BroadwayWorld Des Moines Awards; NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD! THE MUSICAL!, SHE KILLS MONSTERS, Des Moines Playhouse & More Lead!

It's the final 3 weeks and we have the latest standings as of Monday, December 11th for the 2023 BroadwayWorld Des Moines Awards! Don't miss out on making sure that your favorite theatres, stars, and shows get the recognition they deserve!

The 2023 Regional Awards honor regional productions, touring shows, and more which had their first performance between October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023. Our local editors set the categories, our readers submitted their nominees, and now you get to vote for your favorites! Voting will continue through December 31st, 2023.

Winners will be announced in January!

Don't miss out on making sure that your favorite theatres, stars, and shows get the recognition they deserve!

This year the BroadwayWorld Regional Awards are bigger and better than ever, including over 100 cities across America, Canada, Central and South America, Europe, and Asia!

2023 BroadwayWorld Des Moines Standings

Best Choreography Of A Play Or Musical
Megan Helmers - KINKY BOOTS - Des Moines Playhouse 27%
Megan Helmers - LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS - Des Moines Playhouse 24%
Nicholas Root - THE ADDAMS FAMILY - Ankeny Community Theatre 20%
Anne Frett - THE DROWSY CHAPERONE - Urbandale Community Theatre 14%
Rebecca Frazier - YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN - Clinton Area Showboat Theatre 5%
Charissa Hamel - THE ONE ACT PLAY THAT GOES WRONG - Ankeny Community Theatre 4%
Natalie Thomas - PIPPIN - Tallgrass Theatre 4%
Amy McCleary - ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE - Circa21 2%

Best Costume Design Of A Play Or Musical
Kelly Schaefer - NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD! THE MUSICAL! - Iowa State University 26%
Kelly Schaefer - SHE KILLS MONSTERS - Iowa StateUniversity Theatre 18%
Angela Lampe - KINKY BOOTS - Des Moines playhouse 15%
Cheryl Clark - THE ADDAMS FAMILY - Ankeny Community Theatre 13%
Kailan Wing - THE DROWSY CHAPERONE - Urbandale Community Theatre 12%
Alex Lindsley - THE LITTLE MERMAID - Carousel Theatre of Indianola 4%
Cheryl Clark - MISS BENNET: CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLEY - Tallgrass Theatre 4%
Emily Ganfield - TWELFTH NIGHT - Iowa Stage Theatre Company 4%
Suzanne Douthat - TROUBLE IN MIND - Iowa Stage Theatre Company 2%
Kelly Schaefer - A CHRISTMAS CAROL - Iowa Stage Theatre Company 1%
Suzanna Douthit - IN THE UPPER ROOM - Pyramid Theatre Company 1%
Cheryl Clark - MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING - Ankeny Community Theatre 1%
Cheryl Clark - SHE LOVES ME - Ankeny Community Theatre 0

Best Direction Of A Musical
Mary Jo DuPrey - NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD THE MUSICAL - Iowa State University 41%
Cheryl Clark - THE ADDAMS FAMILY - Ankeny Community Theatre 15%
Kristin Larson - ONCE - Des Moines playhouse 14%
Ron Ziegler - LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS - Des Moines Playhouse 11%
Dr. CD Adamson - THE DROWSY CHAPERONE - Urbandale Community Theatre 8%
Amity Wagner - SHE LOVES ME - Ankeny Community Theatre 5%
Barb wagner - SISTER ACT JR - Des Moines young artist theater 2%
Lara Tenkhoff - SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS - Clinton Area Showboat Theatre 2%
Tom perrine - PIPPEN - Tallgrass Theatre 1%
Any McCleary - ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE - Circa21 0

Best Direction Of A Play
Cason Murphy - SHE KILLS MONSTERS - Iowa State University 47%
Megan Helmers - MISS BENNET: CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLEY - Tallgrass Theatre 11%
Charissa Hamel - MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING - Ankeny Community Theatre 10%
Alex Wendel - A BRIGHT NEW BOISE - Iowa Stage Theatre Company 8%
Ken-Matt Martin - THE PIANO LESSON - Pyramid Theatre Company 7%
Brad Church - EXIT LAUGHING - Ankeny Community Theatre 6%
Davida Williams - TROUBLE IN MIND - Iowa Stage Theatre Company 4%
Brad Dell - TWELFTH NIGHT OR WHAT YOU WILL - Iowa Stage Theatre Company 3%
Tom Perrine - WONDER OF THE WORLD - Tallgrass Theatre 3%
Jennifer Nostrala - GOD OF CARNAGE - Tallgrass Theatre 2%

