During December, a group of 15 students and 5 chaperones headed toward the capitol of Michigan to watch school productions of popular plays, choreography demonstrations, and even made puppets and masks.
The trip started in the school parking lot, with students split apart into the different escorts’ cars.
“The ride was very fun,” senior Alex Remirez said. “My two best friends were there and we enjoyed each other’s the music.”
The group then headed to the pool and later went to sleep. First thing in the morning, the thespians were introduced to the event, some for the first time.
“During the opening ceremonies we watched a presentation from a lady who played Christine In Phantom of the Opera,” sophomore Anna Stecker said. “She talked to us about building confidence and how its important to have faith in yourself as an actor.”
Many workshops were held after that, teaching students skills they never would have though they would have.
“My favorite workshop was Acting Through Dancing,” senior Emma Clarke said. “We learned choreography from Hamilton with an amazing teacher., Mikey Winslow”
With all the workshops, thespys, and scholarships; student worked their butts off to create beautiful shows.
“I loved the Radium Girls performance since they were absolutely incredible and I’m a historical kind of person,” senior Natalie Garwood said. “I didn’t like Eatting Rhode Island or the one about Substitute Teachers.”
The biggest attraction to most though was the thespies where these hardworking kids would be put to the test.
“My favorite part would be the thespy and the Improv Olympics since I made a lot of friends there,” senior Beesan Nijmeh said. “I wish I could have met more people because everyone was amazing.”
Those who did not have thespies or didn’t have theirs at the moment were aloud to see others’ and even make it a more special experience.
“I really liked taking pictures of everyone’s thespies and performances because there weren’t many tech workshops, especially for lights,” senior Natalie Garwood said. “I really like taking pcitures for people because its something for them to look back on and remember. Its important to have pictures of you doing the stuff you love to do.”
After all of that our very own troupe performed in the Student Showcase.
“I got to perform in front of 1500 people in the Student Showcase,” senior Maia Suggs said. “It was surreal to realize that I was able to do something so big with a group of people that are some of my best friends.”
The whole experience was a game changer for even some of the longest running members of the National Thespian Society
“Being surrounded by a bunch of their supportive theatre kids from all around Michigan is such an amazing experience,” junior Jaelyn Kaczmarczyk said, “and I’ve made many new friendships.”
