TWO STUDENTS NAMED ‘TRIPLE THREATS’ AT IOWA HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATER AWARDS SHOWCASE

After an incredible night of musical theater, two students earned Triple Threat Awards Thursday evening at the Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards Showcase, presented by EMC Insurance. The two students will represent Iowa at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards next month in New York City. 

Natalie Sierk, a sophomore at North Scott High School in Eldrige, received the award for her performance as Doralee Rhodes in 9 to 5 the Musical. Natalie’s previous credits include James and the Giant Peach, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Charlotte’s Web, and Dear Edwina Jr.

Jackson Baker, a senior at Nevada High School in Nevada, earned the honor for his portrayal of Jack Kelly in Disney’s Newsies. Jackson has also appeared in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Oklahoma!, and Footloose. He will attend Boston Conservatory at Berklee this fall, majoring in Musical Theater.

As Triple Threat Award recipients, Natalie and Jackson will travel to New York City June 14 – 24 to participate in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, also known as the Jimmy Awards. They will join students from across the country for an 11-day intensive of private coaching, master classes, and rehearsals with Broadway professionals. Their experience will culminate with a final performance on June 23 at 6:30 p.m. local time at the Minskoff Theatre, home to Disney’s The Lion King on Broadway.

Des Moines Performing Arts (DMPA) is an official Regional Awards Program of the National High School Musical Theatre Awards. To identify Iowa’s two student representatives at Nationals, the Triple Threat Award program was created. The award recognizes students who are a “triple threat,” demonstrating excellent acting, dancing, and vocal talents. Additionally, the Triple Threat Award recognizes students who exemplify the spirit of the Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards.

This year, 80 students from more than 100 participating Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards schools auditioned for the Triple Threat Award. The students were invited to audition based on the strength of their performances in their school musical production in a role. Students spent three days in late May auditioning, rehearsing under the direction of Broadway veterans, and receiving private coaching from local university faculty.

Four students from the Triple Threat program were also awarded scholarships to DMPA’s Broadway Intensive Camp. Each year guest Broadway performers travel to Des Moines to lead teens entering grade 9 through the first year of college in a week-long series of master classes. They focus on the triple threat skills of musical theater. The week culminates in a showcase for family and friends. Those scholarship recipients are:

To see a complete list of participating schools, and program details from Thursday’s showcase, click here.

Iowa PBS will air a special statewide broadcast of the IHSMTA Showcase on Monday, July 7 at 8 p.m. Theshowcase will re-air it on Sunday, July 13 at 4:30 p.m.

The Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards is a yearlong education program launched by Des Moines Performing Arts. Throughout the year, performing arts professionals and educators serve as adjudicators to review musical productions and offer constructive feedback to each of the participating high schools. The program has continued to grow by leaps and bounds since nine schools first participated during its inaugural year in 2012. A statewide initiative as of the 2016 – 2017 school year, the 2025 showcase featured 600 student performers or off-stage technicians representing 100 participating high schools. 

Based on the adjudicators’ feedback, students and productions are honored with awards and recognition. Students and productions are acknowledged in several different categories including Outstanding Musical Production, Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role, Outstanding Ensemble and Outstanding Overall Technical and Creative Achievement. 

For more information about the Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards, click here.