Lighting the Way: Equipment Donations Help Iowa Schools Shine
October 29, 2024When our production team made the decision to update the stage lighting at the Civic Center, the transition marked a dazzling shift in more ways than one. With LED technology advancing both in quality and cost efficiency, a major upgrade made the most sense. The question that remained—what would happen to our 300+ retired incandescent lights?
We found a creative answer right in our own backyard: the education department. The Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards (IHSMTA) is a donor-driven initiative supported by EMC Insurance. Now in its 13th year, IHSMTA has grown from nine schools in its inaugural year to engaging over 100 schools across the state today. Participating schools benefit from master classes, workshops, and are invited to participate in a live, end-of-school-year Showcase on the Civic Center stage.
The free lighting equipment found its way into 32 Iowa schools, including small communities like Danville. Theater directors across the state jumped at this opportunity. Michael Williams from Abraham Lincoln High School expressed his gratitude: "We’re already so thankful for everything DMPA does to lift up our students. This was another wonderful surprise."
The timing of the donation couldn’t have been better for students at Van Meter Community Schools, who were producing The Wizard of Oz. Around this time, we held an IHSMTA lighting workshop. "I brought three students, and they were able to apply what they learned immediately. They are finding ways to add emotion with lighting, investing in the story on a deeper level," said Renee Martin, Van Meter theater director. For the haunted forest scene, students used were able to drape the stage in shadows, adding texture that hadn’t been possible with their previous lights.
Waukee High School experienced firsthand how lighting can transform a performance. When the school staged Spamalot, our donated accent lights played a critical role.
"Lighting makes all the difference in disguising some of what’s happening on stage, so the audience can be surprised," said Nathan Jorgensen, Waukee’s theater arts director. With DMPA’s donation, schools no longer need to rent lighting equipment, freeing up funds for other creative needs, such as costumes and props. Jorgensen explained, "It opens the way to more learning that students will not just apply at school but carry into their professional lives."
This project embodies the power of giving and the importance of arts education. With the support of our donors, our facility upgrades can help open doors for students across Iowa. Nathan Jorgensen sums it up perfectly: "This donation essentially allows us to make theater, instead of just turning the lights on and off." Through initiatives like these, we aim to support the next generation of artists, storytellers, and leaders, helping them shine brighter on and off the stage.