Performing and artwork come naturally to Montezuma senior

​      Lydia Singleton, 18, a senior at Montezuma High School, showcases her artwork at Art in the Park in Oskaloosa in 2022. Singleton gains her inspiration for her paintings and drawings from visiting museums and seeing other artwork. She has acted and sang in five musicals at Montezuma, including the lead role in three of them. She has also had a part in a play that her mother, Dianne, wrote in 2020. She remains active in speech and drama and has been selected to all-state five times. As for the future, Singleton is considering attending UNI to study elementary education and vocal performance. Submitted photo.

By J.O. Parker
 
       Lydia Singleton, 18, is no stranger to the stage. A senior at Montezuma High School, Singleton has acted in six school productions, including a small part in “The Fallen Star of Coconut Grove,” a murder mystery her mother, Dianne, wrote and co-directed in November 2020.
      The production was based on real characters in a 1930s popular Chicago nightclub.
     She has also acted and sang in five musicals at Montezuma, including the lead role in three of them. She had lead roles as Princess Fiona in “Shrek the Musical, Jr.,” as Audrey in “Little Shop of Horrors,” and in her latest production, Cinderella in “Into the Woods.” She also had parts in the MHS musical productions of “Cinderella” and “Annie” while in middle school.
      Singleton’s work on the stage has led her and several of her co-stars in “Shrek the Musical, Jr.,” and “Little Shop of Horrors” to be recognized at the Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards (IHSMTA) Showcases in 2022 and 2023.
      Singleton received a Triple Threat honor for her role as Princess Fiona and was selected to perform a short solo from the musical in the Showcase Medley.
      In June 2023, MHS theater department was once again invited to Des Moines where they were honored in a special video shown at the Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards Showcase in celebration of its receipt of an Outstanding Overall Technical and Creative Achievement Award - one of the program's highest honors.
     Singleton, who received an Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role as Audrey, performed an excerpt from her award-winning role in “Little Shop of Horrors.” She also participated in the Triple Threat Award program for a second year with other advanced performing students.
      Also recognized and receiving honors, along with Singleton where Kaya Latcham, Lily Shoemaker, Camryn Brennan in “Shrek the Musical, Jr.” and Latcham and Faith Ferry in “Little Shop of Horrors.
     In addition to her acting skills, Singleton is also quite the artist. She enjoys both oil and watercolor painting and color pencil and charcoal drawings.
     Much of her work centers around animals, birds and people.
    When asked how she got interested in the arts and painting, Singleton said she has been involved in art her entire life.
     “When I was little, I used to draw on the walls and always got in trouble,” she said with a chuckle.
      She started taking art lessons while in fourth grade when she and her family lived in Cedar Rapids. 
      “As I got older, I got better at it,” she said.
     In the summer of 2022, Singleton showcased and sold her work in the Art in the Park in Oskaloosa. This summer, she had her artwork on display and for sale at Montezuma’s “Let Freedom Ring” Celebration during the Fourth of July.
     Her paintings and drawings have received lots of recognition and validation from other artists and those who enjoy artwork.
    She has also painted several Mexican-style serving platters in Spanish class as part of a Spanish Club fundraiser held in March.
     Singleton said in general, art can be tedious and challenging. However, there are times when everything comes together.
     "When I get into the flow, I just can’t stop painting because everything is going right,” she said.
     She gets much of her inspiration for her artwork from visiting art museums and looking at other artwork.
    “This summer, I went to Italy with my mom and the MHS Spanish Club and we went to several art museums there and that has given me inspiration for future projects,” she said.
     In addition to participating in cross country and track, Singleton is also involved in speech and drama at MHS. For large group speech, Singleton has been a part of musical theater, choral reading, readers theater and one act play. In individual speech, she has participated in musical theater and acting.
      “I have been selected individually to all-state five times,” she said.
    As for her future plans, Singleton is thinking of attending UNI for elementary education and vocal performance. She is also considering working toward a minor in art or taking part in an on-campus art club.
“It will depend on how busy I am,” she said.