DMC Disney's The Little Mermaid Cast Recognized by IHSMTA

The Des Moines Christian School theater department will participate in the 2025 Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards Showcase, presented by EMC Insurance Companies, in honor of the school's achievements for its November production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid.  

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 29 at 7:00 p.m. and will recognize a total of 103 adjudicated schools from across the entire state.

Disney's The Little Mermaid ensemble will perform an excerpt from their production at the Showcase, in celebration of the school's receipt of an Outstanding Musical Production Award - the program's highest honor. 

Sydney Estrem ('25)  “Ariel,” Taylor Ferrell ('25) “Scuttle”, and Deacon Menninga ('26) “Sebastian” were invited to participate in the Triple Threat Award program with other advanced performing students. In addition to a special performance at the showcase, these students are invited to 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. 

The full list of awards and honors received by DMC include 

• Outstanding Musical Production 
• Outstanding Ensemble
• Outstanding Achievement in a Principal Role: Deacon Menninga ('26) as "Sebastian"
• Outstanding Achievement in a Principal Role: Sydney Estrem ('25) as "Ariel"
• Outstanding Achievement in a Principal Role: Taylor Ferrell ('25) as "Scuttle" 
• Special Recognition in a Principal Role: Bergin Kleis ('25) as "Prince Eric" 
• Special Recognition in a Principal Role: Cora Murphy ('25) as "Ursula" 
• Special Recognition in a Principal Role: Kieran Seeley ('26) as "King Triton"