2022 Nominees
The winners are listed first, in bold, followed by the other nominees.
Best Play
“The Cake,” Iowa Stage Theatre Co.
“Calendar Girls,” The Des Moines Playhouse
“It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play,” Iowa Stage Theatre Co.
“King Lear,” Iowa Stage Theatre Co.
“The Revolutionists,” Tallgrass Theatre Co.
Best Production for Youth & Family
“Heathers: The Musical,” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre
“Charlotte’s Web,” The Des Moines Playhouse
“Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus,” The Des Moines Playhouse
“Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells,” The Des Moines Playhouse
“Pippi Longstocking,” The Des Moines Playhouse
Best Musical
“Next to Normal,” Carousel Theatre of Indianola
“Cabaret,” The Des Moines Playhouse
“Heathers: The Musical,” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre
“Into the Woods,” Tallgrass Theatre Co.
“Matilda,” The Des Moines Playhouse
Best Performance in a Lead Role in a Play
Richard Maynard as Lear in “King Lear,” Iowa Stage Theatre Co.
Kiera McGregor as Marianne Angelle in “The Revolutionists,” Tallgrass Theatre Co.
Becky Scholtec as Della in “The Cake,” Iowa Stage Theatre Co.
Riley Devick as Lena in “Cry It Out,” Ankeny Community Theatre
Debra Garner as Jessie in “Calendar Girls,” The Des Moines Playhouse
Kim Haymes as Jen in “The Cake,” Iowa Stage Theatre Co.
John Robinson as Harry Heywood in “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play,” Iowa Stage Theatre Co.
Jordyn Wiser as Sugar in “Tiny Beautiful Things,” Tallgrass Theatre Co.
Best Performance in a Lead Role in a Musical
Madison Green as Natalie in “Next to Normal,” Carousel Theatre of Indianola
Charlie Reese as Don Lockwood, “Singin’ in the Rain,” The Des Moines Playhouse
Brett Spahr as the Pigeon in “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus,” The Des Moines Playhouse
Charlotte Proctor as Veronica Sawyer in “Heathers: The Musical,” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre
Ashley Rogers as Rosie Alvarez in “Bye Bye Birdie,” Urbandale Community Theatre
Stephanie Schneider as Kathy Selden in “Singin’ in the Rain,” The Des Moines Playhouse
Dane Van Brocklin as Jack in “Into the Woods,” Tallgrass Theatre Co.
Hunter West as Jason Dean in “Heathers: The Musical,” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre
Best Performance in a Featured Role in a Play
Thomas Gill as Edmund in “King Lear,” Iowa Stage Theatre Co.
Amy McGrew as Steele in “A Piece of My Heart,” Ankeny Community Theatre
James Serpento as Tim in “The Cake,” Iowa Stage Theatre Co.
Rae Davis Fehring as Macy in “The Cake,” Iowa Stage Theatre Co.
Jen Green as Goneril in “King Lear,” Iowa Stage Theatre Co.
Cate Miller as Helen Hubbard in “Murder on the Orient Express,” The Des Moines Playhouse
Brittny Rebhuhn as the Fool in “King Lear,” Iowa Stage Theatre Co.
Nancy Zubrod as Dot in “Girls’ Weekend 2,” Iowa Stage Theatre Co.
Best Performance in a Featured Role in a Musical
Katelyn Hughes as Miss Agatha Trunchbull in “Matilda,” The Des Moines Playhouse
Maggie Schmitt as Lina Lamont in “Singin’ in the Rain,” The Des Moines Playhouse
Dane Van Brocklin as Gabe in “Next to Normal,” Carousel Theatre of Indianola
Mia Alaimo as Miss Jennifer Honey in “Matilda,” The Des Moines Playhouse
Alison Buechler as Rapunzel in “Into the Woods,” Tallgrass Theatre Co.
Abby Fickbohm as Heather Chandler in “Heathers: The Musical,” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre
Sage Johnson as Liesl von Trapp in “The Sound of Music,” The Des Moines Playhouse
Craig Petersen as Herr Schultz in “Cabaret,” The Des Moines Playhouse
Best Performance by an Ensemble
“[title of show],” Carousel Theatre of Indianola
“Beaufield Berry’s Buffalo Women,” The Des Moines Playhouse and Pyramid Theatre Co.
“The Cake,” Iowa Stage Theatre Co.
“Every Christmas Story Ever Told (and Then Some!),” Tallgrass Theatre Co.
“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” Carousel Theatre of Indianola
Best Performance by a Youth Ensemble
“Heathers: The Musical,” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre
“Charlotte’s Web,” The Des Moines Playhouse
“Matilda,” The Des Moines Playhouse
“Pippi Longstocking,” The Des Moines Playhouse
The von Trapp children in “The Sound of Music,” The Des Moines Playhouse
Best Direction
Jennifer Nostrala, “The Cake,” Iowa Stage Theatre Co.
