WIESBADEN, Germany – The 63rd Annual Installation Management Command – Europe Tournament of Plays, TOPPERs, Awards Show and Ceremony took place at the Wiesbaden Fitness Center on Clay Kaserne April 27.
Several hundred performers, cast, directors, artists, crew, musicians, leaders, mentors, and their families came together for what is “considered the premiere and one of the largest US Army MWR events in the world,” according to the event web page.
“We produce this annual TOPPERs awards ceremony that we’re doing tonight to thank the thousands of Soldiers, civilians and family members who provide hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours putting on live theater eventsthroughout our overseas communities,” said Tommy Mize, the IMCOM Europe Director and host of the celebration.
Adjudicators watched 15 shows, including several family musicals, in eight military communities, according to Dane Winters, Army Entertainment Program Manager for IMCOM-Europe. 50 TOPPERs were presented at the awards ceremony, which also included several live performances.
“The goal is to provide educational opportunities, not pass judgement. The judges reacted as ‘responders’ to the shows, offering their insights and thoughts along with suggestions for further growth as actors, directors, designers, and theatre artists,” Winters said, noting the value in bringing the entertainment community together, he said.
“The important thing about the awards show for me is to give a chance for participants from all the theaters to meet and celebrate together.”
One of the highlights was the presentation of a ceremonial check for $4.1 million, which “represents the 128,942 volunteer hours given to U.S. Army Garrisons and Air Force Community Theaters in Europe from April 2023 to April 2024 by 8,907 Soldiers, civilians and Family members volunteer participants,” Winters said.
Attendees were treated to celebrity presentations who announced some of the winners via video, including Chris Pine, David Hyde Pierce, Harvey Feirstein, Carrie Preston, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Stephen Flaherty.
For photos from the TOPPERs, click here. (Disclaimer: The website represented by this hyperlink does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense for the information, products or services contain therein.)
The 2024 TOPPERs Awardees are:
Outstanding Hair & Makeup Design for a Play or Musical
Perla Simmons
Cats
The SHAPE Players Performing Arts Center
Outstanding Lighting Design for a Musical
Olivier Galloo & Brett Harwood
Cats
The SHAPE Players Performing Arts Center
Outstanding Lighting Design for a Play
John Hanrahan
Clue!
The Ansbach Terrace Playhouse
Outstanding Set Design for a Musical
Chris Wright
Cats
The SHAPE Players Performing Arts Center
Outstanding Set Design for a Play
Chris Wright
Amadeus
The SHAPE Players Performing Arts Center
Outstanding Sound Design for a Musical
Barry Robinson
Working
The Soldiers' Theatre, Vicenza
Outstanding Sound Design for a Play
Jared Rivera
She Kills Monsters
KMC Onstage, Kaiserslautern
Outstanding Costume Design for a Musical
Addy O'Donnell
Willy Wonka, Jr.
The Amelia Earhart Playhouse, Wiesbaden
Outstanding Costume Design for a Play
Reana Jones
She Kills Monsters
KMC Onstage, Kaiserslautern
Outstanding Stage Properties and Dressing for a Musical
Chris Wright & Ryan Rigazzi
Cats
The SHAPE Players Performing Arts Center
Outstanding Stage Properties & Dressings for a Play (TIE)
Lane Fox & Kat Nickola
She Kills Monsters
KMC Onstage, Kaiserslautern
AND
Clue
The Ansbach Terrace Playhouse
Outstanding Stage Manager for a Musical
Tina Ranum
School House Rock Live!, Jr.
The Stuttgart Theater Center
Outstanding Stage Manager for a Play
Nina Kladnik
Clue!
The Ansbach Terrace Playhouse
Outstanding Technical Direction of a Musical
Jacob Barnes
Willy Wonka, Jr.
The Amelia Earhart Playhouse, Wiesbaden
Outstanding Technical Direction of a Play
Chris Wright
Amadeus
The SHAPE Players Performing Arts Center
Outstanding Choreography
Kelly O'Donnell & Hannah Whittington
Tuck Everlasting
The Amelia Earhart Playhouse, Wiesbaden
Outstanding Orchestra or Musical Accompaniment
Working
The Soldiers' Theatre, Vicenza
Outstanding Musical Director
Mattia Sciortino
Working
The Soldiers' Theatre, Vicenza
Outstanding Ensemble in a Play
12 Angry Jurors
The Amelia Earhart Playhouse, Wiesbaden
Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical
Working
The Soldiers' Theatre, Vicenza
Outstanding Chorus Member in a Musical
Thomas Prochazka as "Growltiger"
Cats
The SHAPE Players Performing Arts Center
Outstanding Stage Debut in a Play
SrA Seth Bauer as "Manolo Costazuela"
The Odd Couple (Female Version)
Aviano Schools and Community Theatre
Outstanding Stage Debut in a Musical
Adeline Kennard as "The Candy Man"
Willy Wonka, Jr.
