WELCOME TO THE DESERT THEATRE LEAGUE, SERVING THE DESERT EMPIRE SINCE 1987
2023 RECIPIENTS
YOUTH THEATRE
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION-MUSICAL-YOUTH THEATRE
GUYS AND DOLLS - PALM DESERT HIGH SCHOOL
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION-COMEDY/DRAMA-YOUTH THEATRE
A CHRISTMAS CAROL - LA QUINTA HIGH SCHOOL
OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR-YOUTH THEATRE
SUSANNAH VERA - GUYS AND DOLLS - PALM DESERT HIGH SCHOOL
OUTSTANDING MUSICAL DIRECTOR-YOUTH THEATRE
JEFFREY LESSER - SHREK, THE MUSICAL - RANCHO MIRAGE HIGH SCHOOL
OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHER-YOUTH THEATRE
CRISTINA MCKEEVER CHANEY - GUYS AND DOLLS - PALM DESERT HIGH SCHOOL
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR-YOUTH THEATRE
ETHAN AVALOS - A CHRISTMAS CAROL - LA QUINTA HIGH SCHOOL
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR-MUSICAL-YOUTH THEATRE
LUCAS MADUENA - THE ADDAMS FAMILY - INDIO HIGH SCHOOL
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS-YOUTH THEATRE
MARIANA DE LA PENA - A CHRISTMAS CAROL - LA QUINTA HIGH SCHOOL
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS-MUSICAL-YOUTH THEATRE
KAYLEE FISCHER - GUYS AND DOLLS - PALM DESERT HIGH SCHOOL
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR-YOUTH THEATRE
JINKO MACHADO - A CHRISTMAS CAROL - LA QUINTA HIGH SCHOOL
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR-MUSICAL-YOUTH THEATRE
LANDEN HEMENTERA - GUYS AND DOLLS - PALM DESERT HIGH SCHOOL
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS-YOUTH THEATRE
SYDNEY WEEKS - THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST - PALM DESERT HIGH SCHOOL
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS-MUSICAL-YOUTH THEATRE
LARISSA RODNEY - DISNEY'S MOANA JR. - THEATRE 29
COMEDY
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION-COMEDY
BAREFOOT IN THE PARK - DESERT THEATREWORKS
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION-COMEDY - PROFESSIONAL
A BRIGHT NEW BOISE - DEZART PERFORMS
OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR OF A COMEDY
REBECCA MCWILLIAMS - BAREFOOT IN THE PARK - DESERT THEATREWORKS
OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR OF A COMEDY - PROFESSIONAL
MICHAEL SHAW - A BRIGHT NEW BOISE - DEZART PERFORMS
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY
JASON REALE - THE LINCOLN DEBATE - THE BENT
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY - PROFESSIONAL
ERIC ZAK - A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGY UNIT AT MEMORIAL SLOAN-KETTERING CANCER CENTER OF NEW YORK CITY- DEZART PERFORMS
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
RENEE POIGNARD - THE LINCOLN DEBATE - THE BENT
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY - PROFESSIONAL
NICOLE DELSACK - A BRIGHT NEW BOISE - DEZART PERFORMS
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY
ALEX PRICE - THE LINCOLN DEBATE - THE BENT
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY - PROFESSIONAL
JACOB CHERRY - A BRIGHT NEW BOISE - DEZART PERFORMS
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
ADRIANA REYES - THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG - DESERT THEATREWORKS
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY - PROFESSIONAL
JANAE KLEBAN - BAREFOOT IN THE PARK - DESERT THEATREWORKS
DRAMA
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF A DRAMA
AGATHA CHRISTIE'S THE MOUSETRAP - DESERT THEATREWORKS
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF A DRAMA - PROFESSIONAL
THE GARBOLOGISTS - DEZART PERFORMS
THE MICHAEL CRUICKSHANK AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR OF A DRAMA
JEROME ELLIOTT MOSKOWITZ - KAFKA'S JOKE - DESERT ENSEMBLE THEATRE
THE MICHAEL CRUICKSHANK AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR OF A DRAMA – PROFESSIONAL
MICHAEL MATTHEWS - CHOIR BOY - DEZART PERFORMS
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA
JOHN CORR - KAFKA'S JOKE - DESERT ENSEMBLE THEATRE
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA - PROFESSIONAL
DENNIS RENARD - CHOIR BOY - DEZART PERFORMS
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA
AMANDA BURR - DADDY'S DYIN': WHO'S GOT THE WILL? - PALM CANYON THEATRE
