We are ecstatic to announce our 2023-2024 Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards! This year’s production of The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical was an electrifying production and the students’ hard work, dedication, and creative expression was awarded with the following awards:

Production Awards:

Outstanding Overall Technical and Creative Achievement

Student Awards:

Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role - Lucas Obert as “Percy Jackson”
Outstanding Achievement for a Behind-the-Scenes Role - Chance Schultes and the Coon Rapids-Bayard Lighting Team for Lighting Design
Outstanding Achievement for a Behind-the-Scenes Role - Ella Heithoff for Choreography

Special Recognition

Special Recognition for a Performance in a Principal Role - Leah Larsen as “Sally Jackson”
Special Recognition for a Performance in a Principal Role - Dakota Mason as “Mr. Brunner/Chiron/Ares”

IMPACT Award

Brenda Heithoff

Coon Rapids-Bayard theater department will participate in the 2024 Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards Showcase, presented by EMC Insurance Companies, in honor of the school's achievements for its April production of The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical.

Produced by Des Moines Performing Arts as the culmination of a year-long education initiative, the Showcase will be held at the Des Moines Civic Center on Thursday, May 30 at 7:00 p.m. and will recognize a total of 102 schools from across the entire state.

Coon Rapids-Bayard will be honored in a special video shown at the Showcase, in celebration of its receipt of an Outstanding Overall Technical and Creative Achievement Award - one of the program's highest honors.

Lucas Obert will perform an excerpt from his award-winning role in The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical as Percy Jackson.

Brenda Heithoff will be honored as one of this year’s Impact Award recipients, which honors adults who make a significant impact on students’ school musical experience. Brenda was nominated by Maddy Mason.

Lucas Obert will also participate in the Triple Threat Award program with other advanced performing students. In addition to a special performance at the showcase, students will audition for theater camp scholarships and the opportunity to represent Iowa at the Jimmy Awards, or National High School Musical Theatre Awards, in New York City this summer.

Chance Schultes and the lighting team of Ben Heithoff, Summer South and Belle Warner will showcase their award-winning work for Lighting as part of the program's Behind-The-Scenes Awards track.

Ella Heithoff will also showcase her award-winning work as Choreographer as part of the program's Behind-The-Scenes Awards track.

Dakota Mason and Ella Heithoff will also represent Coon Rapids-Bayard by performing in a collaborative inter-school medley led by a guest Broadway music director and choreographer during the Finale number at the Showcase on May 30th.

The Awards Showcase will be live-streamed at IowaPBS.org as part of a collaboration with Iowa PBS. Iowa PBS will also broadcast a highlights special of the event later this summer on dates to be announced.

Coon Rapids-Bayard Community School District

Chorus/High School Musical Theater

Band

Speech/Drama

Art Club