Local youth theater wins big at national competition

SANDUSKY — The Sandusky-based Caryl Crane Youth Theatre recently returned from the Musical Theatre Competitions of America in Anaheim, California, bringing back the gold along with many other accolades and prizes. What is it? Hailed as "the most extensive educational theater festival in the country," this competition provides schools and students across the country with an opportunity to present a variety of categories for scoring, judging and feedback from Broadway and Hollywood professionals: • Group categories include musical performance, musical medley and showtune. • Individual categories include solo; duet; monologue; musical theater; dance; costume design; hair and makeup 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, in which students audition for the opportunity to be cast to star in the finale concert, headlined by Broadway stars. Who took part? The 17 students representing the Sandusky State Theatre's Caryl Crane Youth Theatre program this past weekend at the Musical Theatre Competitions of America come from areas in Erie County and beyond. As an ensemble, the team took home first-place-overall honors for its ensemble musical production of "Side Show" and third-place-overall honors for a medley titled "Forbidden Competition." The team consists of: • Hadley Barkema from Huron High School • Gavin Biddlecombe from Huron Middle School • Annika Campbell from Tiffin Columbian High School • McKinnley King from Shelby High School • Will Marsh from Huron Middle School • Milo McDonald from Ashland Middle School • Jhalil McGraw from Sandusky Middle School • Gabe Mischler from Sandusky High School • Kendra Nayotl from Huron High School • Lucas Rager from Huron High School • Nathan Reynolds from Perkins High School • Chance Roddy from Van Buren Middle School • Lennon Rosiar from Ohio Virtual Academy • Sam Slie from Edison Middle School • Mylee Strock from Sylvania South High • Lindsay Wainwright from Huron High School • Reese Wall from Huron High School Additionally: • Brian Marshall, the Caryl Crane Youth Theatre director, received the Creative Excellence Award for "Forbidden Competition." • Senior students Campbell and Wall took home the festival's Judges Awards. And in the musical theater solos, Campbell received fourth place, and Wall earned secon place. • Also in the musical theater solos, McDonald took third place for freshmen. In musical theater duets: — Rosiar and Biddlecombe won fourth place for seventh grade. — Rager and Mischler won fourth place for sophomores. — Wainwright and Reynolds won fourth place for juniors. — Campbell and Wall won second place for seniors. For monologues, Rosiar won first place in the sixth-grade division. Campbell, meanwhile, received a full tuition scholarship from The Institute for American Musical Theatre to study with Broadway directors and stars this summer. As part of the Broadway open call competition, six Caryl Crane Youth Theatre students received an opportunity to perform on stage with Broadway stars Caroline Bowman and Kara Lindsay: Barkema, Campbell, McDonald, Roddy, Rosiar and Wall. The Musical Theatre Competitions of America "gives those who attend unlimited opportunities for growth in the arts," Wall said. "It has shaped my future and that of many others. With the connections I have made at (this event), I have a clear path forward and higher hopes than ever of pursuing my Broadway dreams." Want to go? Next up for the Caryl Crane Youth Theatre is "Miley Chase: The Science Ace." It will pay March 12-13 at the Regional Center for Arts and Academic Studies, 125 E. Adams St., in Sandusky. Tickets go on sale March 1. People can visit spotlightonccyt.com for more information.