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA - PROFESSIONAL
YO YOUNGER - THE MIRACLE WORKER - DESERT THEATREWORKS
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA
GREY FORGE LEFEY - THE BOYS IN THE BAND - THE BENT
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA - PROFESSIONAL
DAVID ALAN MADRICK - CHOIR BOY - DEZART PERFORMS
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA
SUZIE WOURMS - AGATHA CHRISTIE'S THE MOUSETRAP - DESERT THEATREWORKS
MUSICAL
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION MUSICAL
THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL - PALM CANYON THEATRE
OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL
DERIK SHOPINSKI - THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL - PALM CANYON THEATRE
OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL - PROFESSIONAL
RAY LIMON - DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST - DESERT THEATRICALS
OUTSTANDING MUSICAL DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL - PROFESSIONAL
STEVEN SMITH - THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL - PALM CANYON THEATRE
THE MICHELE GAINES AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHER OF A MUSICAL
DERIK SHOPINSKI - THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL - PALM CANYON THEATRE
THE MICHELE GAINES AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHER OF A MUSICAL - PROFESSIONAL
RAY LIMON - DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST - DESERT THEATRICALS
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A MUSICAL/OPERA/PAGEANT
JOHN CORR - THE LAST 5 YEARS - DESERT THEATREWORKS
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A MUSICAL - PROFESSIONAL
PAUL GRANT - THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL - PALM CANYON THEATRE
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
GEORGIA SMITH - PALM SPRINGS GETAWAY - PALM CANYON THEATRE
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL – PROFESSIONAL - TIE
SE LAYNE - THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL - PALM CANYON THEATRE
ELIZABETH SCHMELLING - SOUTH PACIFIC - DESERT THEATRICALS
EMILY UNNASCH - DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST - DESERT THEATRICALS
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
MICHAEL HAMLIN - NUNSENSE A-MEN! - DESERT THEATREWORKS
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL - PROFESSIONAL
DERRIK LEWIS - PALM SPRINGS GETAWAY - PALM CANYON THEATRE
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
GEORGIA SMITH - NUNSENSATIONS! - PALM CANYON THEATRE
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL - PROFESSIONAL
SE LAYNE - PALM SPRINGS GETAWAY - PALM CANYON THEATRE
THE BILL GROVES AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING JUVENILE
TESS PHILLIPS - THE MIRACLE WORKER - DESERT THEATREWORKS
STAGED READING
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION-STAGED READING
SHERLOCK HOLMES CONFIDENTIAL - DESERT ENSEMBLE THEATRE
OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR OF A STAGED READING
JEROME ELLIOTT MOSKOWITZ - SHERLOCK HOLMES CONFIDENTIAL - DESERT ENSEMBLE THEATRE
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A STAGED READING
RAUL VALENZUELA - SHERLOCK HOLMES CONFIDENTIAL - DESERT ENSEMBLE THEATRE
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A STAGED READING - TIE
SHIRLEY LEMASTER - WIDOW'S WALTZ - SCRIPT2STAGE2SCREEN
ALDEN WEST - ROOM 5, MOTEL 6 - SCRIPT2STAGE2SCREEN
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A STAGED READING - PROFESSIONAL
BONNIE GILGALLON - SHERLOCK HOLMES CONFIDENTIAL - DESERT ENSEMBLE THEATRE
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A STAGED READING
RON CORONADO - THE BOLD AND BOB - SCRIPT2STAGE2SCREEN
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A STAGED READING
MELANIE BLUE - LOVE AND MONEY - DESERT ENSEMBLE THEATRE
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A STAGED READING - PROFESSIONAL
DEBORAH HARMON - AFTER ANOTHER - SCRIPT2STAGE2SCREEN
THE BILL GROVES AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL WRITING
LINDSAY JOLLE - THE GARBOLOGISTS - DEZART PERFORMS
CABARET/REVUE/VARIETY SHOW
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION CABARET/REVUE
SONGS OF LOVE AND LONGING - PALM CANYON THEATRE
