Southeast Polk High School took home eight awards at the 2024 Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards Showcase for their production of “Matilda: The Musical.”
The production as a whole won Outstanding Musical Production, Outstanding Student Orchestra and Special Recognition Ensemble. Several student actors won individual awards including August Nau, who won Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role as Mr. Wormwood, and Shea Baxter, who won Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role as the titular Matilda.
The awards show took place at the Des Moines Civic Center on May 30. In total, 102 schools from across Iowa were recognized. The showcase is the culmination of an all-year program by Des Moines Performing Arts. Select participating schools receive professional review that gives feedback and puts them in the running for awards at the end of the year.
Besides collecting their trophies, Southeast Polk also performed an excerpt from the production. Select students also represented the school in an inter-school medley led by Broadway choreographer and director Tiger Brown. Baxter and Nau also got the chance to compete in the Triple Threat Award Program.