State theater showcase to feature MHS

Montezuma High School theater department will participate in the 2022 Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards Showcase, presented by EMC Insurance Companies, in honor of the school’s achievements for its November production of Shrek the Musical, Jr.

Produced by Des Moines Performing Arts as the culmination of a year-long education initiative, the Showcase will be held at the Des Moines Civic Center on Saturday, June 18 at 7:00 p.m. and will recognize a total of 85 schools from across the entire state. 

Montezuma High School will be honored in a special video shown at the Showcase, in celebration of its receipt of an Outstanding Overall Technical and Creative Achievement Award – one of the program’s highest honors.

Kaya Latcham and Camryn Brennan, with alternate Lily Shoemaker, will represent Montezuma High School by performing in a collaborative inter-school medley led by a guest Broadway music director and choreographer. 

Lydia Singleton will perform an excerpt from her award-winning role in Shrek the Musical, Jr. as Princess Fiona. 

Lydia will also participate in the Triple Threat Award program with other advanced performing students. In addition to a special performance at the showcase, students will audition for theater camp scholarships and the opportunity to represent Iowa at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards in New York City this summer. 

Montezuma High School will also be recognized with the following awards and honors:

Outstanding performance in a Principal Role – Lydia Singleton as “Princess Fiona.” 

Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role – Kaya Latcham as “Donkey”.

Tickets to the Showcase, which start at $15, will go on sale on Friday, May 20, 2022 at 10 AM at DMPA.org, the Civic Center Ticket Office, and by phone at 515-246-2300.

The Awards Showcase will be live-streamed at IowaPBS.org as part of a collaboration with Iowa PBS. Iowa PBS will also broadcast a highlights special of the event on July 18 at 9:00 p.m., with a repeat airing at 1:00 p.m.