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION CABARET/REVUE - PROFESSIONAL
MOSTLY BROADWAY STARRING DAVID BURNHAM - DESERT THEATRICALS
OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR OF A CABARET/REVUE
KAREN SCHMITT - SUN CITY OUR KIND OF TOWN - SUN CITY PALM DESERT
OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR OF A CABARET/REVUE - PROFESSIONAL
DAVID BURNHAM - MOSTLY BROADWAY STARRING DAVID BURNHAM - DESERT THEATRICALS
OUTSTANDING MUSICAL DIRECTOR OF A CABARET/REVUE - PROFESSIONAL
NICK PETRILLO - MOSTLY BROADWAY STARRING DAVID BURNHAM - DESERT THEATRICALS
OUTSTANDING LEAD MALE PERFORMER IN A CABARET/REVUE
SHELDON SAFIR - SONGS OF LOVE AND LONGING - PALM CANYON THEATRE
OUTSTANDING LEAD MALE PERFORMER IN A CABARET/REVUE - PROFESSIONAL
DAVID BURNHAM - MOSTLY BROADWAY STARRING DAVID BURNHAM - DESERT THEATRICALS
OUTSTANDING LEAD FEMALE PERFORMER IN A CABARET/REVUE
JACI DAVIS - SONGS OF LOVE AND LONGING - PALM CANYON THEATRE
OUTSTANDING LEAD FEMALE PERFORMER IN A CABARET/REVUE - PROFESSIONAL
FRANCESCA AMARI - DIFFERENT DRUM - MUSIC OF LINDA RONSTADT - PALM CANYON THEATRE
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING MALE PERFORMER IN A CABARET/REVUE
SCOTT CLINKSCALES - LET IT SNOW - PALM CANYON THEATRE
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING MALE PERFORMER IN A CABARET/REVUE - PROFESSIONAL
JORDAN ARANA - HOME FOR THE HOLIDAY - DESERT THEATRICALS
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING FEMALE PERFORMER IN A CABARET/REVUE
KAREN SCHMITT - SUN CITY OUR KIND OF TOWN - SUN CITY PALM DESERT
ONE ACTS
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION-ONE ACTS
DO NOT REMOVE LABEL - DESERT ENSEMBLE THEATRE
OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR – ONE ACTS
MICHAEL PACAS - DO NOT REMOVE LABEL - DESERT ENSEMBLE THEATRE
OUTSTANDING LEAD PERFORMER - ONE ACTS
KEVIN HAYLES - DEATH OF BESSIE SMITH - GROVES CABIN THEATRE
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING PERFORMER – ONE ACTS
MELANIE BLUE - DO NOT REMOVE LABEL - DESERT ENSEMBLE THEATRE
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING PERFORMER - ONE ACTS - PROFESSIONAL
SHAWN ABRAMOWITZ - DO NOT REMOVE LABEL - DESERT ENSEMBLE THEATRE
TECHNICAL AWARDS
OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN
RICHARD MARLOW – DADDY’S DYIN’, WHO’S GOT THE WILL?
OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN - PROFESSIONAL
JIMMY CUOMO - THE GARBOLOGISTS - DEZART PERFORMS
OUTSTANDING SOUND DESIGN
NICK CAMPBELL - THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL - PALM CANYON THEATRE
OUTSTANDING SOUND DESIGN - PROFESSIONAL
CHRIS REBA - DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST - DESERT THEATRICALS
OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN
BLAIR DODSON/STAYG HADLEY - GUYS AND DOLLS - PALM DESERT HIGH SCHOOL
OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN - PROFESSIONAL
GAVAN WYRICK - DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST - DESERT THEATRICALS
OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN
JANA BAUMANN - THE MIRACLE WORKER - DESERT THEATREWORKS
OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN - PROFESSIONAL
DERIK SHOPINSKI - THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL - PALM CANYON THEATRE
THE RON HAMM AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING HAIR AND MAKEUP DESIGN
STEPHEN RICHARDSON - AGATHA CHRISTIE'S THE MOUSETRAP - DESERT THEATREWORKS
THE RON HAMM AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING HAIR AND MAKEUP DESIGN-PROFESSIONAL
ANIKA SANCHEZ - THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL - PALM CANYON THEATRE
OUTSTANDING PROPS
GREG THORNEYCROFT - THE GARBOLOGISTS - DEZART PERFORMS
OUTSTANDING PROPS - PROFESSIONAL
STEVE ROSENBAUM - THE BOYS IN THE BAND - THE BENT
OUTSTANDING SPECIAL EFFECTS
NICK EDWARDS - TITANIC - PALM CANYON THEATRE
OUTSTANDING SPECIAL EFFECTS - PROFESSIONAL
PAUL MARIANI/ADRIANA REYES - THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG - DESERT THEATREWORKS
2023 SPECIAL AWARD RECIPIENTS
SHAWN ABRAMOWITZ
SHAWN ABRAMOWITZ
SHAWN ABRAMOWITZ
The Sidney Harmon Award
LOU GALVAN
SHAWN ABRAMOWITZ
SHAWN ABRAMOWITZ
The Michael Grossman Award
LYNDA SHAEPS
SHAWN ABRAMOWITZ
LYNDA SHAEPS
The Bill Kuhlman Award