And the Cloris Award nominees are . . .

August 9, 2023

Ankeny Community Theatre performed a number from “Kiss Me, Kate” at the Cloris Awards Ceremony in 2019, the last time the event took place at Hoyt Sherman Place. Photo: Eric Salmon.

The 2023 Cloris Awards Ceremony at 7 p.m. Aug. 27 at Hoyt Sherman Place will celebrate 39 productions from nine Central Iowa companies: Ankeny Community Theatre, Carousel Theatre of Indianola, Class Act Productions, the Des Moines Playhouse, Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre, Iowa Stage Theatre Company, Pyramid Theatre Company, Tallgrass Theatre Company and Urbandale Community Theatre.

Affectionately known as the Clorises, the awards were founded in 2015 and named for the late Oscar-winning actress Cloris Leachman, who grew up in Des Moines and made her stage debut at the Playhouse. The awards are sponsored by Leachman Lumber.

In addition to this year’s slate of nominees in 18 categories — Best Musical, Best Choreography, Best Lighting Design — several individuals and organizations will be singled out for special recognition. Those kudos go to pianist Francine Griffith, “Kinky Boots” drag consultant Nicholas Amundson, Ankeny Community Theatre’s collaboration with playwright Tommy Lee Johnston, Pyramid Theatre Company’s work with playwright Beaufield Berry, the Des Moines Playhouse’s Penguin Project, and Tallgrass Theater Company’s Sarah Frank and Jack Balcombe Dream Project.

And the 2023 nominees are . . .

Best Musical

“Cinderella,” Des Moines Playhouse
“The Drowsy Chaperone,” Urbandale Community Theatre
“Guys and Dolls,” Des Moines Playhouse
“Kinky Boots,” Des Moines Playhouse
“Little Shop of Horrors,” Des Moines Playhouse
“Pippin,” Tallgrass Theatre Company

Best Play

“A Bright New Boise,” Iowa Stage Theatre Company
“God of Carnage,” Tallgrass Theatre Company
“Native Gardens,” Des Moines Playhouse
“The Piano Lesson,” Des Moines Playhouse and Pyramid Theatre Company
“Sweat,” Iowa Stage Theatre Company
“Trouble in Mind,” Iowa Stage Theatre Company

Best Production for Youth & Family

“Annie Jr.,” Des Moines Playhouse
“Cinderella,” Des Moines Playhouse
“How I Became a Pirate,” Des Moines Playhouse
“Matilda Jr.,” Class Act Productions
“Singin’ in the Rain Jr.,” Class Act Productions
“Sister Act Jr.,” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre

Best Performance in a Lead Role in a Musical

Samantha Aaron as Ursula, “The Little Mermaid,” Carousel Theatre of Indianola
Giovanni Bahena as Nathan Detroit, “Guys and Dolls,” Des Moines Playhouse
Faith Brooks as Ella, “Cinderella,” Des Moines Playhouse
Elise Cameron as Ariel, “The Little Mermaid,” Carousel Theatre of Indianola
Blake Clyde as the Leading Player, “Pippin,” Tallgrass Theatre Company
Courtney Kayser as Amalia Balash, “She Loves Me,” Ankeny Community Theatre
Travis Ness as Lola/Simon, “Kinky Boots,” Des Moines Playhouse
Keelin Reilly as Seymour Krelborn, “Little Shop of Horrors,” Des Moines Playhouse
Gavin Runles as Charlie Price, “Kinky Boots,” Des Moines Playhouse
Morgan Wolfe as Audrey, “Little Shop of Horrors,” Des Moines Playhouse

Best Performance in a Lead Role in a Play

Rae Fehring as Wiletta, “Trouble in Mind,” Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Gabriela Fuentes as Tania Del Valle, “Native Gardens,” Des Moines Playhouse
Brooke Guinn as Tess, “Marjorie Prime,” Ankeny Community Theatre
Michael Harris as Will, “A Bright New Boise,” Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Jacob Hayworth as Arthur de Bourgh, “Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley,” Tallgrass Theatre Company
Daron Richardson as Doaker, “The Piano Lesson,” Des Moines Playhouse and Pyramid Theatre Company
Maggie Schmitt as Lady Olivia, “Twelfth Night,” Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Aaron Smith as Wining Boy, “The Piano Lesson,” Des Moines Playhouse & Pyramid Theatre Company
Jocelyn Smith as Mary Bennet, “Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley,” Tallgrass Theatre Company
Davida Williams as Cynthia, “Sweat,” Iowa Stage Theatre Company

Best Performance in a Featured Role in a Musical

Samantha Aaron as Charlotte, “Cinderella,” Des Moines Playhouse
Dani Boal as Catherine, “Pippin,” Tallgrass Theatre Company
Faith Brooks as Faith, “Godspell,” Ankeny Community Theatre
Faith Brooks as Crystal, “Little Shop of Horrors,” Des Moines Playhouse
Laura Breyen as Nicola, “Kinky Boots,” Des Moines Playhouse
Emily Coffey as Scuttle, “The Little Mermaid,” Carousel Theatre of Indianola
Julie Larson as Marie, “Cinderella,” Des Moines Playhouse
Dean Messerly as Arvide Abernathy, “Guys and Dolls,” Des Moines Playhouse
Greg Millar as Nicely-Nicely Johnson, “Guys and Dolls,” Des Moines Playhouse
Charlie Reese as Orin Scrivello, “Little Shop of Horrors,” Des Moines Playhouse