Best Ensemble
SHE KILLS MONSTERS - Iowa State University 33%
ADDAMS FAMILY MUSICAL - Ankeny Community Theatre 14%
THE DROWSY CHAPERONE - Urbandale Community Theatre 11%
A BRIGHT NEW BOISE - Iowa Stage Theatre Company 9%
KINKY BOOTS - Des Moines Playhouse 8%
SHREK THE MUSICAL - Des Moines young artist theater 5%
GOD OF CARNAGE - Tallgrass Theatre 3%
TROUBLE IN MIND - Iowa Stage Theatre Company 2%
THE PIANO LESSON - Pyramid Theatre Company 2%
THE ONE-ACT PLAY THAT GOES WRONG - Ankeny Community Theatre 2%
ONCE - Des Moines Playhouse 2%
EXIT LAUGHING - Ankeny Community Theatre 1%
MATILDA THE MUSICAL - Class Act Community Playhous 1%
TEMPORARY INSANITY - Tallgrass Theatre 1%
WONDER OF THE WORLD - Tallgrass Theatre 1%
MISS BENNET: CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLEY - Tallgrass Theatre 1%
IN THE UPPER ROOM - Pyramid Theatre Company 1%
SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS - Clinton Area Showboat Theatre 0%
SHE LOVES ME - Ankeny Community Theatre 0%
ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE - Circa21 0%
STEEL MAGNOLIAS - Carousel Theatre of Indianola 0

Best Lighting Design Of A Play Or Musical
Sam Anderson - SHE KILLS MONSTERS - Iowa State University 32%
Samuel Stephen - LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS - Des Moines Playhouse 16%
Grace Ammann - THE ADDAMS FAMILY - Ankeny Community Theatre 16%
Samuel Stephen - KINKY BOOTS - Des Moines Playhouse 12%
Hope Stice - THE DROWSY CHAPERONE - Urbandale Community Theatre 10%
Jackson Newhouse - TROUBLE IN MIND - Iowa Stage Theatre Company 5%
John Pomeroy - THE PIANO LESSON - Pyramid Theatre Company 3%
Charissa Hamel - MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING - Ankeny Community Theatre 2%
Matt Tuttle - SISTER ACT JR - Des Moines young artist theater 2%
James Davis - SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS - Clinton Area Showboat Theatre 1%
John Pomeroy - IN THE UPPER ROOM - Pyramid Theatre Company 1%
Abby Martin - MARJORIE PRIME - Ankeny Community Theatre 1%

Best Music Direction & Orchestra Performance
Brenton Brown - LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS - Des Moines Playhouse 31%
Katy Merriman - ONCE - Des Moines Playhouse 31%
Jim Loos - THE ADDAMS FAMILY - Ankeny Community Theatre 19%
Jack Pearson and Carl Johnson - THE DROWSY CHAPERONE - Urbandale Community Theatre 17%
Sabin Fisher - SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS - Clinton Area Showboat Theatre 2%

Best Musical
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD! THE MUSICAL! - Iowa State University 40%
THE ADDAMS FAMILY - Ankeny Community Theatre 21%
ONCE - Des Moines Playhouse 13%
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS - Des Moines Playhouse 11%
THE DROWSY CHAPERONE - Urbandale Community Theatre 10%
SHE LOVES ME - Ankeny Community Theatre 2%
PIPPEN - Tallgrass Theatre 1%
MURDER FOR TWO - Clinton Area Showboat Theatre 1%
ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE - Circa21 0
SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS - Clinton Area Showboat Theatre 0

Best Performer In A Musical
Brandon Schumann - NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD! THE MUSICAL! - Iowa State University 23%
Taylor Noe - NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD! THE MUSICAL! - Iowa State University 13%
Morgan Wolfe - LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS - Des Moines Playhouse 13%
DC Felton as Man in Chair - THE DROWSY CHAPERONE - Urbandale Community Theatre 10%
Travis Ness - KINKY BOOTS - Des Moines playhouse 7%
AJ Keeler - THE ADDAMS FAMILY - Ankeny Community Theatre 7%
Craig Peterson - ONCE - Des Moines Playhouse 6%
Emmett Lorenzen - ADDAMS FAMILY MUSICAL - Ankeny Community Theatre 4%
Courtney Kayser - THE ADDAMS FAMILY - Ankeny Community Theatre 4%
Blake Clyde - PIPPIN - Tallgrass Theatre 4%
Katy Merriman - ONCE - Des Moines Playhouse 3%
Courtney Kayser - SHE LOVES ME - Ankeny Community Theatre 3%
Brandon Griffis - THE ADDAMS FAMILY - Ankeny Community Theatre 1%
John Wascavage - MURDER FOR TWO - Clinton Area Showboat Theatre 0%
Olivia Sauerberg - YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN - Clinton Area Showboat Theatre 0%
Brandon Griffis - SHE LOVES ME - Ankeny Community Theatre 0%
Jack Ducat - SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS - Clinton Area Showboat Theatre 0
Jack Ducat - YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN - Clinton Area Showboat Theatre 0

