2024 Nominees

The winners are listed first, in bold, followed by the other nominees.

Best Play

“Equus,” Tallgrass Theatre Company
“Athena,” Iowa Stage Theatre Company
“The Black Feminist Guide to the Human Body,” Pyramid Theatre Company
“Dial ‘M’ for Murder,” Ankeny Community Theatre
“The Glass Menagerie,” Iowa Stage Theatre Company
“The Play That Goes Wrong,” Des Moines Playhouse
“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” Ankeny Community Theatre

Best Production for Youth & Family

“Dragons Love Tacos,” Des Moines Playhouse
“A Charlie Brown Christmas,” Des Moines Playhouse
“Finding Nemo Jr.” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre
“Seussical (TYA),” Des Moines Playhouse
“Shrek – the Musical,” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre
“The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre
“The Music Man Jr.” Class Act Productions Community Theatre

Best Musical

“Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” Des Moines Playhouse
“All is Calm,” Des Moines Playhouse
“Camelot,” Tallgrass Theatre Company
“Once,” Des Moines Playhouse
‘School of Rock,” Des Moines Playhouse
“The Prom,” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre
“Urinetown,” Carousel Theatre of Indianola

Best Performances in a Lead Role in a Play

Becky Scholtec, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” Ankeny Community Theatre
Brynn Kelly, “Much Ado About Nothing,” Ankeny Community Theatre/”Athena,” Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Sam Sides, “Equus,” Tallgrass Theatre Company
Elizabeth Nigg, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Evan Schettler, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Jennifer Hughes, “The Glass Menagerie,” Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Mary Bricker, “The Good Doctor,” Tallgrass Theatre Company
Paul Olson, “Dial ‘M’ for Murder,” Ankeny Community Theatre
Thom Sinn, “Death of a Salesman,” Carousel Theatre of Indianola
Troy Gould, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” Ankeny Community Theatre

Best Performances in a Lead Role in a Musical

Charlotte Proctor, “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” Des Moines Playhouse
Julie Larson, “The Prom,” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre
Katy Merriman, “Once,” Des Moines Playhouse
Austin Meyers, “School of Rock,” Des Moines Playhouse
Blake Clyde, “Seussical (TYA),” Des Moines Playhouse
Courtney Kayser, “The Addams Family,” Ankeny Community Theatre
Craig Petersen, “Once,” Des Moines Playhouse
Jay Jacobson, “Urinetown,” Carousel Theatre of Indianola
JJ Binion, “Shrek – the Musical,” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre
Maggie Schmitt, “Melancholy Play,” Iowa Stage Theatre Company

Best Performances in a Featured Role in a Play

Alexis J. Davis, “The Black Feminist Guide to the Human Body,” Pyramid Theatre Company
Kim Haymes, “Equus,” Tallgrass Theatre Company
Toné Cheré, “The Black Feminist Guide to the Human Body,” Pyramid Theatre Company
Brittny Rebhuhn, “The Glass Menagerie,” Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Dan Haymes, “Equus,” Tallgrass Theatre Company
Gabe Thompson, “Temporary Insanity,” Tallgrass Theatre Company
Jessica Weis, “The Odd Couple (Female),” Ankeny Community Theatre
Nate Jorgensen, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Nicholas Root, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” Ankeny Community Theatre
Samantha Aaron, “The Play That Goes Wrong,” Des Moines Playhouse

Best Performances in a Featured Role in a Musical

Adam Haselhuhn, “The Addams Family,” Ankeny Community Theatre
Craig Petersen, “Melancholy Play,” Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Elise Cameron, “Urinetown,” Carousel Theatre of Indianola
Adam Fast, “Camelot,” Tallgrass Theatre Company
AJ Keeler, “The Addams Family,” Ankeny Community Theatre
Ashley Rogers, “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” Des Moines Playhouse
Brett Spahr, “The Wizard of Oz (U),” Urbandale Community Theatre
Calvin Clark, “Camelot,” Tallgrass Theatre Company
Michael Howland, “The Wizard of Oz (U),” Urbandale Community Theatre
Samantha Aaron, “Urinetown,” Carousel Theatre of Indianola

Best Performance by an Ensemble in a Play

Full Cast, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” Ankeny Community Theatre
Ghosts, “A Christmas Carol,” Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Full Cast, “The Black Feminist Guide to the Human Body,” Pyramid Theatre Company
Full Cast, “Dial ‘M’ for Murder,” Ankeny Community Theatre
Full Cast, “The Glass Menagerie,” Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Full Cast, “The Good Doctor,” Tallgrass Theatre Company
Full Cast, “The Play That Goes Wrong,” Des Moines Playhouse

Best Performance by a Youth Ensemble

Full Cast, “Seussical (TYA),” Des Moines Playhouse
Full Cast, “Finding Nemo Jr.” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre.
Full Cast, “High School Musical Jr.” Des Moines Playhouse
Squirrel Chorus, “Marvel Spotlight,” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre
Full Cast, “Shrek – the Musical,” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre
Full Cast, “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre
Barber/Pick a Little, “The Music Man Jr.” Class Act Productions

