Caryl Crane victorious in national competition

Editor's note: Those representing the Sandusky-based Caryl Crane Youth Theatre individually and collectively won several top honors at the Musical Theatre Competitions of America occurring this past weekend in Anaheim, California. Here's a recap of that success. SANDUSKY — Hailed as "the most extensive educational theater festival in the county," the Musical Theatre Competitions of America provides schools and students an opportunity to present a variety of categories for adjudication and feedback from Broadway and Hollywood professionals. Group categories include musical performance, musical medley and show tune. Individual categories include solo, duet, monologue, musical theater dance, costume design, hair and make-up design and set design. In addition to the prepared pieces, students are led through a traditional Broadway-style vocal and dance open-call audition by award-winning music directors and choreographers where students audition for the opportunity to be cast to star in the finale concert, headlined by Broadway stars. Most notably, the Caryl Crane Youth Theatre not only took part in this competition, but area students working together received the highest honor of the festival, The Sweepstakes Award. This is presented to the team with the highest average scores in all categories in both ensemble performances and individual categories. Individual accolades The 15 students representing Sandusky State Theatre's Caryl Crane Youth Theatre program at Musical Theatre Competitions of America this past weekend come from Sandusky, Huron, Perkins, Ashland and Tiffin. As an ensemble, the team took first place overall for its ensemble musical production of "Amélie," second place for its medley titled "The History of the World According to Musical Theatre" and third place in the showtune category. The team consists of: • Annika Campell from Tiffin Columbian High School • Claire Daugherty from Huron High School • Sasha Dresser from Huron Middle School • Hunter Hoffman from EHOVE Career Center • Cameron Koelsch from Sandusky High School • Tyler Kranz from EHOVE • Bella Lawson from EHOVE • Milo McDonald from Ashland Middle School • Pip Pifer Huron High School • Lucas Rager from Huron High School • Nathan Reynolds from Perkins High School • Parker Towns from Woodlands Elementary School in Huron • Lindsay Wainwright from Huron High School • Reese Wall from Huron High School • Natalie Wightman from Sandusky High School Regarding individual performances: • Daugherty received the Judges Award as well as a $500 scholarship for outstanding potential in musical theater direction and choreography. • Campbell received a $60,000 scholarship from the American Musical Dramatic Academy to further her theatrical training at a collegiate level. • Wall received a $4,000 scholarship from The Institute for American Musical Theatre to study with Broadway directors and stars this summer. • In the musical theatre solos: — Towns took first place for fifth grade — Campbell was awarded second place for juniors — Cameron Koelsc received the fourth-place trophy in the senior division. • In musical theatre duets: — Towns and Dresser won first place for sixth grade. — Wainwright and Reynolds also nabbed first place in sophomore duets — Campbell and Wall took second place for juniors. • For middle school monologues: — Towns won first place for fifth grade — Dresser won first place for seventh grade In high school monologues: — Pifer took fourth place in the sophomore division. — Reynolds took third place in the sophomore. — Wainwright took first place in the sophomore division. — Daugherty won third place in the senior monologue competition. • Lawson won the fourth-place trophy in costume design. Premier performance As part of the Broadway open-call competition, five Caryl Crane Youth Theatre students were chosen to perform onstage with Broadway star Derek Klena: Campbell, Dresser, McDonald, Towns and Wall. Additionally, Koelsch was picked to work alongside Klena in a musical theater audition technique class, and Wall was chosen to sing for Broadway's Sabrina Sloan in a storytelling masterclass. The Musical Theatre Competitions of America "is so unique because you're in a room with hundreds of people who love and support you even without knowing you," Daugherty said. "This competition is a place of love and growth, and I think everyone should get to experience something like it." Just like a sport, our students train hard, work together and support each other onstage and off. It takes a combination of athleticism and artistry to stand out amongst 1,500 other performers — and then to be recognized for that hard work is beyond what we could have asked for. Curtain call I am in awe of our young artists and so thankful for the opportunities that the Musical Theatre Competitions of America provides them. What a fantastic start to our competition team season. Next up for Caryl Crane Youth Theatre are the musicals "Beetlejuice Jr." and "101 Dalmatians," which will be playing in repertory, May 1-3, at the Regional Center for Arts and Academic Studies in Sandusky. Tickets go on sale on April 7. People can learn more by visiting facebook.com/carylcraneyouththeatre.