Best Performance in a Featured Role in a Play

Clifton Antoine as Avery, “The Piano Lesson,” Des Moines Playhouse & Pyramid Theatre Company
Giovanni Bahena as Eddie, “Trouble in Mind,” Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Alison Buechler as Sandra/Florence Collymoore, “The One-Act Play That Goes Wrong,” Ankeny Community Theatre
Tom Geraty as Stan, “Sweat,” Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Jennifer Hughes as Pauline, “A Bright New Boise,” Iowa Stage Theatre Company
John Earl Robinson as Jacob Marley and others, “A Christmas Carol,” Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Donna Scarfe as Millie, “Trouble in Mind,” Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Maggie Schmitt as Anna, “A Bright New Boise,” Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Aaron Smith as Brucie, “Sweat,” Iowa Stage Theatre Co.
Dane Van Brocklin as Arnie, “The One-Act Play That Goes Wrong,” Ankeny Community Theatre

Jeanne Hopson Rising Stars

Ben Clark as Joey, “Sister Act Jr.,” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre
Vivian Rosalie Coleman as Harriet, “Harriet the Spy,” Des Moines Playhouse
Emily Ellingson as River, “A Very Merry Tallgrass Holiday,” Tallgrass Theatre Company
Aurora Grooters as Miss Honey, “Matilda Jr.,” Class Act Productions
Jackson Hamilton as Flounder, “The Little Mermaid,” Carousel Theatre of Indianola
Lil Klein as Deloris Van Cartier, “Sister Act Jr.,” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre
Emily Kolsrud as Matilda, “Matilda Jr.,” Class Act Productions
Addisyn Marvin as Cinderella, “Cinderella,” Class Act Productions
McKenna O’Meara as Miss Hannigan, “Annie Jr.,” Des Moines Playhouse
Larryah Travis as Maretha, “The Piano Lesson,” Des Moines Playhouse and Pyramid Theatre Company

Best Performance by an Ensemble in a Musical

“Guys and Dolls,” Des Moines Playhouse
“Kinky Boots,” Des Moines Playhouse
“Little Shop of Horrors,” Des Moines Playhouse
“Matilda Jr.,” Class Act Productions
“Pippin,” Tallgrass Theatre Company
“Sister Act Jr.,” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre

Best Performance by an Ensemble in a Play

“A Bright New Boise,” Iowa Stage Theatre Company
“God of Carnage,” Tallgrass Theatre Company
“Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley,” Tallgrass Theatre Company
“The Piano Lesson,” Des Moines Playhouse and Pyramid Theatre Company
“Steel Magnolias,” Carousel Theatre of Indianola
“Sweat,” Iowa Stage Theatre Company

Best Performance by a Youth Ensemble

“Annie Jr.,” Des Moines Playhouse
“The Comedy of Errors,” Class Act Productions
“Harriet the Spy,” Des Moines Playhouse
“Matilda Jr.,” Class Act Productions
“Sister Act Jr.,” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre
“The Wolves,” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre

Best Direction

Ken-Matt Martin, “The Piano Lesson,” Des Moines Playhouse and Pyramid Theatre Company
Matthew McIver, “Sweat,” Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Jennifer Nostrala, “God of Carnage,” Tallgrass Theatre Company
Alex Wendel, “A Bright New Boise,” Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Davida Williams, “Trouble in Mind,” Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Adam Yankowy, “Kinky Boots,” Des Moines Playhouse

Best Music Direction

Theo Bartemes, “Pippin,” Tallgrass Theatre Company
Brenton Brown, “Cinderella,” Des Moines Playhouse
Brenton Brown, “Little Shop of Horrors,” Des Moines Playhouse
Tina Haase Findlay, “Guys and Dolls,” Des Moines Playhouse
Carl Johnson and Jack Pearson, “The Drowsy Chaperone,” Urbandale Community Theatre
Tristan Miedema, “Kinky Boots,” Des Moines Playhouse

Best Choreography

Charissa Hamel, “The One-Act Play That Goes Wrong,” Ankeny Community Theatre
Megan Helmers, “Kinky Boots,” Des Moines Playhouse
Megan Helmers, “Little Shop of Horrors,” Des Moines Playhouse
Taylor Millar, “How I Became a Pirate,” Des Moines Playhouse
Michael Tomlinson, “Cinderella,” Des Moines Playhouse
Michael Tomlinson, “Guys and Dolls,” Des Moines Playhouse

Best Scenic Design

Nicholas Amundson, “Kinky Boots,” Des Moines Playhouse
Nicholas Amundson, “Native Gardens,” Des Moines Playhouse
Corrin Brush and Frank Sposeto III, “The One-Act Play That Goes Wrong,” Ankeny Community Theatre
Sydney Lynne, “The Piano Lesson,” Des Moines Playhouse and Pyramid Theatre Company
Brian Seckfort, “A Bright New Boise,” Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Addie Thompson, “Steel Magnolias,” Carousel Theatre of Indianola

Best Costume & Makeup Design

Cheryl Clark and Heidie Swihart, “Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley,” Tallgrass Theatre Company
Susanna Douthit, “Trouble in Mind,” Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Angela Lampe, “Cinderella,” Des Moines Playhouse
Angela Lampe, “Kinky Boots,” Des Moines Playhouse
Angela Lampe, “The Piano Lesson,” Des Moines Playhouse and Pyramid Theatre Company
Alex Lindsley, “The Little Mermaid,” Carousel Theatre of Indianola

Best Lighting Design

Jackson Newhouse, “A Bright New Boise,” Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Amanda Pichler, “Native Gardens,” Des Moines Playhouse
John Pomeroy, “In the Upper Room,” Pyramid Theatre Company
John Pomeroy, “The Piano Lesson,” Des Moines Playhouse and Pyramid Theatre Company
Dakota Sommer, “Sweat,” Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Sam Stephen, “Little Shop of Horrors,” Des Moines Playhouse

Best Sound Design