The Cloris Awards ramp up
7/31/2024
Dani Boal with Cloris Leachman at the 2016 Cloris Awards.
This annual fete is as resilient as its namesake, Cloris Leachman. The Cloris Leachman Excellence in Theatre Arts Awards, fondly called The Clorises, is Greater Des Moines’ annual homage to our metro’s stage artistry. Our answer to the Tony Awards, it has survived outgrowing its original venue (Des Moines Social Club’s Kum & Go Theatre) and the pandemic, thanks to the Herculean efforts of many volunteers. It’s now an established and cherished gathering to celebrate another year of stage magic. There are only winners, as the Central Iowa bonds of community theatre resonate with all — patrons, performers and production teams.
Unlike the Tony Awards, The Clorises has plenty of room for patrons to share the rich pageantry within the beautiful Hoyt Sherman Theatre on Sunday, Aug. 25 beginning at 5 p.m. Thanks to the generosity of underwriters, this event is free. The lead sponsor is the Leachman Family, through Leachman Lumber Company. Hoyt Sherman Theatre and its Hoyt Sherman Place Foundation provide another cornerstone of support, as well as a new sponsor, Wellabe Insurance, and many individuals who contribute. All proceeds underwrite the production of the Cloris Awards.
2024 — a year of growth
An energized team of Cloris volunteers reflects the theatre community’s excitement to leave the pandemic void in the past. A cadre of judges attends the shows, assuring each production is, as veteran judge Denise Forney explains, evaluated through “quantitative measurements with scoring metrics.” This process winnows all qualifying productions’ elements (community theatres operating within the Bravo Greater Des Moines footprint) into lists of nominees. The awards show is filled with musical numbers, entertaining commentary and the eagerly anticipated awards presentations. The Cloris Awards feature 17 award categories, plus Rising Star for under-18 actors, and Special Recognition Awards.
Cloris Award-winners Dani Boal (2016, 2023) and Blake Clyde (2018) co-host the ceremony. Boal, taking on a producer’s role, is coordinating eight musical performances from the participating theatre companies plus the two numbers bookending the show.
“We’ve done a couple of new things this year to add on to all the wonderful things done in the past,” Boal said. “It’s great to be back at Hoyt Sherman. They love having us there, and their tech team is the best. Brenton Brown was hired as music director for special opening and closing (musical) numbers and to help the theatre companies if they want help in preparing for their numbers.”
Kent Zimmerman, a new transplant to Des Moines, brings a wealth of professional experience. He was hired to choreograph a new program surprise, the group numbers to open and close the ceremony. Information is at https://clorisawards.org.
New seasons launching
This year holds an enticing variety of carefully curated show selections as most companies launch their 2024-2025 seasons. The Des Moines Community Playhouse mainstage season includes dynamic musicals, a Halloween-centric comedy and an especially noteworthy show: “Men on Boats.” Tallgrass Theatre Company launched its season with its “instant classic” outdoor musical, “Camelot.” Their nationally recognized programming through the Kate Goldman Children’s Theatre is a wonderfully engaging way to capture the imaginations of young ones to delve into children’s literature and those famous stories when adapted to stage. “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Musical” definitely will make young and old alike delight with youthful joy. Always presenting enticing fare, Terrance McNally’s “It’s Only a Play” is a sparkling gem in a diadem of appeal. Iowa Stage Theatre Company recently changed its seasonal window to a calendar year so has one show left in the current season: “Witch,” by Iowa City-connected, award-winning playwright, novelist and screenwriter, Jen Silverman. This promises to be a powerful show. A continually rising star in providing exceptional performing arts training and opportunities for youth is with Class Act Productions (CAP Theatre). Their season launched with their CAP Classic in the park, “Antigone,” last month and will continue with a trio of youth edition mainstage musicals. Their “Once Upon a Mattress” looks to be a wonderful version of the musical that made Carol Burnette famous. Another stellar youth company is Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre (DMYAT), often offering more provocative works and includes the challenging show, “The Laramie Project.”
Our Broadway connection
Des Moines Performing Arts is nationally recognized for its programming, including its savvy investments in new Broadway shows. This gives our community early tour opportunities for new Broadway National Tours. Their signature Willis Broadway Series contains six dynamic shows, including “Back to the Future: The Musical.” This company offers a stellar array of series, including Explorer Speaker, Temple Comedy, Live at the Temple Concert, Family, Dance, Applause, and their resident artists: Des Moines Symphony, Iowa Stage Theatre Company, DMYAT, and Pyramid Theatre Company. ♦
John Busbee produces a weekly radio program, The Culture Buzz, on KFMG. He, Michael Morain and John Domini were the three theatre critics who founded The Cloris Awards in 2014.