Please help us congratulate the 2021-2022 Bess Z Award Winners!
We offer a round of applause for every person off stage and on this season. Thank you for sharing your time and talents on the CPP stage. We gave our community some tremendous art!
These awards are determined by 9 anonymous judges that attend each of our main season shows. The Board of Directors has NO deciding factor in the performance, tech and production awards.
The winners were announced at our Annual Summer Picnic on Saturday, June 11th @ 6PM @ Pottawattomie Park.
Lead Male Performance
WINNER:
SCOTT MURPHY, Wadsworth in Clue
Nominees:
- SCOTT MURPHY, Wadsworth in Clue
- KRISTOPHER ARNOLD, Multiple roles in Holiday Chestnuts: A Festive Collection of Seasonal Shorts
- SCOTT MURPHY, Multiple roles in Holiday Chestnuts: A Festive Collection of Seasonal Shorts
- ANDREW KITCHKA, Charlie Brown in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown
Lead Female Performance
WINNER:
EMILY KINDERVATER, Mary Jo in A Piece of My Heart
Nominees:
- JAYNE WERNER, Mrs. Peacock in Clue
- MICHAELA KERKSTRA, Multiple roles in Holiday Chestnuts: A Festive Collection of Seasonal Shorts
- EMILY KINDERVATER, Mary Jo in A Piece of My Heart
- ROBIN BEEBEE, Whitney in A Piece of My Heart
- CATHY GARTLAND, Steele in A Piece of My Heart
Major Supporting Male Performance
WINNER:
MICHAEL HASSETT, Snoopy in You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown
Nominees:
- MICHAEL HASSETT, Snoopy in You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown
- RILEY VAN ESS, Schroeder in You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown
- SCOTT MURPHY, American Man #2/Multiple Roles in A Piece of My Heart
Major Supporting Female Performance
WINNER:
KELLENE ARNOLD, Sally Brown in You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown
Nominees:
- REESE CANAN, Multiple roles in Holiday Chestnuts: A Festive Collection of Seasonal Shorts
- EMILY KINDERVATER, Multiple roles in Holiday Chestnuts: A Festive Collection of Seasonal Shorts
- DIANE VAN WESEP, Mrs. Claus in Holiday Chestnuts: A Festive Collection of Seasonal Shorts
- KELLENE ARNOLD, Sally Brown in You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown
Minor Supporting Male Performance
WINNER:
BRUCE BAKER, Multiple roles in Holiday Chestnuts: A Festive Collection of Seasonal Shorts
Nominees:
- MARK MARTIN, Motorist in Clue
- BRUCE BAKER, Multiple roles in Holiday Chestnuts: A Festive Collection of Seasonal Shorts
Minor Supporting Female Performance
WINNER:
DIANE REETHS, Poinsettia in Holiday Chestnuts: A Festive Collection of Seasonal Shorts
Nominees:
- DIANE REETHS, Poinsettia in Holiday Chestnuts: A Festive Collection of Seasonal Shorts
- DARCIE BEEKMAN, Elf #6 in Holiday Chestnuts: A Festive Collection of Seasonal Shorts
- AURORA SHEWMAKE, Actor #4 in Holiday Chestnuts: A Festive Collection of Seasonal Shorts
Cameo Performance
WINNER:
EMILY DROST, Singing Telegram Girl in Clue
Nominees:
- EMILY DROST, Singing Telegram Girl in Clue
- LULU FETTERLEY, Woodstock #1 in You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown
- ABBY FORREST, Woodstock #2 in You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown
Outstanding Design
WINNER:
SCOTT MURPHY, Set Design for You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown
Nominees:
- NATALIE CARMOLLI, Set Design for Holiday, Chestnuts: A Collection of Seasonal Shorts
- NATALIE CARMOLLI & TRUDI KITCHKA, Costumes for Holiday Chestnuts: A Collection of Seasonal Shorts
- SCOTT MURPHY, Set Design for You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown
- AMBER PONCE, Costumes for You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown
- DARCIE BEEKMAN & BECKY ZACHARIAS, Prop Masters for You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown
Best Show
WINNER:
You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown
Nominees:
Clue
- Darcie Beekman, Director
- Tamara Shake, Assistant Director
- Joy Lamphere, Producer
- Karen Fredericksen, Music Director
Holiday Chestnuts: A Festive Collection of Seasonal Shorts
- Natalie Carmolli, Director
- Andrew Kitchka, Assistant Director
- Becky Zacharias, Producer
You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown
- Trudi Kitchka, Director
- Lisa Hilliard, Assistant Director
- Darcie Beekman, Producer
- Karent Fredericksen, Music Director
- Rachel Fetterley, Choreographer
A Piece of My Heart
- Margo Walters, Director
- Lisa Hilliard, Assistant Director
- Diane Reeths, Producer
Specialty Awards
The Board of Directors determines the Specialty Awards:
- Presidential Award, determined by Board President.
- Family Theatre Student Award, determined by the Education Committee.
- Family Theatre Phyllis Pelligrino Award, determined by the Education Committee.
- Bess Z Award for Outstanding Dedication to Central Park Players, determined by the Bess Z Committee
- Volunteer Service Award, determined by the Board of Directors.
- Cron Life Time Achievement Award, determined by the Board of Directors (who may choose not to award this every year).
If you do not recognize names like Phyllis Pelligrino, Cron and the actual award ceremony name itself….they are in honor of individuals who helped to shape CPP!