Milford’s music program was running the show this year during the Michigan Thespian Festival! With three leading actresses, Rachel Carreri, Meghan Griesbeck and Nancy Boyd, all winning high awards and made their way into this year’s Michigan Youth & Fine Arts All-State Showcase in May at Western Michigan University.

This was Milford’s first year competing at the Michigan Thespian Festival with 9 students attending and 5 students competing in events.

One of the actresses that attended, Boyd, was awarded an Excellent rating in a Trio with Rachel Carreri and Linnea Kynast, a Superior rating in a Duet with Meghan Griesbeck, and a Scholarship at the University of  Findlay, along with being accepted into the Michigan Youth & Fine Arts All-State Showcase. There, the 17-year old senior will be performing a Duet acting scene with Griesbeck called Persian Love Drops from  And Never Been Kissed.  Boyd said, “It’s a place where everyone loves the same thing and everyone becomes close because you already all have something in common”, While talking about her experience at the Michigan Thespian Festival. When speaking to this talented performer you can really see the love she has for theater. The scene Boyd’s performing, Persian Love Drops, is about two boy crazy girls, who go on an adventure to get a boy they like to kiss them with the magic of the Persian love drops to help them.

Meghan Griesbeck, another talented young performer, showed the same heartwarming passion when talking about her experience at the festival.

Griesbeck was awarded a Superior rating for a Duet scene with Boyd, an Excellent rating for Solo Musical Theater, and was offered a $16,000 and a $40,000 scholarship on theater/ academics toRochester College, and also received $16,000 scholarship to the Universityof Findlay for theater/academics. Griesbeck said” I really like seeing people that have the same passion of what I love and seeing that you can never  stop growing and improving in theater.”, when talking about what inspires her most about performing in the upcoming Showcase. She also says that she’s not stressed about her performance because, “the festival was really a celebration with people who love the same thing as you do.”

A junior here at Milford high, Carreri, also performed at the Festival and will be performing at the All-State showcase this year.

At the Michigan Thespian Festival Carreri was awarded an Excellent rating in a Trio with Boyd and  Kynast and a Superior rating in Solo Musical Theater. At the Michigan Youth & Fine Arts All-State Showcase she will be performing I’m Not That Smart from The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Carreri excitedly exclaimed “ I loved working with all the professionals in the workshops.”, while she talked about her favorite parts of the festival.  The 16-year old’s passion and dedication showed as she talked about her experience at the Michigan Thespian Festival and her hopes for the All-State showcase. “I’m really honored to work with all the dedicated people.”

Carreri, Boyd, and Griesbeck’s Superior ratings are what made going to the All-State showcase this year possible. After the Michigan Thespian Festival the girl’s songs/scenes had to be submitted for consideration and all three were then chosen. There are only 12 songs/scenes performed at the Michigan Youth & Fine Arts All-State showcase so it’s a great honor to be chosen to perform. “Being judged by outside professionals allows us to see where our strengths and weaknesses are as a program. Our high scores tell us that we are doing really well, we have built a strong and promising program here at MHS.” said by Mrs. Weeks, as she talks about what going to these competitions does for the Music program.

The three actresses will also be attending with James and Shaun Richardson, who will be there as the next step in the State Honors Choir.