From left to right, Jonah Houghton, Kara Nachazel, and Libby Albright smile on the stage of the Little Theater, all three will take to the stage of the Des Moines Civic Center. PHOTO BY JONATHAN MEYER

Students across the state of Iowa compete every year in this illustrious competition to receive awards, opportunities, and growth in the field of musical theater. This year three members of STC’s production of Freaky Friday will perform as a part of the IHSMTA Showcase on Thursday, June 2.

Last fall the STC Vocal Music Department’s musical, Freaky Friday was adjudicated and from the process two students received awards for their performances. Kara Nachazel received special recognition for her role as Torrey in the production. Libby Albright was recognized with two distinctive awards, Outstanding Achievement in a Principal Role and a Distinguished Scene Award for her performance of “After all this and everything” while playing Katherine Blake in STC’s production of Freaky Friday

With these awards in hand, students are invited to take place in the IHSMTA Showcase that takes place at the Des Moines Civic Center in June. Students are placed in medleys and perform various musical theater numbers with students from all around Iowa.

Joining Kara and Libby will be Jonah Houghton. Houghton was nominated by director Chris McFate and will take part in one of the several medleys performed at the showcase.

Nachazel and Houghton will be a part of opening and closing medleys to the event. Albright is featured in a spotlight medley singing a snippet of “After all this and everything.”

Apart of the adjudication, students are selected to compete in the Triple Threat Program. Triple threat refers to singing, dancing, and acting. Last year Luis Avalos and Libby Albright were both invited and competed in the contest. This year Albright makes a return to the competition after recognition for her portrayal of Kathrine Blake in the musical. The contest is structured like a professional theater audition with participants preparing a theater resume and going through various auditions in front of judges. Through judging, two students are selected to represent Iowa at the Jimmy Awards in New York City. Four students are also given full scholarships to participate in a Broadway Intensive Camp held at the Civics Center later this summer.

Albright hopes to sing and dance her way to the big apple. In talking about her experience last year in the competition, she prefaced growth.

“Last year was a big shock, I was fortunate to meet so many talented people and experience performing at such a high level. It was truly life changing. I gained so much as not just a performer but a human being”

Albright also mentioned making her way back to the Civic Center has been a goal all school year.

“It has been in my planner written down all year, I wanted to do everything I could to make it back to the stage”

Libby would like to thank the entire cast of Freaky Friday, Dixie Forcht, Darcy Lamb, Chris McFate, and her vocal coach Erin Bustin for all contributing to her journey and development as a performer and overall human being.

Results of the Triple Threat Competition will be announced live during the showcase on Thursday night.

“Iowa PBS is will provide an exclusive livestream of the full event on iowapbs.org on Thursday, June 1 at 7 p.m. A 2-hour highlights special will air Friday, July 14 at 8:30 p.m. and be rebroadcast Sunday July 16 at 1 p.m.”

-Iowa PBS Sourced Info

https://www.iowapbs.org/shows/musicaltheater/episode/9779/2023-iowa-high-school-musical-theater-awards-showcase