The Iowa High School Musical Theater recently recognized a local school in Guthrie County for their outstanding work. 

The Adair-Casey/Guthrie Center High School Theater Department were judged by the Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards and they received a total of 10 awards including seven production awards and three special recognition awards for their musical called “Newsies.” Speech and Theater Teacher Kelsey Dinkla tells Raccoon Valley Radio out of those 10 awards, being selected for the outstanding overall performance award was validating for the department. 

“That (award) only went to seven schools of the 85 that participated and they are going to showcase a special video with rehearsal photos and the adjudicator comments are going to be narrated during the showcase as well and that feels awesome again, that like big things can come from small schools.”

Dinkla says that students including Andrew Mahaffey, Tommy Bates, Justin Reinhart and Brennan Pederson received special honors to participate in the Triple Threat Award Program for their acting, singing and dancing abilities. She says this is a competitive award. 

“One male and one female will be selected to represent the state of Iowa at the JIMMY Awards in New York City.”

The Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards Showcase will be on June 18th at 7pm with the event held in the Des Moines Civic Center and tickets will be available Friday. The tickets can be purchased using the information below.

Tickets will go on sale to the public on Friday, May 20, 2022. Tickets may be purchased online at DMPA.org, by calling 515-246-2300, or in person at the Civic Center ticket office (221 Walnut Street, Des Moines; hours Monday – Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM).