The 2019 Outstanding Awards of Excellence winners will be announced at the Gala on March 28th, 2019 in Des Moines, Iowa – the Festival and the Gala will be held in Des Moines March 27-28, 2019 – 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: 2019 Finalists

Direction in a Play
John OlsonDriving Miss DaisyPerforming Arts & Education Association of Southwest Iowa
Elizabeth ThompsonFive Women Wearing the Same DressBrickStreet Theatre
Lisa GouldNight MotherAnkeny Community Theatre
Aimee JonesProposalsStarlighters II Comm Theatre
Angela RotteringThe Trouble with CatsWebster City Community Theatre
Direction in a Musical
Greg HoltBeauty and the BeastWaterloo Comm Playhouse/ Black Hawk Children’s Theatre
Veronica SkaarChildren of EdenJudge Story Theatrical Troupe
Sheryl ScheffertMamma MiaNew Minowa Players – Decorah
Pauline HessonMary PoppinsNewton Community Theatre
Cheri MoserThe ProducersOpera House Players – Elkader
Ensemble in a Play
Julie Murren and Tracy RhodesA Bench at the EdgeSouthwest Iowa Theatre Group, Inc. Park Playhouse
Vanessa Doden, Lynnea Fredrickson, Savannah Moore, Liz Hedin-Schmidt, Makayla Vogt, Danny PetersonFive Women Wearing the Same DressBrickStreet Theatre
Charissa Hamel and Beth FeilmeierNight MotherAnkeny Community Theatre
Kathryn Huang, Kathleen Weiss, Deborah Maynard, & Valerie DavineThe Odd Couple (Female Version)Rich Heritage of Cedar Rapids Theatre Company
Nichole Ose as Mitzi, Sylvia Vust as No, Kaitlynn Seeley as OnieThe Trouble with CatsWebster City Community Theatre
Ensemble in a Musical
Lonnie Appleby, Mark Schaefer, Denise Gregory, Porter Haug, Jana De Zwarte & Lynn CooperBeauty and the BeastUnion Street Players
Cast of Children of EdenChildren of EdenJudge Story Theatrical Troupe
Chorus [Mamma Mia, New Minowa Players]Mamma MiaNew Minowa Players – Decorah
Chimney Sweeps, Park Strollers, SupercalafragalisticexpialidociousMary Poppins, Jr.Story Theater Company of Ames
The Producers CastThe ProducersOpera House Players – Elkader
Lead Actor in a Play
Vince WilliamsAn Inspector CallsThe Road Less Traveled Theatre Co.
Steve Clemmons as KennyProposalsStarlighters II Comm Theatre
Dean Evans as Phillip JulianThe Trouble with CatsWebster City Community Theatre
Joe FrennaThe UnderstudyWaterloo Comm Playhouse/ Black Hawk Children’s Theatre
Jeff Hiser as Doctor Arnold LomaxThose Crazy Ladies in the House on the CornerSouthwest Iowa Theatre Group, Inc. Park Playhouse
Lead Actor in a Musical
Neal Petersen (Beast)Beauty and the BeastWaterloo Comm Playhouse/ Black Hawk Children’s Theatre
Kevin LounsberryChildren of EdenJudge Story Theatrical Troupe
Scott JohnsonChildren of EdenJudge Story Theatrical Troupe
Brandon Douglas – Max BialystockThe ProducersOpera House Players – Elkader
Jonathon Moser – Leo BloomThe ProducersOpera House Players – Elkader
Lead Actress in a Play
Debbie LaShombA Nice Family ChristmasNewton Community Theatre
Cheri Moser as JenniferA Year in the Death of Eddie JesterOpera House Players – Elkader
Mary Beth Specht as SusanA Year in the Death of Eddie JesterOpera House Players – Elkader
Erica Toney as ClemmaProposalsStarlighters II Comm Theatre
Cathy Olson as Ivy JulianThe Trouble with CatsWebster City Community Theatre
Lead Actress in a Musical
Julie EricksonChildren of EdenJudge Story Theatrical Troupe
Linnea Carlson as Sophie SheridanMamma MiaNew Minowa Players – Decorah
Annie Foskett – Mary PoppinsMary PoppinsNewton Community Theatre
Kristine Perkins – Winifred BanksMary PoppinsNewton Community Theatre
Jeana Jago, FionaShrek The MusicalPerforming Arts & Education Association of Southwest Iowa
Supporting Actor in a Play
Michael Jones as Boolie WerthanDriving Miss DaisyPerforming Arts & Education Association of Southwest Iowa
Jacob Glass as RayProposalsStarlighters II Comm Theatre
Matt English as VinnieProposalsStarlighters II Comm Theatre
Steve Weiss as Jesus CostazuelaThe Odd Couple (Female Version)Rich Heritage of Cedar Rapids Theatre Company
Jake Lahr as Parker JohnsonThe Trouble with CatsWebster City Community Theatre
Supporting Actor in a Musical
Lars SkaarChildren of EdenJudge Story Theatrical Troupe
Matt ValenChildren of EdenJudge Story Theatrical Troupe
Jackson Finnagin as DaveyNewsiesMills Masquers
David Beck – Roger DebrisThe ProducersOpera House Players – Elkader
Max Koeller – Carmen GhiaThe ProducersOpera House Players – Elkader
Supporting Actress in a Play
Katelynn TillAn Inspector CallsThe Road Less Traveled Theatre Co.