Brad Dell, “King Lear,” Iowa Stage Theatre Co.
Katy Merriman, “The Sound of Music,” The Des Moines Playhouse
David VanCleave, “Matilda,” The Des Moines Playhouse
Megan Helmers, “Heathers: The Musical,” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre
Best Music Direction
Adam Yankowy, “Cabaret,” The Des Moines Playhouse
Claire Barth, “Next to Normal,” Carousel Theatre of Indianola
Brenton Brown, “Heathers: The Musical,” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre
Courageous Fire, “Beaufield Berry’s Buffalo Women,” The Des Moines Playhouse and Pyramid Theatre Co.
Charissa Hamel, “Into the Woods,” Tallgrass Theatre Co.
Best Choreography
Erin Horst, “Singin’ in the Rain,” The Des Moines Playhouse
Allison Bollinger, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” Carousel Theatre of Indianola
Megan Helmers, “Cabaret,” The Des Moines Playhouse
Megan Helmers, “Heathers: The Musical,” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre
Alison Shafer, “Matilda,” The Des Moines Playhouse
Best Scenic Design
Nicholas Amundson, “Matilda,” The Des Moines Playhouse
Nicholas Amundson, “Escaping the Labyrinth,” The Des Moines Playhouse
Nicholas Amundson, “Murder on the Orient Express,” The Des Moines Playhouse
Jay Michael Jagim, “Cabaret,” The Des Moines Playhouse
Jay Michael Jagim, “Girls’ Weekend 2,” Iowa Stage Theatre
Best Costume & Makeup
Angela Lampe, “Cabaret,” The Des Moines Playhouse
Cheryl Clark, “The Revolutionists,” Tallgrass Theatre Co.
Angela Lampe, “Singin’ in Rain,” The Des Moines Playhouse
Angela Lampe, “Matilda,” The Des Moines Playhouse
Angela Lampe, “The Sound of Music,” The Des Moines Playhouse
Best Sound Design
Brandon Kair, “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play,” Iowa Stage Theatre Co.
Cory Hug, “Every Christmas Story Ever Told (and Then Some!),” Tallgrass Theatre Co.
Michael Meacham, “Murder on the Orient Express,” The Des Moines Playhouse
Mark Toebben, “Escaping the Labyrinth,” The Des Moines Playhouse
Meredith Toebben, “Charlotte’s Web,” The Des Moines Playhouse
Best Lighting Design
Alex Snodgrass, “Cabaret,” The Des Moines Playhouse
Chris Hanian, “Escaping the Labyrinth,” The Des Moines Playhouse
Shawn Jensen, “Next to Normal,” Carousel Theatre of Indianola
Dakota Sommer, “The Cake,” Iowa Stage Theatre Co.
Sam Stephen, “Matilda,” The Des Moines Playhouse
Jeanne Hopson Rising Stars
Liliana Haaland as Matilda in “Matilda,” The Des Moines Playhouse
Nina Spahr as Matilda in “Matilda,” The Des Moines Playhouse
Ruth Christie as a narrator in “Charlotte’s Web” and Lucille in “Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells!” The Des Moines Playhouse
Me’Lisa Dudley as Heather Duke in “Heathers,” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre
Emmersyn Gustafson as Junie B. Jones in “Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells!” The Des Moines Playhouse
Dawson Huinker as Mal in “Disney’s Descendants: The Musical,” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre
Price Jacobsen as Harvey Johnson in “Bye Bye Birdie,” Urbandale Community Theatre
Gbomi Kayode as a narrator in “Charlotte’s Web,” The Des Moines Playhouse
Tatum Lowell as Heather McNamara in “Heathers,” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre
Charlotte Rempe as Wilbur in “Charlotte’s Web,” The Des Moines Playhouse
Isabella Rempe as Pippi in “Pippi Longstocking,” The Des Moines Playhouse
Amaya Veldkamp as Pippi in “Pippi Longstocking” and May in “June B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells!” The Des Moines Playhouse
Special Recognitions
Stronger Together – Recognizing the partnership of the Des Moines Playhouse and Pyramid Theatre Co. for co-producing a workshop production of “Beaufield Berry’s Buffalo Women,” a story inspired by historical events.
Home Sweet Home – Recognizing Tallgrass Theatre Co. for successfully opening a shared arts venue in West Des Moines to advance the company’s mission and serve the greater community.
Supporting Community Initiatives – Recognizing the Des Moines Playhouse for collecting financial donations for local first responders, in connection to the 9/11 drama “with their eyes,” and more than 1,000 books donated to the public library, in connection to “Matilda.”