(Left to right): Rachel Bartlett, Lydia Fenner, Griffyn Fenner and Kathryn Droz each received high ratings for their performances. Photos provided
LAPEER — Some of Lapeer Community Schools’ most talented performing arts students put their skills to the test at the Michigan Thespian Festival on Dec. 13 and 14.
Nine members of the Lapeer Performing Arts Thespian Troupe 10351, based out of Lapeer High School, participated in competitions and workshops at the festival at the Lansing Convention Center in Lansing. Several students also walked away with high accolades for their performances and opportunities for scholarships.
Lapeer High School (LHS) senior Lydia Fenner, who played the lead role in the LHS/Imlay City Schools production of Matilda the Musical this November, received a superior rating in musical theatre for her solo performance of “Quiet” from Matilda. She also auditioned for over 20 colleges and universities, raked in $299,800 in scholarship offers and won the Thespian Scholarship Award and a $500 scholarship. Fenner plans to major in special education with a minor or double major in musical theatre.
Lapeer performing arts students MaKenzie Michalik, Kaito House, Ava Stone, Elliana Rufner, Kathryn Droz, Teagen Lamphere, Rachel Bartlett, Lydia Fenner and Griffyn Fenner attended the Michigan Thespian Festival on Dec. 13-14.
Aside from her solo efforts, Fenner teamed with her younger brother Griffyn to perform a musical theatre duet. Lydia and Griffyn earned an excellent rating for their rendition of “Bop To the Top” from High School Musical.
LHS senior Kathryn Droz also received an excellent rating for her performance of “Second-Hand Suit” from The Great Gatsby, while freshman Rachel Bartlett got an excellent rating for her solo tap dance to Frozen, the Broadway musical based on the 2013 Disney film.
Rafeal McDaniels, director of the choirs and the drama department at LCS, said students got to participate in a wide range of theatre classes and competitions, including workshops in dance, technical theatre, musical theatre, stage combat, costume design and stage makeup.
“They really enjoyed being around other kids who have the same passion for dance, theatre and music and getting to be in an environment that fosters artistic enrichment and immersion in educational theatre,” he said. “It was a chance for them to be a part of something much bigger than themselves.”
Senior Lydia Fenner won high accolades and scholarship opportunities for her musical theatre solo at the Michigan Thespian Festival.
LHS is also proud to announce that seniors Elliana Rufner and Ava Stone, who performed at the festival, have been nominated for Sutton Foster Awards for their roles in Matilda the Musical. Stone, who played Miss Honey, and Ruffner, who portrayed Miss Trunchbull, were both nominated for Outstanding Performer in a Leading Role and will compete against other nominees in a statewide competition held in Lansing.
“We are very proud of the growth of our program, and we are very blessed that our school district allows us to put on a high caliber level of theatre,” said McDaniels.
Lapeer High School’s next musical production will be a collaboration with Imlay City Schools to present Grease on March 6-8.