Two Iowa Students Named Triple Threats at IHSMTA Showcase

After a night of musical theater, two students earned Triple Threat Awards Thursday evening at the Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards (IHSMTA) Showcase. The two students will represent the state of Iowa at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards (Jimmy Awards) next month in New York City.

Wrigley Mancha, a senior at Davenport Central Iowa High School in Davenport, recently played Cinderella in Into the Woods. Wrigley's previous credits include Fantine in Les Misérables School Edition, Jane Doe in Ride the Cyclone Teen Edition, and Chava in Fiddler on the Roof at Circa 21' Dinner Playhouse. She plans to attend the University of Iowa in the fall to double major in Public Health and Theatre Arts.

Peyton Haacke, a senior at Southeast Polk High School in Pleasant Hill, recently performed as Horton the Elephant in Seussical the Musical. Peyton's previous credits also include SpongeBob SquarePants in The SpongeBob Musical, Angel in Rent, and Uncle Fester in The Addams Family. After graduation, he plans to attend The Institute for American Musical Theater in New York City to study Musical Theatre.

As Triple Threat Award recipients, Wrigley and Peyton will travel to New York City June 12-23 to participate in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards. They will join students from across the country for an 11-day intensive of individual coaching, master classes, and rehearsals with Broadway professionals. Their experience will culminate with a final performance on June 22 at 6:30 p.m. local time at the Minskoff Theatre, home to Disney's The Lion King on Broadway.

Des Moines Performing Arts (DMPA) is an official Regional Awards Program of the National High School Musical Theatre Awards. To identify Iowa's two representatives at the Jimmy Awards, the Triple Threat Award program was created. The award recognizes students are a “triple threat,” demonstrating excellence in acting, dancing and vocal talents. Additionally, the Triple Threat Award recognizes students who exemplify the spirit of the IHSMTA.

This year, students selected from more than 100 participating IHSMTA schools auditioned for the Triple Threat Award. The students were invited to audition based on the strength of their performances in their school musical production in a role. Students spent three days this month auditioning, rehearsing under the direction of New York City-based theater professionals, and receiving private coaching from local university faculty.

Four students from the Triple Threat program were also awarded scholarships to DMPA's Broadway Intensive Camp. Each year guest Broadway performers travel to Des Moines to lead teens entering 9th grade through the first year of college in a week-long series of master classes. They focus on the triple threat skills of musical theater. The week culminates in a showcase for family and friends. Those scholarship recipients are:

• Natalie Sierk, North Scott High School (2025 Triple Threat recipient)
• Audrey Seneli, Bettendorf High School
• Riley Beck, Dubuque Senior High School
• Levi Lane, Spencer High School

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Two Iowa Students Named Triple Threats at IHSMTA Showcase

5/29/2026