JHS Frozen wins top awards, will perform at state theater showcase

JOHNSTON, Ia. (May 11, 2023) — The Johnston High School Drama Department’s spring 2023 production of Disney’s Frozen: The Broadway Musical has received the Outstanding Musical Production Award, the state’s highest honor in high school musical theater.

In celebration of this honor, the JHS cast of Frozen will perform a 2- to 3-minute excerpt of its production at the 2023 Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards Showcase, to be held 7 p.m. Thursday, June 1 at the Des Moines Civic Center. It is the third year in a row that Johnston will perform at the state showcase.

Produced by Des Moines Performing Arts and presented by EMC Insurance Companies, the showcase will recognize 94 schools from across the state and is the culmination of a yearlong education initiative.

Johnston High School is the only school in Iowa, and one of only 52 nationwide, given exclusive rights to perform Frozen as its spring musical this year. Nearly 300 schools applied. The shows April 20-22 attracted sell-out crowds to the JHS Auditorium for three nights of the show, as well as the daytime sensory-friendly performance.

In addition to giving a special performance at the 2023 Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards Showcase, Johnston will also be recognized with the following awards and honors:

Production Awards

Outstanding Musical Production
Outstanding Student Orchestra
Outstanding Community Engagement (for the Frozen breakfast that partnered with and raised funds for Adventures in Social Development and Des Moines Playhouse’s The Penguin Project)

Student Awards

The following students are all receiving the Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role Award, and have been invited to perform an excerpt from their award-winning roles in Frozen.

Soren Green as “Kristoff”
Noah Hartman as “Hans”
Allison Miner as “Anna”
Grace Tutaj as “Elsa”

Special Recognition

Special Recognition of Ensemble
Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role — Paige Thacker as “Olaf”

JHS junior Ayla Hanson has also been selected to serve as a student Assistant Stage Manager for the showcase through a competitive process. She will work alongside the professional team to run rehearsals, call cues, and more to execute the statewide event.

Tickets to the Showcase, which start at $15, will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, May 12 at desmoinesperformingarts.org, the Des Moines Civic Center Ticket Office, and at 515-246-2300.

The Awards Showcase will be livestreamed 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 p.m.

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