2020 Dionysos Awards (virtual edition)

Join The Des Moines Playhouse for the 2020 Dionysos Awards at 7:00 PM on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020. This year’s awards are virtual, with a video available here as well as the YouTube channel and Facebook page. The Dionysos Awards celebrates the contributions of more than 750 individuals giving 55,000 hours during the 2019-20 Season. The Dionysos Awards annually recognizes backstage, guest services, and education volunteers who have made exceptional contributions to the recently completed season. As a result of an abbreviated 2019-20 season, The Playhouse will honor six Volunteers of the Year plus a Dick Brown Superior Volunteer of the Year and a Spirit Award. The Superior Volunteer award is named for longtime Playhouse volunteer, Dick Brown, who embodied the theatre’s vision for its volunteer program and was nationally recognized for his community theatre volunteer service. The Spirit 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 the stage role. In addition, The Playhouse will be announcing eight acting awards. Actors are nominated by audiences.

Click here for a list of Dionysos Award recipients over the years.

Performance Times:
7:00 PM, Sunday, Nov. 15, Premiere with video available for re-viewing
Theatre:
Special Events
Run Time:
1 hour

Press Release

Des Moines Community Playhouse Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Kill Date: Nov. 15, 2020 Subject: Des Moines Community Playhouse Presents: 2020 Dionysos Awards Contact: Lee Ann Bakros, Playhouse Marketing Associate, 515.974.5358 Join The Des Moines Playhouse for the 2020 Dionysos Awards at 7:00 PM on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020. This year's awards are virtual, with a video available on The Playhouse's website, YouTube channel, and Facebook page. The Dionysos Awards celebrates the contributions of more than 750 individuals giving 55,000 hours during the 2019-20 Season. The Dionysos Awards annually recognizes backstage, guest services, and education volunteers who have made exceptional contributions to the recently completed season. As a result of an abbreviated 2019-20 season, The Playhouse will honor six Volunteers of the Year plus a Dick Brown Superior Volunteer of the Year and a Spirit Award. The Superior Volunteer award is named for longtime Playhouse volunteer, Dick Brown, who embodied the theatre’s vision for its volunteer program and was nationally recognized for his community theatre volunteer service. The Spirit 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 the stage role. In addition, The Playhouse will be announcing eight acting awards. Actors are nominated by audiences. Acting nominees are: Nominees for Outstanding Performance by an Actor, Adult, in a John Viars Theatre production Greg Blumhagen as Otto Frank in The Diary of Anne Frank Zachary Dean Smith as Monty Navarro in A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder Brett Spahr as The Old Man in A Christmas Story The Musical Brett Spahr as the D'Ysquith Family in A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder  Nominees for Outstanding Performance by an Actress, Adult, in a John Viars Theatre production Molly Fullerton as Mrs. Van Daan in The Diary of Anne Frank Gina Gedler as Miss Shingle in A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder Jackie Schmillen as Mother in A Christmas Story The Musical Maggie Schmitt as Sibella in A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder Stephanie Schneider as Miss Shields in A Christmas Story The Musical Nominees for Outstanding Performance by an Actor, Youth, in a John Viars Theatre production Shea Beilgard as Randy in A Christmas Story The Musical Marquis Bundy as Peter Van Daan in The Diary of Anne Frank Ryan Henzi as Ralphie in A Christmas Story The Musical Nominees for Outstanding Performance by an Actress, Youth, in a John Viars Theatre production Isabelle Piedras as Anne Frank in The Diary of Anne Frank Lily Spahr as Mary Beth and Can-Can Girlfriend in A Christmas Story The Musical Ashlyn Yu as Esther Jane in A Christmas Story The Musical  Nominees for Outstanding Performance by an Actor, Adult, in a Kate Goldman Children's Theatre production Michael Bundy II as Centipede in James and the Giant Peach Chris Ennis as Mr. Smee in Tinker Bell Michael Howland as Captain Jas. Hook in Tinker Bell Andrew Lee as Earthworm in James and the Giant Peach Jordan Potter as Adam in Disney's Freaky Friday One Act  Nominees for Outstanding Performance by an Actress, Adult, in a Kate Goldman Children's Theatre production Samantha Beard as Miss Spider in James and the Giant Peach Anastasia Deace as Ellie Blake in Disney's Freaky Friday One Act Chelsea Haaland as Katherine Blake in Disney's Freaky Friday One Act Ashley Marie Rogers as Peter Pan in Tinker Bell Maia Talarico as Tinker Bell in Tinker Bell  Nominees for Outstanding Performance by an Actor, Youth, in a Kate Goldman Children's Theatre production Carson Klein as James in James and the Giant Peach Gus McEntaffer as Tootles in Tinker Bell Ridge Chadley Rutherford as Pirate in Tinker Bell Quentin Steinbach as Fletcher in Disney's Freaky Friday One Act  Nominees for Outstanding Performance by an Actress, Youth, in a Kate Goldman Children's Theatre production Annika Baker as Savannah in Disney's Freaky Friday One Act Katelyn Gallagher as Wendy in Tinker Bell Tatum Lowell as Monica in Disney's Freaky Friday One Act Erin Morris as Ensemble in James and the Giant Peach  The Playhouse, now in its 102nd season, is one of the oldest and largest community theatres in the US. Located at the 42nd Street exit of I-235, the theatre has presented a full season of shows since 1919 and also offers a wide variety of educational experiences including classes for ages 4 to adult, theatre trips to New York, and volunteer opportunities onstage and backstage. For more information about The Playhouse and the Dionysos Awards, please contact The Playhouse at 515.277.6261. ###