Creepy, bubbly, romantic, epic — the past year of Des Moines theater productions offered something for every mood. On Sunday, some of the actors, behind-the-scenes crew and theater companies that brought these shows to life were honored with glass plaques at the 2025 Cloris Awards ceremony. Hoyt Sherman Place hosted the 10th annual local theater awards named in honor of the late, great Cloris Leachman.
Des Moines Community Playhouse’sWaitress was one of the most decorated productions of the night with five awards, including Outstanding Musical and Musical Ensemble. The SpongeBob Musical from Des Moines Young Artists Theatre swept the youth categories while picking up a trio of technical awards. Another big winner was Iowa Stage Theatre Company’s production of Witch, a devilish play by Jen Silverman.
Local actor Kim Haymes achieved what no Tony or Oscar winner has before: winning both lead actor and featured/supporting actor awards in the same year. (The Cloris Awards work a little differently, however, eschewing gendered categories and crowning three winners in each acting category.) Haymes made a splash — or should we say splatter — in About Time’s one-woman show Squeamish, the company’s debut. Her supporting performance as an aging Broadway star in Tallgrass Theatre’s comedy It’s Only a Play was also awarded.
Browse the full list of winners below. All nominees are listed on the Cloris Awards website.
Outstanding Play
Witch, Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Outstanding Musical
Waitress, Des Moines Community Playhouse
Outstanding Production for Youth and Family
The SpongeBob Musical, Des Moines Young Artists Theatre
Outstanding Performance as a Lead Actor in a Play
Alex Wendel (Scratch in Witch, Iowa Stage Theatre Company)
Brooke Guine (Blanche DeBois in A Streetcar Named Desire, Ankeny Community Theatre)
Kim Haymes (Sharon in Squeamish, About Time Theatre)
Outstanding Performance as a Lead Actor in a Musical
Alex Schaeffer (Dr. Pomatter in Waitress, Des Moines Community Playhouse)
Allison Wergeland (Anya/Anastasia in Anastasia, Carousel Theatre)
Dane Van Brocklin (Jesus of Nazareth in Jesus Christ Superstar, Des Moines Community Playhouse)
Outstanding Performance as a Featured Actor in a Play
Becky Scholtec (Ma in Torch Song, Iowa Stage Theatre Company)
Katie Saldanha (the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland, Des Moines Community Playhouse)
Kim Haymes (Virginia Noyes in It’s Only a Play, Tallgrass Theatre Company)
Outstanding Performance as a Featured Actor in a Musical
Andy McKissick (Ogie in Waitress, Des Moines Community Playhouse)
Micheal Davenport (Moonface Martin in Anything Goes, Tallgrass Theatre Company)
Michael Howland (Gleb in Anastasia, Carousel Theatre)
Outstanding Ensemble in a Play
Witch, Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical
Waitress, Des Moines Community Playhouse
Outstanding Ensemble in a Youth Production
The SpongeBob Musical, Des Moines Young Artists Theatre
Outstanding Direction of a Play
Todd Buchacker (Torch Song, Iowa Stage Theatre Company)
Outstanding Direction of a Musical
Adam Haselhuhn (The SpongeBob Musical, Des Moines Young Artists Theatre)
Outstanding Choreography
Marquis Bundy (The SpongeBob Musical, Des Moines Young Artists Theatre)
Outstanding Music Direction
Tristan Miedema (Waitress, Des Moines Community Playhouse)
Outstanding Orchestration
Brandon Record (Conductor for Jesus Christ Superstar, Des Moines Community Playhouse)
Jeanne Hopson Rising Star Award
Grayce Wanner (CAP Theatre)
Meara Wallace (Des Moines Young Artists Theatre)
Peyton Haacke (Des Moines Young Artists Theatre)
Outstanding Costume Design and Makeup Design
Kaitlyn Munro (The SpongeBob Musical, Des Moines Young Artists Theatre)
Outstanding Scenic Design
Brian C. Seckfort (Jesus Christ Superstar, Des Moines Community Playhouse)
Outstanding Lighting Design
Amanda Pichler (Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors, Des Moines Community Playhouse)
Outstanding Sound Design
Keely Wright-Ogre (Witch, Iowa Stage Theatre Company)
John Domini Passion Award
Timothy Rose
John Domini Purpose Award
Michael Howland
Special Recognition
Class Act Productions (CAP) Theatre, for their CAP Tech Titan Program
About Time Theatre, for their immersive production of Squeamish
Stage managers of every company, “The true heroes of theater who coordinate and accommodate, we appreciate you!”