Best Performance by an Ensemble in a Musical

Pub Musicians, “Once,” Des Moines Playhouse
Full Cast, “All is Calm,” Des Moines Playhouse
The Shirelles, “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” Des Moines Playhouse
Full Cast, “Camelot,” Tallgrass Theatre Company
School of Rock Band, “School of Rock,” Des Moines Playhouse
Full Cast, “Seussical (TYA),” Des Moines Playhouse
Teen Ensemble, “The Prom,” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre

Best Direction

Katrina Ploof, “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” Des Moines Playhouse
Alex Wendel, “The Glass Menagerie,” Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Bob Baskerville, “Equus,” Tallgrass Theatre Company
David Kilpatrick, “All is Calm,” Des Moines Playhouse
DC Felton, “The Prom,” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre
Kent Zimmerman, “Seussical (TYA),” Des Moines Playhouse
Kristin Larson, “Once,” Des Moines Playhouse
Michelle Vaudrin, “Urinetown,” Carousel Theatre of Indianola

Best Music Direction

Brenton Brown, “All is Calm,” Des Moines Playhouse
Alex Lindsley, “Urinetown,” Carousel Theatre of Indianola
Brandon Record, “Seussical (TYA),” Des Moines Playhouse
Brenton Brown, “School of Rock,” Des Moines Playhouse
Charissa Hamel, “The Prom,” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre
Katy Merriman, “Once,” Des Moines Playhouse
Renée Davenport, “Camelot,” Tallgrass Theatre Company
Tristan Miedema, “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” Des Moines Playhouse

Best Choreography

Kent Zimmerman, “Seussical (TYA),” Des Moines Playhouse
Michael Beasley, “Dragons Love Tacos,” Des Moines Playhouse
Michael Beasley, “The Prom,” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre
Michael Tomlinson, “School of Rock,” Des Moines Playhouse
Michelle Vaudrin, “Urinetown,” Carousel Theatre of Indianola
Napoleon Douglas, “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” Des Moines Playhouse
Stella Webster, “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” Des Moines Playhouse

Best Scenic Design

Bob Baskerville, “Equus,” Tallgrass Theatre Company
Brian C. Seckfort, “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” Des Moines Playhouse
Isabel & Moriah Curley-Clay, “The Play That Goes Wrong,” Des Moines Playhouse
Jay Jagim, “A Christmas Carol,” Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Katherine Stepanek, “Dragons Love Tacos,” Des Moines Playhouse
Nicholas Amundson, “All is Calm,” Des Moines Playhouse
Nicholas Amundson, “Seussical (TYA),” Des Moines Playhouse

Best Costume & Makeup Design

Jessica Van Essen, “Dragons Love Tacos,” Des Moines Playhouse
Angela Lampe, “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” Des Moines Playhouse
Angela Lampe, “Seussical (TYA),” Des Moines Playhouse
Cheryl Clark & Effie Hennesy, “The Prom,” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre
Emily Ganfield, “The Glass Menagerie,” Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Hannah Hathoorn, “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre
Jessica Van Essen, “All is Calm,” Des Moines Playhouse

Best Sound Design

Brian Dodson, “School of Rock,” Des Moines Playhouse
Brian Dodson, “All is Calm,” Des Moines Playhouse
Keely Wright-Ogren, “The Glass Menagerie,” Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Lindsey Nelson & Brian Dodson, “Once,” Des Moines Playhouse
Masumo Mwenyi, “Urinetown,” Carousel Theatre of Indianola
Michael Meacham, “Dial ‘M’ for Murder,” Ankeny Community Theatre
Michael Meacham, “Our Town,” Des Moines Playhouse

Best Lighting Design

Sam Stephen, “All is Calm,” Des Moines Playhouse
Katrina Colahan, “Urinetown,” Carousel Theatre of Indianola
Sam Stephen, “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” Des Moines Playhouse
Sam Stephen, “Once,” Des Moines Playhouse
Sam Stephen, “School of Rock,” Des Moines Playhouse
Ty Klobassa, “Equus,” Tallgrass Theatre Company
Virgil Kleinhesselink, “Seussical (TYA),” Des Moines Playhouse

Jeanne Hopson Rising Stars

Danika Jacobsen, “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre/”Marvel Spotlight,” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre
Emily Kolsrud, “The Music Man Jr.” Class Act Productions
Meara Wallace, “School of Rock,” Des Moines Playhouse/”Finding Nemo Jr.” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre
Natalie Waterbury-Hildahl, “Marvel Spotlight,” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre/”The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre
Evan Huegel, “The Prom,” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre
Kiera Jorgenson, “Shrek – the Musical,” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre
Kylie Jorgensen, “The Music Man Jr.” Class Act Productions
Nina Spahr, “Seussical (TYA),” Des Moines Playhouse
Reese Taggart, “Finding Nemo Jr.” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre
Robert Thacker, “High School Musical Jr.” Des Moines Playhouse

Special Recognitions

Amanda Arthur-Struss, “Equus,” Tallgrass Theatre Company