Eligibility

Any production is eligible for a Cloris Award if it:

1. Opens between Aug. 1 and July 31.
2. Offers at least three public performances. Theatre companies are encouraged to publicly announce their performances (or notify the judges) at least two months in advance to allow the judges enough time to arrange their attendance schedules.
3. Is locally produced in central Iowa, within the communities that participate with Bravo Greater Des Moines. To be eligible, a production can be: a) a published play or musical held by a licensing house, with the local company holding the license; b) a work in the public domain; or c) an original play or musical that features an original script, music and/or lyrics and is covered under a valid copyright or produced with the permission of the original creators or their representatives. Revues, cabarets, dance concerts and improvisational works do not qualify.

Productions that are produced by a school or other academic institution are not eligible. Exceptions to all of these criteria are considered on a case-by-case basis. Participation in the Cloris Awards program is optional, and companies can opt-out simply by notifying the judges.

Judging Process

(New judging process for 2023-2024: Please read the details and consider applying by Aug. 14, 2023.)

Each year, from Aug. 1 through July 31, a team of Cloris Awards judges volunteers to see as many local theatre productions as possible. All of the judges have experience evaluating theatre and a commitment to strengthening the cultural community through the performing arts. The judges group is self-perpetuating, and people who are interested in joining are encouraged to contact one of the current judges. Membership decisions are based on previous experience evaluating theatre, general knowledge of the craft, neutrality among local companies, and availability.

At least three judges attend each eligible production, and only the judges who see all of the productions in a particular awards category are eligible to vote on that category.

If a production double-casts actors for a leading or featured role, the company is encouraged to contact the judges with enough time to allow the judges to attend all of the relevant performances.

The judges gather every few months to evaluate the productions they have seen to date. At the end of season, in early August, the judges meet to determine, by consensus, five nominees in each awards category. In mid-August the judges cast confidential votes to determine the winners in each category. Again, only the judges who attend all of the productions in a particular category are eligible to vote for that category’s winner. Judges with any conflicts of interest in a particular category are expected to abstain from voting on the category in question.

If any theatre company wishes to express a grievance or make an appeal about any of the guidelines explained here, they are encouraged to contact the judges, who will do their best to determine a fair solution.

The Cloris Awards program strives to be as unbiased and transparent as possible.