Theater Students Wow At The Michigan Thespian Festival

CLINTON TOWNSHIP, MI — Forty-seven students from the Frederick V. Pankow Center Performing Arts Troupe 7494 attended the highly-esteemed Michigan Thespian Festival on Dec. 2 and Dec. 3 at Saginaw Valley State University, according to a press release.

The Michigan Thespian Festival drew over 1,400 Michigan theater students to participate in workshops, compete in individual events, and audition for college scholarships.

And Pankow Performing Arts (PPA) students put on incredibly impressive performances. Every student who entered an individual event scored very highly, with 18 students earning the top rating of “Superior” and 10 students earning the second best rating, “Excellent.” Awards were earned in categories such as Monologue, Duet Acting, Group Acting, Solo Musical Theatre, Duet Musical Theatre, Playwriting, Makeup Design, and Short Film.

Get this: Five PPA students were awarded scholarships totaling $208,500! Olivia Larabee received $4,000; Zachary Craig, $105,500; Brianna Milton, $25,000; Matthew Terryn, $24,000; and Jenny Kraft, $50,000.

Photo courtesy of Melissa Tilley