Theater Awards

Awards speech 07

DECKER: HSM

Through the past several years, Theatre JM has been building its spring musical program. From the technically demanding Babes in Arms to the Artistic Aspirations of RAGS, we have grown and then reached some more, and then pushed just a little bit farther. I’ve been proud of every show done of this stage. Our shows have presented the heights of live theatre’s ability to share our common experiences, and the audience has been there to support us. This spring, however, was the start of something new. A marching band and rock band on stage? No problem. 14 separate microphones to mix? No problem. 42 actors and 12 techies on the running crew? We did it. Five productions in five days? Yep. We already knew how good we were and what we could accomplish, but now everyone does – or at least 3000 audience members do. Pretty impressive stuff, and I haven’t even mentioned the disco ball yet. After this spring, when your director asks you to sing to the back row, you’ll know why, because you’ve done it when there were people sitting back there – and up in the balcony too. Along with our families and friends in the audience, we broadened our community more than ever before, sharing live stage theater with record numbers of people. And they will be back, to see you again, and see what we can do next. While each of you had a tremendous success in this one show, you played a larger role for Theatre JM, and we will continue building on what you did. Thank you for your trust, effort, and talent, and congratulations on a tremendous accomplishment with the third show of Theatre JM’s season: High School Musical

2007 Theatre Awards (49)

Senior Certificates (senior, 0 – 39 points)
Jenny Aho
Sarah Amundson
Spencer Gaskell
Kendra Hamilton
Becky Jones
Brianna Kolb
Katie Lilla
Zach Sander
Erin Spoo
Linda Thach
Luke Treder
Chelsie Van Oort

Theatre JM Letter (40 -79 points, letter)
Olivia Allen
Nicky Barnes
Sejal Dave
Matt Boutcher
John Dieltz
Katie Eberhard
Erik Edlund
Tom Gilliam
Ben Hanson
Christina Jordan
Katrinna Koehler
Elizabeth Merrill
Bradley Noxon
Shail Patel
Kristen Pickett
Jared Schuster
Samantha Stephens

Second Theatre JM Letter (80 – 119 points, pin)
Emily Gresbrink
Christina Jordan
Paul Moore
Courtney Pikel
Erin Rieke
Elizabeth Shea

Third Theatre JM Letter (120 – 159 points, mug)
Madeline Allen
Holly Johnson
Arij Mikati
Courtney Pikel
Erin Reike
David Samb
Aaron Savage
Elizabeth Shea

Fourth Theatre JM Letter (160 – 200 points, plaque)
Madeline Allen
Kirsten Casella
Robert Croghan
Arij Mikati
David Samb

Off the Charts (200+ points, lifetime free pass to JM Theatre)
Siri Brobst
Robert Croghan


Trooper Hard working, willing to help, this actor was always offering help, with hours long past what was decent to expect. Bobby Croghan.

Boosters This year we grew with parent involvement, as many parents brought treats – thank you, helped on sets – thank you, and worked the box office – you guys are great! I’d like to especially mention Mrs. Sander for coming to multiple rehearsals to take pictures, and even whittling down her 13,000 pictures to 800. Thank you Mrs. Sander.(applause) We appreciate your time and love your photos!! But this year, I’d like to show our thanks to the Allens, who immerse themselves into the shows, offering help coordinating the opening potluck, sewing buttons, creating TheatreJM.com, counting seats in Ilstrup auditorium, and laying-out bios in insanely brief time. Thank you Ann and Paul Allen, and congratulations for a second consecutive year of winning the Theater JM Booster Award.

We also have a student booster award. Always positive, always smiling, and only once dropping a naughty word into a live microphone during a performance, this actor helped us all learn about professionalism and taking the craft seriously. Thank you Lizi Shea.
Rookie of the Year
He’s also there with a positive, can-do attitude which improves the entire show. We’re excited about his first year with Theatre JM and hope he stays involved. Thank you Ben Hansen

Techie of the Year
This year in particular there was a tremendous amount of help getting the shows together. 5 people were closely tied for this position, and each one helped us have better productions. In the end, for extensive work on all three productions and always appearing from behind a curtain whenever I called, congratulations to Erin Rieke.

Best supporting actor:

Paul Moore as Mr. March from Little Women

David Samb as Professor Baehr from Little Women

John Dieltz as Mr. Laurence from Little Women

4. Jared Schuster as Chad Danforth from High School Musical

5. Zach Sander as Jack Scott from High School Musical

6. Phillip Muehe as Zeke Baylor from High School Musical

Best Supporting Actor: Jared Schuster for High School Musical

Best supporting actress

Christina Jordan as Beth from Little Women

Madeline Allen as Marmie from Little Women

Courtney Pikel as Aunt March from Little Women

Elizabeth Shea as Hannah from Little Women

6. Elizabeth Shea as Samantha from Uncommon Women

7. Christina Jordan as Leilah from Uncommon Women

8. Madeline Allen as Holly from Uncommon Women

9. Arij Mikati as Taylor McKessie from High School Musical

10. Siri Brobst as Kelsi Nielson from High School Musical

11. Rachel Sobczak as Martha Cox from High School Musical

Best Supporting Actress: Arij Mikati for High School Musical

Best Actor

Ben Hansen as Laurie from Little Women

Bobby Croghan as John Brooke from Little Women

3. Andy Phillips as Troy Bolton from High School Musical

4. Bobby Croghan as Ryan Evan from High School Musical

Best Actor: Bobby Croghan for High School Musical


Best Actress nominees

Arij Mikati as Jo from Little Women

Siri Brobst as Meg from Little Women

Rachael Schlingmann as Amy from Little Women

4. Arij Mikati as Kate from Uncommon Women

5. Siri Brobst as Rita from Uncommon Women

6. Courtney Pikel as Muffet from Uncommon Women

7. Madeline Allen as Gabriella Montez from High School Musical

8. Lizi Shea as Sharpay Evans from High School Musical

Best Actress: Elizabeth Shea


Roy Braatland Scholarship Bobby Croghan