Eisenhower High School drama students have qualified for a national thespian competition after earning top honors at a state festival.
Students in the Eisenhower H.S. Drama Club and Thespian Troupe #3901 earned 23 superior ratings and seven superior honors in the Michigan Thespian Festival. Students also earned top scholarship honors based on their performances.
The honors have earned the troupe the right to participate in the national competition and perform at the Michigan Youth Arts Festival.
Students from 34 schools competed in the annual state competition, which is judged by university theatre members.
Eisenhower students earning superior ratings were:
- Solo Musical: Josh King and Nathan Komosinski
- Monologue: Sydney Machesky, James Groce and Chad Rodgers
- Solo Dance: Jamie Crudo and Briana Carlesimo
- Lighting Design: Allie Makdisi
- Duet Acting: Sydney Machesky and Dana Hahn
- Ensemble Acting: Amber Shinsky, Emily Dekker, Samantha Mitchelson, Amanda Chodnick, Dominic DeMark, Giovnni DeMartinis, Josh King, Samantha Mitchelson and Lauren Simasko
- Group Dance: Jamie Crudo, Briana Carlesimo and Megan Catcho
Eisenhower students earning Excellent rankings were:
- Duet Acting: James Groce and Chad Rodgers, and Kristine Andreski and Maria Burchi
- Solo Dance: Megan Catcho
- Duet Musical: Dana Hahn and Lauren Simasko
In addition to competing in Individual Events, three delegates competed for college scholarships in two separate auditions. All three students — Sydney Machesky, James Groce, and Chad Rodgers — received scholarship offers from various universities in New York and Michigan.
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Machesky received one of the 10 Thespian Scholarships offered for students studying Theatre or Communication Arts. Close to $1 million in scholarships were offered at the gestival and the three Eisenhower students were offered more than $70,000 in scholarships.
More than 700 thespians from all over Michigan attended and performed at the conference, which was held at Michigan State University. Next year’s conference will be held at Saginaw Valley State University.