The Amelia Earhart Playhouse, Wiesbaden
Outstanding Youth Performance in a Female Role in a Play or Musical
Lily Goodman as "Winnie"
Tuck Everlasting
The Amelia Earhart Playhouse, Wiesbaden
Outstanding Youth Performance in a Male Role in a Play or Musical
Alyssa Bell as "Chuck"
She Kills Monsters
KMC Onstage, Kaiserslautern
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Female Role in a Play
Oona Borovicka as "Farrah the Faerie"
She Kills Monsters
KMC Onstage, Kaiserslautern
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Female Role in a Musical (Tie)
Adison Stein as "Rumpleteaser"
Cats
The SHAPE Players Performing Arts Center
AND
MacKenzie Schutt as “Mungojerrie”
Cats
The SHAPE Players Performing Arts Center
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Male Role in a Play or Musical
Alex Petreaca as "Mr. Mistoffolees"
Cats
The SHAPE Players Performing Arts Center
Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Female Role in a Play
Joanna Case-Lumley as "Constanz"
Amadeus
The SHAPE Players Performing Arts Center
Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Female Role in a Musical
Britan Howell as "Violet Beauregard"
Willy Wonka, Jr.
The Amelia Earhart Playhouse, Wiesbaden
Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Male Role in a Play
Cameron Rahe as "C3 B0"
Space Wars
Ramstein Razz Ma Tazz Community Theatre
Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Male Role in a Musical
Larry Kreider as "The Retiree"
Working
The Soldiers' Theatre, Vincenza
Outstanding Military Performer in a Female Role in a Play
SrA Marley Gonzalez as "Sylvie"
The Odd Couple (Female Version)
Aviano Schools & Community Theatre
Outstanding Military Performance in a Musical
TSGT Payton Burrell
Tuck Everlasting
The Amelia Earhart Playhouse, Wiesbaden
Outstanding Military Performer in a Male Role in Play
SGT Brian Kladnik as "Wadsworth"
Clue!
The Ansbach Terrace Playhouse
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Female Role in a Play (Tie)
SSGT Devyn Freeze as "Agnes"
She Kills Monsters
KMC Onstage, Kaiserslautern
AND
Maddie Turner as "Tilly"
She Kills Monsters
KMC Onstage, Kaiserslautern
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Male Role in a Play
MAJ Grant Pinkston as "Juror #11"
12 Angry Jurors
The Amelia Earhart Playhouse, Wiesbaden
Outstanding Lead Performer in a Female Role in a Musical
Natalie Ritter as "Audrey"
Little Shop of Horrors
The Ansbach Terrace Playhouse
Outstanding Lead Performer in a Male Role in a Musical (TIE)
Rafael Nieswand as "Rumtumtiger"
Cats
The SHAPE Players Performing Arts Center
AND
Max Pasquel as "Munkustrap"
Cats
The SHAPE Players Performing Arts Center
Outstanding Direction of a Play
Nina Run Bergsdottir
She Kills Monsters
KMC Onstage, Kaiserslautern
Outstanding Direction of a Musical
Jackson Seymor
Tuck Everlasting
The Amelia Earhart Playhouse, Wiesbaden
Outstanding Play
She Kills Monsters
KMC Onstage, Kaiserslautern
Outstanding Musical
Tuck Everlasting
The Amelia Earhart Playhouse, Wiesbaden
Outstanding Family Show
Cats
The SHAPE Players Performing Arts Center
Judges' Choice Award
Outstanding Front of House Presentation
Willy Wonka, Jr.
The Amelia Earhart Playhouse, Wiesbaden
Judges' Choice Award
The Cecil B. DeMille Casting Award for Number of Youth
The Aviano Schools & Community Theater
Judges' Choice Award
Original Monologues for Working
The Soldiers' Theatre, Vicenza
Judges' Choice Award
Monsters Design & Construction for She Kills Monsters
Beth Dougherty
KMC Onstage, Kaiserslautern
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