The 2018 Outstanding Awards of Excellence will be announced at the Gala on March 30th, 2019 in Newton, Iowa – the Festival and the Gala will be held in Newton March 28-31, 2018 – please save the dates and plan to attend this fantastic opportunity the network and share in the success of community theater across the great state of Iowa!

List of award finalists are available as a download: 2018 Finalists

Direction in a Play
Abby J. Sturtevant SharpAll My SonsWebster City Community Theatre
Benjamin MauritzLeading LadiesThe Sioux City Community Theatre
Nancy WrightInherit the WindMills Masquers
Vivian M. CookTwelve Angry JurorsStory Theater Company of Ames
Wayne BlumNoises OffThe Sioux City Community Theatre
Direction in a Musical
Aaron KvaleNext to NormalNew Minowa Players – Decorah
Cheri MoserMary PoppinsOpera House Players – Elkader
John OlsonAnniePerforming Arts & Education Association of Southwest Iowa
Greg HoltAnnieWaterloo Comm Playhouse/ Black Hawk Children’s Theatre
Greg HoltThe Full MontyWaterloo Comm Playhouse/ Black Hawk Children’s Theatre
Ensemble in a Play
The cast of Almost MaineAlmost MaineAnkeny Community Theatre
Cast of Noises OffNoises OffNewton Community Theatre
Ensemble from Calendar GirlsCalendar GirlsGreat River Players
The cast of Leaving IowaLeaving IowaThe Sioux City Community Theatre
The cast of Twelve Angry JurorsTwelve Angry JurorsStory Theater Company of Ames
Ensemble in a Musical
Lead Orphans in AnnieAnniePerforming Arts & Education Association of Southwest Iowa
The cast of Mary PoppinsMary PoppinsOpera House Players – Elkader
Sarah Crockett, Jessica Jacobsen and Misty Wissel as the Doo-Wop GirlsLittle Shop of HorrorsPerforming Arts & Education Association of Southwest Iowa
Sarah Crockett, Megan Beery, Julie MurrenLittle Women the MusicalSouthwest Iowa Theatre Group, Inc. Park Playhouse
The Wives in The Full MontyThe Full MontyWaterloo Comm Playhouse/ Black Hawk Children’s Theatre
Lead Actor in a Play
Benji CotterLeading LadiesThe Sioux City Community Theatre
Josh ZirklePassing NotesAnkeny Community Theatre
Tyler FrenchThe Boys Next DoorGreat River Players
Tim SnyderThe Boys Next DoorGreat River Players
Dale ArendsAll My SonsWebster City Community Theatre
Lead Actor in a Musical
Cameron BergesMary PoppinsOpera House Players – Elkader
Asher SuskiHonk!Ankeny Community Theatre
Gabe TwedtNext to NormalNew Minowa Players – Decorah
Ian CurtisThe Last Five YearsShot in the Dark Productions
Jordan MakinsterThe Full MontyWaterloo Comm Playhouse/ Black Hawk Children’s Theatre
Lead Actress in a Play
Sara JeromeLeading LadiesThe Sioux City Community Theatre
Nicole TitusA Few Good MenAnkeny Community Theatre
Connie McCrackenCalendar GirlsGreat River Players
Joeann TesarA Comedy of TenorsOpera House Players – Elkader
Loween GetterAll My SonsWebster City Community Theatre
Lead Actress in a Musical
Gina BrooksAnnieWaterloo Comm Playhouse/ Black Hawk Children’s Theatre
Karen EsterlNext to NormalNew Minowa Players – Decorah
Kristy FlemingMary PoppinsOpera House Players – Elkader
Misty WisselLittle Women the MusicalSouthwest Iowa Theatre Group, Inc. Park Playhouse
Rebecca VernonShe Loves MeStarlighters II Comm Theatre
Supporting Actor in a Play
Scott NielsonPassing NotesAnkeny Community Theatre
Brandon DouglasA Comedy of TenorsOpera House Players – Elkader
Jakob RegalA Comedy of TenorsOpera House Players – Elkader
Kevin SharpAll My SonsWebster City Community Theatre
Brennan FehrAll My SonsWebster City Community Theatre
Supporting Actor in a Musical
Brandon DouglasMary PoppinsOpera House Players – Elkader
James OdegaardNext to NormalNew Minowa Players – Decorah
Jedd ShermanAnniePerforming Arts & Education Association of Southwest Iowa
Josh PannhoffThe Full MontyWaterloo Comm Playhouse/ Black Hawk Children’s Theatre
Ron HinesAnniePerforming Arts & Education Association of Southwest Iowa
Supporting Actress in a Play
Jessica SloanA Comedy of TenorsOpera House Players – Elkader
Abby KnisleyGlass MenagerieGreat River Players
Bobbi Jo LutzenSteel MagnoliasOld Fort Players, Inc.
Jenna PollockA Comedy of TenorsOpera House Players – Elkader
Lynda WunderAll My SonsWebster City Community Theatre
Supporting Actress in a Musical
Jill GandyAnniePerforming Arts & Education Association of Southwest Iowa
Kyna HensonNext to NormalNew Minowa Players – Decorah
Taryn MoserMary PoppinsOpera House Players – Elkader
Tracy RhodesAnniePerforming Arts & Education Association of Southwest Iowa
Jennifer ParraGreaseThe Sioux City Community Theatre
Choreography
Kathy BantaGreaseThe Sioux City Community Theatre
Mindy BreauxHonk!Ankeny Community Theatre
Meredith McKayMameNewton Community Theatre
Joy TunnicliffAnniePerforming Arts & Education Association of Southwest Iowa
Candace Van HoveAnnieWaterloo Comm Playhouse/ Black Hawk Children’s Theatre
Musical Direction
Angela IversenGreaseThe Sioux City Community Theatre
Mindy BreauxHonk!Ankeny Community Theatre
Jessica PalmerBeauty and the BeastCity Circle Acting Company
Tim MarsdenAnniePerforming Arts & Education Association of Southwest Iowa
Pam LewisLittle Women the MusicalSouthwest Iowa Theatre Group, Inc. Park Playhouse
Costuming
All My Sons castAll My SonsWebster City Community Theatre
Kerri DrakeInherit the WindMills Masquers
Sue BuekemaA Few Good MenNewton Community Theatre
Sue BuekemaMameNewton Community Theatre
Kelen PanecAnniePerforming Arts & Education Association of Southwest Iowa
Scenic Design
Carol Wisner, Shari Buehler and John OlsonAnniePerforming Arts & Education Association of Southwest Iowa
Mark TraceyBeauty and the BeastCity Circle Acting Company
Cary Kann & Joeann TesarMary PoppinsOpera House Players – Elkader
Robert KurtShe Loves MeStarlighters II Comm Theatre
Dale ArendsAll My SonsWebster City Community Theatre
Technical, Lighting, & Sound Design
Aaron KvaleNext to NormalNew Minowa Players – Decorah
Joe Kirwen and Matt TuttleYou’re a Good Man, Charlie BrownAnkeny Community Theatre
Jonathon MoserMary PoppinsOpera House Players – Elkader
Carol Wisner and Bryan WilsonAnniePerforming Arts & Education Association of Southwest Iowa
Scott SchusterThe Full MontyWaterloo Comm Playhouse/ Black Hawk Children’s Theatre
Children’s Show
Mary Poppins Jr.Webster City Community Theatre
Singin’ In the Rain, Jr.Great River Players
We Are MonstersGreat River Players