CCHS music and drama students perform at 2022 Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards Showcase

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

Charles City High School’s Teagan Prigge received “Triple Threat” honors, and several other CCHS music and drama students earned recognition last week as they participated in the 2022 Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards Showcase at the Des Moines Civic Center.

Prigge called the experience “amazing.”

“They were wonderful to work with. It was so fun,” she said. “It was a lot to learn, but they helped you when you needed it.”

Prigge and three other CCHS students – Griffin Franksain, Sophia Jensen and Andres Haglund – performed in front of a packed audience at the ceremony Saturday, and Hagland earned the opportunity to sing a solo in the show’s closing number.

The Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards celebrate the achievements of students involved in high school musicals across the state. The year-long program consists of learning opportunities, professional review and recognition. Workshops are led by theatre professionals, a panel of performing arts educators and professionals known as “adjudicators” attend each school’s musical and provide feedback. The year culminates in a professionally produced Awards Showcase celebrating student achievement.

The students worked face to face with Broadway actors, directors, choreographers, vocal coaches and others and performed in the opening and closing numbers at the awards show and in other numbers throughout the show.

In addition to the performance at the showcase, students auditioned for theater camp scholarships and the opportunity to represent Iowa at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards in New York City this summer.

CCHS speech and drama director Michelle Grob said the showcase is tied to the adjudication process. Three judges came to watch the CCHS production of “Grease” last fall, then sent detailed notes and rated actors and scenes of the production.

Prigge received an award for Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role in Grease (Marty). Haglund and Jensen received an award for Inter-School Medley for their performance in the musical’s finale.

CCHS was also recognized with awards for Distinguished Scene (Freddy My Love), Special Recognition for Ensemble, and Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role (Franksain for Danny Zuko and Emma Schmeidel for Rizzo).

Prigge was one of about 80 students who participated in the Triple Threat Award program, which Grob called a “really big honor.” It recognizes students for their singing, acting and dancing skills. Prigge went to Des Moines two weeks prior and had the opportunity to audition the same way one would audition for a Broadway musical.

“It’s a whole other experience, and it just puts you in awe,” Prigge said. “It was so great to work with all those other kids who were working hard and doing their best.”

Prigge, who will be a senior in the fall, said she was interested in going into acting and the performing arts after high school.

“I want to be on Broadway, and I’m also interested in television acting,” she said. “This can open up so many opportunities that we didn’t know could be there.”

She said she was proud of the effort she and the rest of the cast put into last fall’s musical production, and was pleased it was recognized.

“During ‘Grease,’ we all worked so hard to give the community a show they would love and that our directors would be proud of,” Prigge said. “My senior year I want to work hard and show them what I’ve got.”

She said she hopes she and her classmates get the opportunity to perform in the showcase again.

“It’s a great feeling,” Prigge said. “The energy there is really great.”

The live-streamed version of the showcase is now available to watch on YouTube. Highlights of the show will also be broadcast live on PBS on Monday, July 18, at 8 p.m.