND CREATIVE CATEGORIES
SCENIC DESIGN
Nicholas Amundson, RAGTIME, Des Moines Community Playhouse
Jay Michael Jagim, A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE, Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Kimberly Manuel, MISERY, Des Moines Community Playhouse
Kevin Shelby, A LITTLE HOUSE CHRISTMAS, Des Moines Community Playhouse
Ronnie Wells, ON GOLDEN POND, Tallgrass Theatre Company
LIGHTING DESIGN
Jim Trenberth, A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE, Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Virgil Kleinhesselink, RAGTIME, Des Moines Community Playhouse
Virgil Kleinhesselink, A CHORUS LINE, Des Moines Community Playhouse
John Pomeroy and Jonathan Cottle, PROWESS, Pyramid Theatre Company
Todd Warming, THE FLICK, Iowa Stage Theatre Company
SOUND DESIGN
Anna Drummond, PROWESS, Pyramid Theatre Company
Josh Jepson, COMPANY, Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Josh Jepson, THE FLICK, Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Josh Jepson, RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN, Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Mark Toebben and Jolie Seitz, I NEVER SAW ANOTHER BUTTERFLY, Des Moines Young Artists' Theatre
COSTUME & MAKEUP DESIGN
Angela Lampe, RAGTIME, Des Moines Community Playhouse
Angela Lampe, DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID, Des Moines Community Playhouse
Crimson B. Rosenberg, HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH, Kata Klysmic Productions
Mel Ziegenfuss, SOUVENIR, Noce
Susanna Douthit, I NEVER SAW ANOTHER BUTTERFLY, Des Moines Young Artists' Theatre
CHOREOGRAPHY
David Decker, HAIRSPRAY JR., Des Moines Young Artists' Theatre
Megan Helmers, BRING IT ON THE MUSICAL, Des Moines Young Artists' Theatre
Megan Helmers, A CHORUS LINE, Des Moines Community Playhouse
Megan Helmers, DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID, Des Moines Community Playhouse
Alison Shafer, RAGTIME, Des Moines Community Playhouse
MUSIC DIRECTION (New in 2018)
Brenton Brown, DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID, Des Moines Community Playhouse
Brenton Brown, RAGTIME, Des Moines Community Playhouse
Ben Hagen, HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH, Kata Klysmic Productions
Rebecca Hunt, COMPANY, Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Taylor Anne Weaver, BRING IT ON THE MUSICAL, Des Moines Young Artists' Theatre
DIRECTION
Katy Merriman, ELEPHANT & PIGGIE'S "WE ARE IN A PLAY!" Des Moines Community Playhouse
Ken-Matt Martin, PROWESS, Pyramid Theatre Company
Matt McIver, A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE, Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Megan Helmers, BRING IT ON THE MUSICAL, Des Moines Young Artists' Theatre
Shawn Wilson, THE FLICK, Iowa Stage Theatre Company
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