AHS DRAMA DEPARTMENT AWARDS PRESS RELEASE
Ankeny High School’s Drama Department will participate in the 2023 Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards Showcase, presented by EMC Insurance Companies, in honor of the school’s achievements for its April production of The Wizard of Oz.
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 Thursday, June 1 at 7:00 p.m. and will recognize a total of 94 schools from across the entire state.
AHS will be honored in a special video shown at the Showcase, in celebration of its receipt of an Outstanding Overall Performance Award – one of the program’s highest honors.
Jacynda Santiago and Jemma Bullock will represent AHS by performing in a collaborative inter-school medley led by a guest Broadway music director and choreographer. Additionally, Carter Evans will perform an excerpt from his award-winning role in The Wizard of Oz as Zeke/Lion.
Carter Evans 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.
Ankeny High School will also be recognized with the following awards and honors:
Outstanding Overall Performance
Outstanding Ensemble
Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role – Carter Evans as “Zeke/Lion”
Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role – Jenna Freeseman as “Glinda”
Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role – Grant Miner as “Hickory/Tinman”
Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role – Jacynda Santiago as “Dorothy Gale”
Special Recognition for Featured Ensemble – Oz Company Singers
Tickets to the Showcase, which start at $15, will go on sale on Friday, May 12, 2023 at 10 AM at DMPA.org, the Des Moines 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 Friday, July 14 at 8:30 p.m. and on Sunday, July 16 at 1:00 p.m.