Since the late great Bob Wyckoff started the Lansing State Journal Thespie Awards for theatre back in 1979, they’ve mostly been certificate-free. Most people subscribed to the physical newspaper in those “olden days” and just kept a paper copy as “proof” of their recognition.
In more recent years there have been certificates, thanks to the efforts of Tom Klunzinger (recipient of this year’s Robert Busby Special Thespie Award for general contributions to Lansing Area Theatre.) Tom prepared, Jane printed, Mike Hughes signed — and with the help of Thespie Judge Liane Zimny, certificates have been/are being delivered to the theatres where the winning shows were produced.
If you have questions about where/when your certificate got delivered to whom, contact Liane [email protected]. I delivered Riverwalk’s and Wiliamston’s — but missed 2 in the pile that Liane is going to deliver to Williamston when she sees their HILARIOUS current show “Our Lady of Perpetual Help” which you should ALL see for yourselves. It runs through August 3.http://www.williamstontheatre.org.
LOTS of Thespies were for RIVERWALK shows this year. You can stop by during Riverwalk's new summer office hours:
Monday: closed
Tuesday: 10am-1:00
Wednesday: 10:00am-5:00pm
Thursday: 2pm-5:00pm
Friday: closed
Give Abbie and Rita a call (517-482-5700) and your certificate can be avaiilable at the box office when you attend the upcoming Riverwalk events. Emerging Playwrights Festival August 2 and 3 Bare Bones Improv shows the following weekend. More info to come.
In case you missed it on Facebook and/or in the June 29 issue of the State Journal, here are the 2025 Thespie Award winners:
For musicals
• Best musical: "Urinetown," Riverwalk Theatre.
• Director: Marcus Fields, "The SpongeBob Musical," Riverwalk. (Coming close was Brian Farnham, "Urinetown," Riverwalk).
• Actor: Michael Palmer, "SpongeBob"
• Actress: Caila Conklin, "Beautiful," Peppermint Creek Theatre Company.
• Supporting actor: Adam Woolsey, "Beautiful." (Close was T.J. Kelly, "SpongeBob.)
• Supporting actress: Meghan Malusek, "Urinetown."
• Featured actor: Janus Hoang, "SpongeBob."
• Featured actress: Elise Griffiths, "SpongeBob."
• Ensemble: Brooke Cousins, Reese Martin and Olivia Bath, "9 to 5," Michigan State University.
• Music director: Sean Duffy, "Into the Woods," Midway Theater Company.
• Choreography: Reyna Martinez, Lauren Mudry and Meghan Laskos, "SpongeBob." (Close was Brian Farnham, "Urinetown.")
For plays
• Best play: "Angels in America," Riverwalk.
• Director: Jasmine Rivera, "A Case For the Existence of God," Williamston Theatre.
• Director (non-professional): Bob Robinson, "Angels in America."
• Actor: The combination of Anthony Cason and Ryan Patrick Welsh, "A Case For the Existence of God."
• Actor (non-professional): Luka Pawsek, "Angels in America," Riverwalk.
• Actress: Sarab Kamoo, "Baba," Williamston Theatre.
• Actress (non-professional): Heather Lewis, "On the Exhale," Peppermint Creek.
• Supporting actor: Heath Sartorius, "Angels in America," Riverwalk.
• Supporting actress: Janet Haley, "Thirst," Williamston Theatre.
• Supporting actress (non-professional): Gini Larson, "The Importance of Being Earnest," Riverwalk
• Featured actor: Camilla Trudell, "Crime and Punishment," Lansing Community College.
• Featured actress: Keara Hayes, "Pickleball," Riverwalk. (Close was Erin Hoffman, "The Importance of Being Earnest," Riverwalk.)
• Ensemble: The cast of "Decision Height," MSU: Aubriana Scott, Kellie VerWoert, Maddie Affer, Karen Law, Tasiyah Hampton, Aryne Drews, Xhanna Travina, Lexa Busch, Cayla Hadaway, Zoe Dorst, Anna Yarnal, Juliana Barnerd, Seray Sezgen, Sam Dobrowolski and Rileigh Belle Wine.
