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Del Close Award

Named for Del Close, improv pioneer and co-founder of the iO Chicago theater, the Annual iOWest Del Close Awards are given out for achievements – both valid and dubious – in the field of comedic improvization at an irreverent ceremony at the world-famous iOWest theater in Hollywood, CA.

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Del Close Awards Photos

2009 Ceremony Photos

Photography by Erin Leigh Photography.
For caption corrections, please email us at info at delcloseawards.

(L to R) Paul Vaillancourt, Craig Cackowski, and James Grace present Improv at the Dawn of Time at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) Paul Vaillancourt presents Improv at the Dawn of Time at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) (L to R) Paul Vaillancourt, Craig Cackowski, and James Grace present Improv at the Dawn of Time at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) Josh Dubose hosts the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) Josh Dubose hosts the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) Erin McGathy presents Excellence in Bartending at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) Tom Fowler presents Excellence in Bartending at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) Apul Patel accepts Jon Crowley's Excellence in Bartending Award at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) Apul Patel accepts Jon Crowley's Excellence in Bartending Award at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) Darren Yalacki presents Best Waitstaff at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) (L to R) Karen Graci and Darren Yalacki present Best Waitstaff at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) Rebecca Stevens accepts her award for Best Waitstaff at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) Rebecca Stevens accepts her award for Best Waitstaff at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) Graham Douglas presents Improv in Biblical Times at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) (L to R) Molly Hawkey, Dustin Sterling, Graham Douglas, and Greg Castle present Improv in Biblical Times at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) John Abbott presents Hardest Working Intern at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) Tommy Bechtold accepts his award for Hardest Working Intern at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) (L to R) Dave Holmes and Dana Powell present Most Supportive Audience Member at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) Herb Koss accepts his award for Most Supportive Audience Member at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) (L to R) Jeff Clinard and Matt Thoreson present Best ADT Team at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) The cast of Kitty Porn accepts the award for Best ADT Team at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) Adam Jefferis presents Sexiest Player at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) Tim Jennings presents Sexiest Player at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) (L to R) Tim Jennings, Nick Bush, Tom Fowler, and Adam Jefferis present Sexiest Player at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) Nick Armstrong accepts the award for Sexiest Player at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) (L to R) Liz Lytle and Canon Wing strip for Nick Armstrong's Sexiest Player acceptance speech at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) (L to R) Liz Lytle and Canon Wing strip for Nick Armstrong's Sexiest Player acceptance speech at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) Nick Armstrong accepts the award for Sexiest Player at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) (L to R) Matt Cavedon and RC Fill present Improv In Early America at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) (L to R) Tilt Tyree, Justin Johnson, and Adam Jefferis present Improv in Early America at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) iOWest Artistic Director James Grace presents his namesake award at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) Irene White accepts the James Grace Award at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) Irene White accepts the James Grace Award at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) Irene White accepts the James Grace Award at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) Eric Hunicutt accepts the James Grace Award at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) Mike Coen presents Best Portrayal of an Object at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) Jill Alexander accepts the award for Best Portrayal of an Object at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) The cast of The Dollhouse presents Improv in the 40's at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) The cast of The Dollhouse presents Improv in the 40's at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) (L to R) Darius de la Cruz and Lynn Trickey present Best Scripted Show at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) The cast of Big News accepts their award for Best Scripted Show at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) Josh Dubose presents Improv in the 50's at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) (L to R) Joy Allen and Zach Huddleston present Best Randomly Selected Student at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) Unidentified accepts the award for Best Randomly Selected Student at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) (L to R) Nick Armstrong, Erica Gowland, and Julisa Smith present Improv in the 80s at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) Jessica Young presents her nomination for Best Line at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) Brian O'Connell presents his nomination for Best Line at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) (L to R) Greg Castle and Levin O'Connor present Castle's nomination for Best Line at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) Artemis Pebdani presents her nomination for Best Line at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) Tony Lewellen presents Phillip Mottaz's nomination for Best Line at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) Ric Rosario accepts his award for Best Line at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) Ric Rosario accepts his award for Best Line at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) Andy Trask presents Coach of the Year at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) (L to R) Andy Trask and Dawn Hunnicutt present Coach of the Year at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) Brian O'Connell accepts Coach of the Year at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) (L to R) Mike Holley and Jessica Young present Teacher of the Year at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) Craig Cackowski accepts the award for Teacher of the Year at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) Craig Cackowski accepts the award for Teacher of the Year at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) (L to R) Ryan Gowland and Zabeth Russell present Best Non-Harold Show at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) Alison Koellisch presents Best Non-Harold Show at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) (L to R) Bob Dassie and Rich Talarico present Best Harold Team at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) (L to R) Bob Dassie, Craig Cackowski, and Rich Talarico present Best Harold Team at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) The cast of USS Rock N' Roll accepts their award for Best Harold Team at the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh) Josh Dubose hosts the 2009 iOWest Del Close Awards (Photo by Erin Leigh)