Koryn Killerby – Imogene HerdmanThe Best Christmas Pageant EverStarlighters II Comm Theatre
Linda Thomas as Joy BombayThe Trouble with CatsWebster City Community Theatre
Sunshine Garth as SunshineThe Trouble with CatsWebster City Community Theatre
Stanna Wellauer as Jean MitchellThose Crazy Ladies in the House on the CornerSouthwest Iowa Theatre Group, Inc. Park Playhouse
Supporting Actress in a Musical
Lisa WebbChildren of EdenJudge Story Theatrical Troupe
Meredith McMullenChildren of EdenJudge Story Theatrical Troupe
Anna Morrison as FinchNewsiesMills Masquers
Alexa Munsinger, PinnochioShrek The MusicalPerforming Arts & Education Association of Southwest Iowa
Misty Wissel, GingyShrek The MusicalPerforming Arts & Education Association of Southwest Iowa
Choreography
Veronica SkaarChildren of EdenJudge Story Theatrical Troupe
Denise BollingerKiss Me, KateAnkeny Community Theatre
Ami PetersonNewsiesMills Masquers
Megan TorbertShrek The MusicalPerforming Arts & Education Association of Southwest Iowa
Erin HorstThe ProducersOpera House Players – Elkader
Musical Direction
Nicole GalliartChildren of EdenJudge Story Theatrical Troupe
Cathi WickettMary PoppinsNewton Community Theatre
James WaterburyRing of FireWaterloo Comm Playhouse/ Black Hawk Children’s Theatre
Amy DemlowShrek The MusicalPerforming Arts & Education Association of Southwest Iowa
Brandon DouglasThe ProducersOpera House Players – Elkader
Costuming
Kate BellChildren of EdenJudge Story Theatrical Troupe
Lynnea FredricksonFive Women Wearing the Same DressBrickStreet Theatre
Donalee BurnsMamma MiaNew Minowa Players – Decorah
Mary Beth Specht & Barb ChandlerThe ProducersOpera House Players – Elkader
Karin YungclasThe Trouble with CatsWebster City Community Theatre
Scenic Design
Veronica SkaarChildren of EdenJudge Story Theatrical Troupe
Cary KannIt Runs In the FamilyOpera House Players – Elkader
Robert KurtProposalsStarlighters II Comm Theatre
Jonathon Moser & Cary KannThe ProducersOpera House Players – Elkader
Dale Arends and Angela RotteringThe Trouble with CatsWebster City Community Theatre
Lighting Design
Veronica SkaarChildren of EdenJudge Story Theatrical Troupe
Thomas “TJ” MackNumber The StarsStory Theater Company of Ames
Del Reimer & Jonathon MoserThe ProducersOpera House Players – Elkader
Sam OseThe Trouble with CatsWebster City Community Theatre
Pete FrancisThose Crazy Ladies in the House on the CornerSouthwest Iowa Theatre Group, Inc. Park Playhouse
Sound Design
Jonas ChristianChildren of EdenJudge Story Theatrical Troupe
Amanda GrayNumber The StarsStory Theater Company of Ames
Tony JohnRing of FireWaterloo Comm Playhouse/ Black Hawk Children’s Theatre
Craig StruttThe ProducersOpera House Players – Elkader
Sam OseThe Trouble with CatsWebster City Community Theatre
Children’s Show
Brothers Grimm SpectaculathonRich Heritage of Cedar Rapids Theatre Company
Bye Bye Birdie, YPESouthwest Iowa Theatre Group, Inc. Park Playhouse
Disney’s Frozen JrRich Heritage of Cedar Rapids Theatre Company
The Jungle BookBrickStreet Theatre
TwinderellaBrickStreet Theatre