Dear Members of Community,
Today is going to be a good day because I'm still smiling from my amazing weekend with Michigan Thespians!
This year MI Thespians brought an amazing Dear Evan Hansen themed festival to the Grand Rapids convention center. I had the incredible honor to be able to attend two Michigan Thespian festivals. One last year, and once again this past weekend. Let me tell ya, they just keep getting better!
From the moment I landed on Thursday evening in the winter wonderland that is Grand Rapids in December, I was beyond excited for what the weekend would hold. I got off my plane and reunited with lovely Lori Hathaway, an MI board member. We headed over to the hotel where I saw a hardworking STO board huddled over a table planning out their weekend. I was so happy to see so many familiar faces! After reunions with Holly, Paige, Emily, Ana, Jason, Grace, Eric and Ruth (all lovely leaders I had met last year) I met Kayleigh, Skitter, and Allison; three wonderful gals who I got to know well through the course of the weekend.
We laughed, we chatted, and we planned. Beyond excited for what the next few days of festival fun would hold we turned in for an early morning start the next day.
With registration in full swing and MI Thespians operating like a well oiled machine its hard to imagine anything that could slow them down. Literally, NOTHING could stop these amazing theatre lovers! Not even a fire... A real fire in the hotel barely phased this resilient state and we certainly got a few laughs in about how "lit" the Michigan Thespian festival was about to be!
Workshops commenced and I taught "AdvoCATe in the Hat" to an incredible group of students. Opening ceremonies, main stages, and the dance all breezed by in a fun filled day with amazing Thespians. I even got to see Mr. Ebell - one of my two wonderful EdTA Reps (Eric Ebell and Hans Weichhart) - teach a workshop on social media. Go Mr. Ebell!
Day two began (luckily no fires this morning) and we hopped in with two feet ready for another day. More workshops, one acts, main stages, and ceremonies filled the day with fun. I taught "Head to Toe Leadership" to eager leaders and then saw a terrific rendition of Zombie Prom! The day whizzed by and before I knew it we were sitting in closing ceremonies. Here I saw incredible showcases and was able to witness over 4 million dollars given away in scholarships! GO MICHIGAN THESPIANS!!!!
Once Sunday came around I was so sad to go and leave behind the friendships I'd forged with Michigan Thespians over the past two years. We'll see each other again in Lincoln, but until then make sure to stay connected! Follow us on Instagram @InternationalThespianOfficers, Snapchat at ITOOfficial, and Twitter @ITOChair. As always, never hesitate to email me at sseth@schooltheatre.org! See you soon!
Sincerely,
Me!
Check out some awesome photos here: http://thespiannation.tumblr.com/