Caryl Crane wins national honors

HURON — Caryl Crane Youth Theatre keeps racking up awards. The group won first place for Outstanding Performance at the 2020 National Performing Arts Festival in Orlando this past weekend for their performance of "Cats." This is Caryl Crane's first trip to the National Performing Arts Festival. A number of students earned accolades. Daniel Keener, a homeschool student from Wakeman was honored for Overall Best Performance from an Actor and earned the Best Male Soloist award for his rendition of "Run Away With Me" from "The Unauthorized Biography of Samantha Brown." Claire Daugherty of Huron and Emma McLelland of Huron St. Peter received the trophy for Best Duet for their performance of "If Mamma Was Married" from the musical "Gypsy." In addition, five CCYT students were recognized for outstanding performances in acting and dance. Jake Koba of Huron High School, McKenna Stoffer of Pioneer Performing Arts, Gabe Omlor of Toledo School For the Arts, Keener, and Lily Franks of Huron High School were named Outstanding Performances winners for their characters in "Cats." Caryl Crane Youth Theatre, under the direction of Brian Marshall, received a superior rating with the highest score ever given in the 15 years of the National Performing Arts Festival. CCYT also had success at the Junior Theatre Festival and the Musical Theatre Competition of America this year. At the 2020 Junior Theatre Festivals, Caryl Crane Youth Theatre was awarded the Freddie G. Group Award for Best In Music. At the MTCA competition in California, Franks and Keener came in third place for Best Duet and Franks received the third place award for Best Soloist.