In more recent years there have been certificates, thanks to the efforts of Tom Klunzinger (recipient of this year’s Robert Busby Special Thespie Award for general contributions to Lansing Area Theatre.) Tom prepared, Jane printed, Mike Hughes signed — and with the help of Thespie Judge Liane Zimny, certificates have been/are being delivered to the theatres where the winning shows were produced.
If you have questions about where/when your certificate got delivered to whom, contact Liane [email protected]. I delivered Riverwalk’s and Wiliamston’s — but missed 2 in the pile that Liane is going to deliver to Williamston when she sees their HILARIOUS current show “Our Lady of Perpetual Help” which you should ALL see for yourselves. It runs through August 3.http://www.williamstontheatre.org.
LOTS of Thespies were for RIVERWALK shows this year. You can stop by during Riverwalk's new summer office hours:
Monday: closed
Tuesday: 10am-1:00
Wednesday: 10:00am-5:00pm
Thursday: 2pm-5:00pm
Friday: closed
Give Abbie and Rita a call (517-482-5700) and your certificate can be avaiilable at the box office when you attend the upcoming Riverwalk events. Emerging Playwrights Festival August 2 and 3 Bare Bones Improv shows the following weekend. More info to come.
In case you missed it on Facebook and/or in the June 29 issue of the State Journal, here are the 2025 Thespie Award winners:
For musicals
• Best musical: "Urinetown," Riverwalk Theatre.
• Director: Marcus Fields, "The SpongeBob Musical," Riverwalk. (Coming close was Brian Farnham, "Urinetown," Riverwalk).
• Actor: Michael Palmer, "SpongeBob"
• Actress: Caila Conklin, "Beautiful," Peppermint Creek Theatre Company.
• Supporting actor: Adam Woolsey, "Beautiful." (Close was T.J. Kelly, "SpongeBob.)
• Supporting actress: Meghan Malusek, "Urinetown."
• Featured actor: Janus Hoang, "SpongeBob."
• Featured actress: Elise Griffiths, "SpongeBob."
• Ensemble: Brooke Cousins, Reese Martin and Olivia Bath, "9 to 5," Michigan State University.
• Music director: Sean Duffy, "Into the Woods," Midway Theater Company.
• Choreography: Reyna Martinez, Lauren Mudry and Meghan Laskos, "SpongeBob." (Close was Brian Farnham, "Urinetown.")
For plays
• Best play: "Angels in America," Riverwalk.
• Director: Jasmine Rivera, "A Case For the Existence of God," Williamston Theatre.
• Director (non-professional): Bob Robinson, "Angels in America."
• Actor: The combination of Anthony Cason and Ryan Patrick Welsh, "A Case For the Existence of God."
• Actor (non-professional): Luka Pawsek, "Angels in America," Riverwalk.
• Actress: Sarab Kamoo, "Baba," Williamston Theatre.
• Actress (non-professional): Heather Lewis, "On the Exhale," Peppermint Creek.
• Supporting actor: Heath Sartorius, "Angels in America," Riverwalk.
• Supporting actress: Janet Haley, "Thirst," Williamston Theatre.
• Supporting actress (non-professional): Gini Larson, "The Importance of Being Earnest," Riverwalk
• Featured actor: Camilla Trudell, "Crime and Punishment," Lansing Community College.
• Featured actress: Keara Hayes, "Pickleball," Riverwalk. (Close was Erin Hoffman, "The Importance of Being Earnest," Riverwalk.)
• Ensemble: The cast of "Decision Height," MSU: Aubriana Scott, Kellie VerWoert, Maddie Affer, Karen Law, Tasiyah Hampton, Aryne Drews, Xhanna Travina, Lexa Busch, Cayla Hadaway, Zoe Dorst, Anna Yarnal, Juliana Barnerd, Seray Sezgen, Sam Dobrowolski and Rileigh Belle Wine.
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