Best Performer In A Play
Jordyn Johnstad - SHE KILLS MONSTERS - Iowa State University 47%
Joseph Furnald - A BRIGHT NEW BOISE - Iowa Stage Theatre Company 11%
Barb Wagner - WONDER OF THE WORLD - Tallgrass Theatre 9%
Dani Boal - MISS BENNET: CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLEY - Tallgrass Theatre 6%
Daron Richardson - THE PIANO LESSON - Pyramid Theatre Company 6%
Davida Williams - SWEAT - Iowa Stage Theatre Company 4%
Michael Harris - GOD OF CARNAGE - Tallgrass Theatre 3%
Rae Fehring - TROUBLE IN MIND - Iowa Stage Theatre Company 3%
Beth Coffey - STEEL MAGNOLIAS - Carousel Theatre of Indianola 2%
Brooke Guinn - MARJORIE PRIME - Ankeny Community Theatre 2%
Davida Williams - IN THE UPPER ROOM - Pyramid Theatre Company 2%
Jocelyn Smith - MISS BENNET: CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLEY - Tallgrass Theatre 1%
Karin Hooper - STEEL MAGNOLIAS - Carousel Theatre of Indianola 1%
Michael Harris - A BRIGHT NEW BOISE - Iowa Stage Theatre Company 1%
Jacob Hayworth - MISS BENNET: CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLEY - Tallgrass Theatre 1%
Daron Richardson - IN THE UPPER ROOM - Pyramid Theatre Company 0

Best Play
SHE KILLS MONSTERS - Iowa State University 29%
A BRIGHT NEW BOISE - Iowa Stage Theatre Company 25%
A NEW BOISE - Iowa Stage Theatre Company 16%
THE ONE ACT PLAY THAT GOES WRONG - Ankeny Community Theatre 6%
THE PIANO LESSON - Pyramid Theatre Company 4%
TEMPORARY INSANITY - Tallgrass Theatre 4%
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING - Ankeny Community Theatre 3%
MISS BENNET: CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLEY - Tallgrass Theatre 3%
ATHENA - Iowa Stage Theatre Company 2%
WONDER OF THE WORLD - Tallgrass Theatre 2%
TROUBLE IN MIND - Iowa Stage Theatre Company 2%
GOD OF CARNAGE - Tallgrass Theatre 1%
EXIT LAUGHING - Ankeny Community Theatre 1%
STEEL MAGNOLIAS - Carousel Theatre of Indianola 1%
IN THE UPPER ROOM - Pyramid Theatre Company 0%

Best Production of an Opera
CARMEN - Des Moines Metro Opera 56%
THE LOVE FOR THREE ORANGES - Des Moines Metro Opera 24%
BLUEBEARD'S CASTLE - Des Moines Metro Opera 19%
THE FALLING AND THE RISING AS - Des Moines Metro Opera 2%

Best Scenic Design Of A Play Or Musical
Natalie Hining - SHE KILLS MONSTERS - Iowa State University 40%
Cheryl Clark - THE ADDAMS FAMILY - Ankeny Community Theatre 18%
Brian Seckfort - A BRIGHT NEW BOISE - Iowa Stage Theatre Company 15%
Kate Kanne Smith - THE DROWSY CHAPERONE - Urbandale Community Theatre 12%
Sydney Lynne - THE PIANO LESSON - Pyramid Theatre Company & The Playhouse 8%
Robert Hamel - MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING - Ankeny Community Theatre 4%
Kai Williams - IN THE UPPER ROOM - Pyramid Theatre Company 3%

Best Sound Design Of A Play Or Musical
Will Coeur - SHE KILLS MONSTERS - Iowa State University 56%
Dan Chase - ADDAMS FAMILY MUSICAL - Ankeny Community Theatre 27%
Gabriel Clausen - THE PIANO LESSON - Pyramid Theatre Company & The Playhouse 17%

