Des Moines Playhouse 2016 Dionysos Award Winners

The Des Moines Community Playhouse held the 2016 Dionysos Awards on Sunday, July 24. The theatre honored 15 backstage, front-of-house, and education volunteers, and announced eight acting award winners. The evening was bookended by musical performances from the Performance Academy cast of "Disney's Camp Rock," with public performances Aug. 5-6, and the cast of "Rock of Ages," on stage now through Aug. 7.

Ann Skallerup received the Dick Brown Superior Volunteer Award. The award is named for longtime Playhouse volunteer, Dick Brown, who embodied the theatre's volunteer program and was nationally recognized for his community theatre volunteer service. Skallerup has volunteered for virtually every Mainstage show at The Playhouse, and some children's theatre shows, since 2010.

Tony Tandeski received the Gypsy Award. The Gypsy Award, nominated by the season's stage managers, is given to an actor, typically not a lead, who has shown dedication to the show, assisting in ways above and beyond a role on stage. Tandeski is a team player who is always positive and encouraging.

Receiving the 2016 Volunteer of the Year Awards were Jeanella Arthur, Dennis Bates, Kathleen Baustian, Dani Boal, Kate Fitzgerald, Pat Henson, Elysa Koss, Richard Manion, Michael Meacham, Kathy Polson, Maxwell Schaeffer, Gary Scherer, and Chae Wall. This group of volunteers gives their time to building sets and props, sewing costumes, shifting scenery, running lights and sound, acting, organizing auditions, visiting classrooms, corresponding with students about shows, touring the state with radio shows, assisting with theatre classes, tearing tickets, and welcoming motorcoach groups.

Actor Awards were given in both the Mainstage and Kate Goldman Children's Theatre. Actors were nominated by audiences, with winners chosen by season ticket holders.

In the Mainstage Theatre, Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Musical went to Christopher Rozenboom, who played Eddie in "Sister Act." Alexandra St. James-Gray received Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Musical for her role as Deloris Van Cartier in "Sister Act." Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Play went to Michael Meacham for his role as Martin Vanderhof in "You Can't Take It With You." Farica Robertson received Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Play for her role as Rheba in "You Can't Take It With You."

Two actors received awards for Outstanding Performance in a Family Musical: Samantha Arneson for her role as Junie B. Jones in "Junie B. Jones The Musical" and Brett Spahr, who played the Childcatcher in "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang."

In the Kate Goldman Children's Theatre, Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Play went to Brian Bopp, who played Mr. Beaver in "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," and to Cael Fitch, who played Myron in "Sideways Stories From Wayside School." Sarah Frett received Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Play for her role as BeBe in "Sideways Stories From Wayside School."

The more than 300 volunteers and Playhouse subscribers at Sunday's awards paid tribute to the more than 1,700 active volunteers who give more than 77,000 hours to the theatre. The Dionysos Awards are named for the Greek god and patron deity of the theater.

The Playhouse volunteer program is open to ages 14 and up for backstage and front-of-house opportunities, and ages 8 and up for acting opportunities. Training is provided. For more information on volunteer opportunities with The Playhouse, call515-277-6261.

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