The Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards, presented by Des Moines Performing Arts, celebrates the extraordinary achievements of young musical theater artists. The program aims to create visibility and support for high school musical theater programs and to highlight the importance of arts education. Panels of community adjudicators comprised of performing arts educators and professionals attend and review each participating school's production. Students and directors receive valuable constructive feedback that can be used to grow and strengthen their future work. Based on reviews and scores, schools ultimately receive awards in honor of their achievements in categories ranging from choreography, design, supporting performer, lead performer, and overall musical production.
The Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards is designed to be celebratory rather than competitive in nature. Any student or school at an outstanding level is recognized for their achievement. Multiple honorees may be named in each category as performances merit.
The year culminates in a professionally produced Awards Showcase event held on the Civic Center stage featuring outstanding student performances.
For more information, please visit http://www.desmoinesperformingarts.org/education/k-12/musical-theater.php
The Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards is designed to be celebratory rather than competitive in nature. Any student or school at an outstanding level is recognized for their achievement. Multiple honorees may be named in each category as performances merit.
The year culminates in a professionally produced Awards Showcase event held on the Civic Center stage featuring outstanding student performances.
For more information, please visit http://www.desmoinesperformingarts.org/education/k-12/musical-theater.php
2022 - Hello, Dolly!
Production Awards
Outstanding Musical Production
Outstanding Ensemble
Student Awards
Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role – Tessa Baty as "Dolly Levi"
Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role – Finley McVay as "Irene Malloy"
Special Recognition
Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role - Milo Olinger as "Cornelius Hackl"
Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role - Luke Stephens as "Barnaby Tucker"
Triple-Threat Award Invitation
Tessa Baty
Finley McVay
2021 - Bright Star
Production Awards
Outstanding Overall Technical and Creative Achievement
Outstanding Ensemble
Student Awards
Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role – Alice Conroy as "Alice Murphy"
Special Recognition
Special Recognition for New Performing Arts Venue
Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role – Lynn Burgin as "Margo"
Note: the Triple-Threat program was suspended this year due to COVID-19
2020 - Tuck Everlasting
This show was not adjudicated due to COVID-19
2019 - Oklahoma!
Production Awards
Distinguished Scene – “Kansas City”
Student Awards
Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role – Ryan Clark as "Will Parker"
Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role – Quinnie Rodman as "Ado Annie Carnes"
Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role – Jasper Rood as "Ali Hakim"
Special Recognition
Special Recognition for Ensemble
Special Recognition for Performance as Featured Dancers – Chloe Bunch and Dallas Olberding
Triple-Threat Award Invitation
Ryan Clark
Quinnie Rodman
2018 - The Little Mermaid
Production Awards
Distinguished Scene – "Positoovity"
Student Awards
Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role – Maggie Lynott as "Chef Louis"
Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role – Quinnie Rodman as "Ariel"
Special Recognition
Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role – Lisa Blythe as "Ursula"
Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role – Ryan Clark as "Sebastian"
Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role – Grace Krapfl as "Jetsam"
Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role – Maddy Steen as "Flotsam"
Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role – Sam White as "Scuttle"
Triple-Threat Award Invitation
Quinnie Rodman
2017 - The Drowsy Chaperone
Production Awards
Outstanding Overall Performance
Outstanding Ensemble
Student Awards
Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role – Simon Crocker as “Man in Chair”
Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role – Stacey Jaeger as “The Chaperone”
Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role – Sam Krapfl as “Robert”
Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role – Luke Moran as “Adolpho”
Special Recognition
Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role – Rachel Bell as “Janet Van De Graaf”
Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role – Sam White as “Kitty”
Triple-Threat Award Invitation
Simon Crocker
Stacey Jaeger
Sam Krapfl
Luke Moran
2016 - Les Misérables
Production Awards
Outstanding Musical Production
Outstanding Ensemble
Student Awards
Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role – Bryce Cox as "Jean Valjean"
Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role – Adam Holcomb as "Javert"
Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role – Nicole Margheim as "Enjolras"
Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role – Jenna Reimann as "Fantine"
Special Recognition
Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role - Sam Krapfl as "Marius"
Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role - Luke Moran as "Thenardier"
Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role - Rehanna Rexroat as "Eponine"
Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role - Taylor Sherman as "Cosette"
Triple-Threat Award Invitation
Bryce Cox
Adam Holcomb
Jenna Reimann
2015 - Footloose
Production Awards
Outstanding Overall Performance
Student Awards
Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role – David Taylor as “Willard Hewitt”
Special Recognition
Special Recognition for Ensemble
Special Recognition for Performance in a Leading Role – Bryce Cox as "Ren McCormack"
Special Recognition for Performance in a Leading Role – Jenna Reimann as “Ariel Moore”
Special Recognition for Performance in a Supporting Role – Nicole Margheim as “Vi Moore”
Triple-Threat Award Invitation
David Taylor
Production Awards
Outstanding Musical Production
Outstanding Ensemble
Student Awards
Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role – Tessa Baty as "Dolly Levi"
Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role – Finley McVay as "Irene Malloy"
Special Recognition
Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role - Milo Olinger as "Cornelius Hackl"
Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role - Luke Stephens as "Barnaby Tucker"
Triple-Threat Award Invitation
Tessa Baty
Finley McVay
2021 - Bright Star
Production Awards
Outstanding Overall Technical and Creative Achievement
Outstanding Ensemble
Student Awards
Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role – Alice Conroy as "Alice Murphy"
Special Recognition
Special Recognition for New Performing Arts Venue
Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role – Lynn Burgin as "Margo"
Note: the Triple-Threat program was suspended this year due to COVID-19
2020 - Tuck Everlasting
This show was not adjudicated due to COVID-19
2019 - Oklahoma!
Production Awards
Distinguished Scene – “Kansas City”
Student Awards
Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role – Ryan Clark as "Will Parker"
Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role – Quinnie Rodman as "Ado Annie Carnes"
Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role – Jasper Rood as "Ali Hakim"
Special Recognition
Special Recognition for Ensemble
Special Recognition for Performance as Featured Dancers – Chloe Bunch and Dallas Olberding
Triple-Threat Award Invitation
Ryan Clark
Quinnie Rodman
2018 - The Little Mermaid
Production Awards
Distinguished Scene – "Positoovity"
Student Awards
Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role – Maggie Lynott as "Chef Louis"
Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role – Quinnie Rodman as "Ariel"
Special Recognition
Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role – Lisa Blythe as "Ursula"
Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role – Ryan Clark as "Sebastian"
Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role – Grace Krapfl as "Jetsam"
Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role – Maddy Steen as "Flotsam"
Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role – Sam White as "Scuttle"
Triple-Threat Award Invitation
Quinnie Rodman
2017 - The Drowsy Chaperone
Production Awards
Outstanding Overall Performance
Outstanding Ensemble
Student Awards
Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role – Simon Crocker as “Man in Chair”
Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role – Stacey Jaeger as “The Chaperone”
Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role – Sam Krapfl as “Robert”
Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role – Luke Moran as “Adolpho”
Special Recognition
Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role – Rachel Bell as “Janet Van De Graaf”
Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role – Sam White as “Kitty”
Triple-Threat Award Invitation
Simon Crocker
Stacey Jaeger
Sam Krapfl
Luke Moran
2016 - Les Misérables
Production Awards
Outstanding Musical Production
Outstanding Ensemble
Student Awards
Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role – Bryce Cox as "Jean Valjean"
Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role – Adam Holcomb as "Javert"
Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role – Nicole Margheim as "Enjolras"
Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role – Jenna Reimann as "Fantine"
Special Recognition
Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role - Sam Krapfl as "Marius"
Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role - Luke Moran as "Thenardier"
Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role - Rehanna Rexroat as "Eponine"
Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role - Taylor Sherman as "Cosette"
Triple-Threat Award Invitation
Bryce Cox
Adam Holcomb
Jenna Reimann
2015 - Footloose
Production Awards
Outstanding Overall Performance
Student Awards
Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role – David Taylor as “Willard Hewitt”
Special Recognition
Special Recognition for Ensemble
Special Recognition for Performance in a Leading Role – Bryce Cox as "Ren McCormack"
Special Recognition for Performance in a Leading Role – Jenna Reimann as “Ariel Moore”
Special Recognition for Performance in a Supporting Role – Nicole Margheim as “Vi Moore”
Triple-Threat Award Invitation
David Taylor