News

May 18, 2018 Arts & Culture

Sioux City East & North High to receive awards at IHSMTA Showcase

Both the Sioux City East High (EHS) and North High School (NHS) theater departments will participate in the 2018 Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards Showcase, in honor of the schools’ achievements for East High’s November 2017 production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and North High’s March 2018 production of The Little Mermaid.

Produced by Des Moines Performing Arts as the culmination of a yearlong education initiative, the Showcase will be held at the Des Moines Civic Center on Monday, June 4 at 7:00 p.m. and will recognize a total of 68 schools from across the entire state.

Nathan Kitrell (EHS) will perform an excerpt from his award-winning role in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast as Lefou. Isaiah Green (NHS) and Kari Swanson (NHS) have also earned the privilege to perform a solo at the Awards Showcase, as well as the honor of competing for the right to represent Iowa at Nationals.

Additionally, Sioux City East High and North High will be recognized with the following awards and honors:

Production Awards:
Distinguished Scene (EHS) – “Gaston”

Distinguished Scene (NHS) – “Kiss the Girl”

Student Awards:
Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role (EHS) – Nathan Kitrell as “Lefou”

Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role (NHS) – Isaiah Green as ‘Sebastian
Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role (NHS) – Kari Swanson as ‘Ursula’

Special Recognition:
Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role (EHS) – Bronwyn Eastlick as “Belle”
Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role (EHS) – Cameron Jensen as “Gaston”
Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role (EHS) – Jacob Licht as “Lumiere”
Special Recognition for Scenic Painting (EHS) – Hana Oldroyd

Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role (NHS) – Finn Coughlin as ‘Flounder’
Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role (NHS) – Trent Thibeault as ‘Chef Louie/Pilot’

Special Recognition for Outstanding Community Engagement (NHS) – Water Safety Scholarships

Select students will also represent each school in a collaborative inter-school medley performance led by guest Broadway music director, Adam Jones, and choreographer, Sara Brians. Cameron Jensen, Bronwyn Eastlick, and Jacob Licht will represent East High, and Finn Coughlin, Trent Thibeault, and Mary Baker will represent North High.

Tickets to the Showcase will go on sale on Wednesday, May 16 at 9 AM at DMPA.org, and by phone at 515-246-2300. For the first time, the Showcase will also be live-streamed at Iptv.org as part of a collaboration with Iowa Public Television. IPTV will air a highlights special of the evening later this summer.