Senior Graduate Peyton Reese won the Triple Threat competition last night at the Iowa High School Musical Theatre Awards (IHSMTA) at the Des Moines Performing Arts Center. Candidates became eligible to compete in the Triple Threat competition by performing a principal role in a musical at their school that was adjudicated by theatre professionals from the IHSMTA. Nominated for their outstanding talents in the three categories of singing, dancing, and acting, the candidates then went to Des Moines to compete for the award. Eventually, the students perform an encore selection on live TV alongside other actors and ensembles nominated for their outstanding performances. Along with Reese, another student, Cole Strelecki of West Des Moines High School, won the award. Peyton, along other “spotlight performers” reprised her role as Veronica Sawyer in this spring’s production of Heathers: The Musical High School Edition. Peyton now moves on to compete in the National Jimmy Awards, a nation-wide competition for young theatre students.