Best Supporting Performer In A Musical
Morgan Wolfe - NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD! THE MUSICAL! - Iowa State University 36%
Charlie Reese - LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS - Des Moines Playhouse 12%
Adam Haselhuhn - THE ADDAMS FAMILY - Ankeny Community Theatre 10%
Bryan Gamboa - KINKY BOOTS - Des Moines Playhouse 8%
Jim Benda - LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS - Des Moines Playhouse 4%
Jana DeZwarte - THE DROWSY CHAPERONE - Urbandale Community Theatre 4%
Tori Hollingsworth - THE ADDAMS FAMILY - Ankeny Community Theatre 4%
Lucas White - THE DROWSY CHAPERONE - Urbandale Community Theatre 4%
Christine Yoder as Trix the Aviatrix - THE DROWSY CHAPERONE - Urbandale Community Theatre 3%
Emmett Lorenzen - THE ADDAMS FAMILY - Ankeny Community Theatre 3%
Zacc Cue - THE ADDAMS FAMILY - Ankeny Community Theatre 2%
Peggy George - THE ADDAMS FAMILY - Ankeny Community Theatre 2%
Nicholas Root - SHE LOVES ME - Ankeny Community Theatre 2%
Reese Herrick - YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN - Clinton Area Showboat Theatre 1%
Sara Collins - THE DROWSY CHAPERONE - Urbandale Community Theatre 1%
Jessie Grimaldo - SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS - Clinton Area Showboat Theatre 1%
Carlee Glenn - THE DROWSY CHAPERONE - Urbandale Community Theatre 1%
Jude Mangum - THE ADDAMS FAMILY - Ankeny Community Theatre 1%
Ryan Ingram - THE ADDAMS FAMILY - Ankeny Community Theatre 1%
K. Bernice (as Marley) - ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE - Circa21 0

Best Supporting Performer In A Play
Zane McSheehy - SHE KILLS MONSTERS - Iowa State University 46%
Tiffany Johnson - THE PIANO LESSON - Pyramid Theatre Company & The Playhouse 9%
Clifton Antoine - THE PIANO LESSON - Pyramid Theatre Company 6%
Barb Wagner - EXIT LAUGHING - Ankeny Community Theatre 5%
Charlie Reese - MISS BENNET: CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLEY - Tallgrass Theatre 5%
Susan Casber - EXIT LAUGHING - Ankeny Community Theatre 4%
Donna Scarfe - TROUBLE IN MIND - Iowa Stage Theatre Company 3%
Frances Paterik - WONDER OF THE WORLD - Tallgrass Theatre 3%
Emily Davis - MISS BENNET: CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLEY - Tallgrass Theatre 3%
Giovanni jesus bahena - TROUBLE IN MIND - Iowa Stage Theatre Company 3%
Mariah Kerns - STEEL MAGNOLIAS - Carousel Theatre of Indianola 2%
Dan Haymes - GOD OF CARNAGE - Tallgrass Theatre 2%
Michael Harris - GOD OF CARNAGE - Tallgrass Theatre 2%
Henry Beaumont - TEMPORARY INSANITY - Tallgrass Theatre 1%
Maggie Jane - GOD OF CARNAGE - Tallgrass Theatre 1%
Lyric Sellers - IN THE UPPER ROOM - Pyramid Theatre Company 1%
Kim haymes - TEMPORARY INSANITY - Tallgrass Theatre 1%
Emmett Saah Phillips Jr - THE PIANO LESSON - DM Playhouse 1%
Emmett Phillips - THE PIANO LESSON - Pyramid Theatre Company & The Playhouse 1%
Deb Had - STEEL MAGNOLIAS - Carousel Theatre of Indianola 1%
Ameenah (Mena) Jones - IN THE UPPER ROOM - Pyramid Theatre Company 1%
Kim Haymes - GOD OF CARNAGE - Tallgrass Theatre 0
Mickie Larche - STEEL MAGNOLIAS - Carousel Theatre of Indianola 0
Daron Richardson - IN THE UPPER ROOM - Pyramid Theatre Company 0

Favorite Local Theatre
Des Moines Playhouse 39%
Iowa Stage Theatre Company 18%
Ankeny Community Theatre 13%
Tallgrass Theatre 12%
Des Moines Young Artist Theater 9%
Urbandale Community Theatre 8%
Clinton Area Showboat Theatre 2%

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