Des Moines Performing Arts will present the fifth annual Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards Showcase on Monday, June 5, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. at the Des Moines Civic Center and once again, Des Moines Public Schools will be well represented.

The evening of entertainment will feature more than 500 student performers representing a record 60 participating high schools—almost twice the number of schools who participated last year. The program became a statewide initiative during the 2016-2017 school year.

The gala event culminates a yearlong education program launched by DMPA. Throughout the year, performing arts professionals and educators serve as adjudicators to review musical productions and offer constructive feedback to each of the participating high schools.

Last November East staged Hairspray and Hoover presented Singin’ in the Rain. In April came Lincoln’s and Roosevelt’s turns with Disney’s High School Musical and 42nd Street, respectively.

Students from East, Lincoln, Hoover and Roosevelt will perform in a collaborative inter-school medley at Monday’s showcase, led by guest Broadway music director, Adam Jones, and choreographer, Sara Brians.

Those four schools also garnered the following recognitions:

East

Mason Lawrence will reprise his role as “Link Larkin” in an excerpt from Hairspray.

  • Distinguished Scene – “You Can’t Stop the Beat”
  • Outstanding Student Orchestra
  • Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role – Mason Lawrence as “Link Larkin”
  • Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role – Nic Graziano as “Corny Collins”
  • Special Recognition for Performance as a Featured Dancer – Brittany McGilvra

Lincoln

Lorena Escobar will reprise an excerpt from her role as “Gabriella Montez” in Disney’s High School Musical.

  •                Distinguished Scene – “We’re All in This Together”
  •                Outstanding Student Orchestra
  •                Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role – Lorena Escobar as “Gabriella Montez”
  •                Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role – Everett Reed as “Chad Danforth”
  •                Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role – Brandon Winn as “Coach Bolton”
  •                Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role – Owen Yoder as “Ryan Evans”

Hoover

  • Distinguished Scene – “Good Morning”
  • Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role – Annika Baker as “Kathy Selden”
  • Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role – Maxwell Tensen as “Don Lockwood”
  • Special Recognition for Video Production

Roosevelt 

  • Outstanding Overall Performance
  • Outstanding Ensemble
  • Outstanding Student Orchestra
  • Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role – Demarius Fisher as “Billy Lawlor”
  • Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role – Cole Rixner as “Julian Marsh”
  • Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role – Rachel Wade as “Peggy Sawyer”
  • Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role – Emma Carlson as “Annie”
  • Special Recognition for Performance as a Featured Dancer – Gary McCall as “Andy the Dance Director”
  • Special Recognition for Performance as a Featured Dancer – Grace Ammann, Emma Carlson, Maeve Karsjens, Moira McMahon, Abi Phelps, Clara Radcliffe, Kaylee Reininga, Opal Rustad, Katherine Sickels, Tatum Vermeer, and Stella Webster as “Tap Chorus”

Got your tickets? If not, click here.

Published on