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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

2008 Ceremony Photos

Volunteers prepare the red carpet before the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) (L to R) Faryl Saliman Reingold and Kim Mulligan at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) (L to R) Kim Mulligan and Tilt Tyree at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) (L to R) Best Viral Video nominee Phillip Wilburn and Kim Mulligan at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) (L to R) Best Viral Video nominee Phillip Wilburn and Best Portrayal of Furniture or Environment nominee Andy Trask at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) (L to R) David Ross and Jill Alexander at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) Del Close Awards Committee Chair Irene White at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) (L to R) Judith Shelton interviews Zabeth Russell and Irene White on the red carpet at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) (L to R) Judith Shelton interviews Jill Alexander and Rachael Drummond at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) (L to R) Bennie Arthur and Steve Shane at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) (L to R) Julia Wackenheim and Dave Holmes at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) (L to R) Judith Shelton interviews Zach Huddleston, Erin McGathy, Jeff Clinard, and Andy Trask on the red carpet at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) Cagematch host Joe Herrera at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) Most Supportive Audience Member nominee Darin Yalacki at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) (L to R) Rebecca Stevens and announcer Craig Cackowski at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) (L to R) Norm and Fawn Thoeming at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) (L to R) Steve Shane, Jason Meier, and BJ Averell at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) (L to R) BJ Averell, Ben Simeon, and Faith Willman at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) Norm Thoeming performs with Opening Night: The Improvised Musical at the start of the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) Shulie Cowen performs with the cast of Opening Night: The Musical at the start of the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) (L to R) Shulie Cowen, Norm Thoeming, and Hilary Ryan perform a musical number at the start of the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) (L to R) Hilary Ryan, Norm Thoeming, and Shule Cowen perform at the start of the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) (L to R) Hilary Ryan, Norm Thoeming, and Shulie Cowen perform a musical number at the start of the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) Host Josh Dubose at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) (L to R) Eve Fizz and Jon Crowley present the award for Excellence in Bartending at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) (L to R) Eve Fizz looks on as Jon Crowley accepts his award for Excellence in Bartending at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) (L to R) Jeff Clinard and Jill Alexander present the award for Best Waitstaff at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) (L to R) Brian Gallivan, Jeff Clinard, and Jill Alexander present the award for Best Waitstaff at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) (L to R) Jeff Clinard and Jill Alexander look on as Eve Fizz accepts the award for Best Waitstaff at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) The Del Close Dancers perform an interpretive dance for the Best Harold Team nominee Chris Marrs presents the award for Hardest Working Intern at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) Miles Stroth presents the award for Hardest Working Intern at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) Tilt Tyree accepts his award for Hardest Working Intern at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) (L to R) Jessica Young and Maggy Keegan present the award for Most Supportive Audience Member at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) (L to R) Jessica Young and Maggy Keegan present the award for Most Supportive Audience Member at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) Herb Koss accepts the award for Most Supportive Audience Member at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) (L to R) Ben Siemon and Kristy Nolen present the award for Best Andy Dick Black Box Show at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) (L to R) Ben Simeon and Kristy Nolen present the award for Best Andy Dick Black Box Show at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) Judith Shelton accepts the Best Andy Dick Black Box Show award for Nick Armstrong presents the award for Sexiest Player at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) (L to R) Nick Armstrong, Liz Lytle, and Sarah Grace present the award for Sexiest Player at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) Nick Armstrong accepts his award for Sexiest Player at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) The Del Close Awards Dancers perform an interpretive dance for the Best Harold Team nominee 'King Ten.' (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) iOWest Artistic Director James Grace presents the James Grace Award at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) Bar Manager Brian O'Connell accepts his James Grace Award at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) The iOWest stage chairs present the award for Best Portrayal of Furniture or Environment at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) Dave Hill accepts the award for Best Portrayal of Furniture or Environment on behalf of Eric Hunicutt at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) (L to R) Molly Hawkey and Seamus McCarthy present the award for Best Improvised Non-Harold Show at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) (L to R) Molly Hawkey and Seamus McCarthy look on as Craig Cackowski accepts the award for Best Improvised Non-Harold Show at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) Host Josh Dubose as a Hollywood Douchebag at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) John Abbott presents the award for Best Written Piece at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) (L to R) John Abbott looks on as Dave Holmes, Jill Alexander, Erin McGathy, and Scott Gimple accept the award for Best Scripted Show at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) The Del Close Awards Dancers perform an interpretive dance for the Best Harold Team nominee (L to R) Phillip Wilburn and Erin McGathy present the award for Best Written Piece at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) (L to R) Mr. Energy (Nick Armstrong) and Scott Gimple accept the award for Best Written Piece at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) (L to R) Phillip Wilburn and Erin McGathy look on as Mr. Energy (Nick Armstrong) and Scott Gimple accept the award for Best Written Piece at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) (L to R) Mike Coen and Scott Gimple present the award for Most Underrated Player at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) Zabeth Russell accepts her award for Most Underrated Player at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) Zabeth Russell accepts her award for Most Underrated Player at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) Host Josh Dubose at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) Nick Jackson accepts the Rock Bottom Brewery Best Randomly Selected Student Award at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) The Del Close Awards dancers perform and interpretive dance for the Best Harold Team nominee Host Josh Dubose presents the award for Best Viral Video at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) Phillip Wilburn accepts his Best Viral Video award for Bitsy the Intern (Julia Wackenheim) presents the award for Coach of the Year at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) Irene White accepts her award for Best Coach at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) Mike Bertrando presents the award for Teacher of the Year at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) Mike Bertrando presents the award for Teacher of the Year at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) Craig Cackowski accepts his award for Teacher of the Year at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) The Del Close Dancers (with Herb Koss, center) present an interpretive dance for the Best Harold Team Nominee Best Coach nominee Bridget Kloss presents the award for Best Harold Team at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) (L to R) Bridget Kloss looks on as Jon Crowley, Josh Dubose, and Dave Hill accept King Ten's award for Best Harold Team at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) Host Josh Dubose at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) The iOWest community comes together to sing 'We Are iO' at the close of the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) The iOWest community comes together to sing 'We Are iO' at the close of the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) The iOWest community comes together to sing 'We Are iO' at the close of the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) The iOWest community comes together to sing 'We Are iO' at the close of the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) Host Josh Dubose wraps up the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) Musical Director Andrew Melton at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) Excellence in Bartending nominee Nick Bush at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) (L to R) Sexiest Player nominee Sara Sposito, Jason Meier, and Maggy Keegan at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) Most Underrated Player nominee Joy Allen at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman) Intern David Cartledge at the 2008 iOWest Del Close Awards. (Photo by Chelsea Coleman)