West Michigan teens showcase talents in March
West Michigan Student Showcase 2020 will take place at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18, and Thursday, March 19 at the Frauenthal Center in Downtown Muskegon. This celebration of high school talent will include rock bands, classical pianists, an opera singer, dramatic skits, and yo-yo expert.
Nominees previewed their acts for the Showcase Production Team and their peers at workshops in early February. “The talent we saw during the performing arts workshops was spectacular. This year’s production definitely has something for everyone,” said Joel Selby, Showcase Executive Producer. “Seeing our students on the Frauenthal stage really brings the recognition of their talents to the next level.”
Over two nights, 245 students are recognized at the Frauenthal Center. The show starts at 7:00 pm and ends at around 10:00 pm. Students have been recognized in five categories – Academics, Athletics, Performing Arts, and Visual Arts – since 1981. In 1985, Literary Arts and the Gary W. Ostrom Showstopper Award were added. Performing Arts was divided into two categories – Solo/Duo and Group in 1987. And just last year, in 2019, the Digital Media Arts category was added.
Entries from the Digital Media Arts and Literary Arts categories will be posted on the Showcase website at westmishowcase.org the week of March 16th. The Showcase 2020 Visual Arts Exhibition will be on display in the Reception Gallery in the Frauenthal Center from March 2nd through March 29th. The gallery is open weekdays from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm with extended hours on show nights.
The logo for Showcase 2020 was designed by Hopper Miller, a junior from Careerline Tech Center in Ottawa County. 54 entries were received in total. All participants will receive a certificate for their portfolios.
Tickets in advance are $8.00 for adults and $5.00 for students. All tickets at the door are $10.00. Tickets can be purchased at the Frauenthal Box Office and from etix via phone, 1-800-514-3849, or online at etix.com.
On Wednesday, March 18, 2020, Showcase will feature student nominees and performances from Calvary Christian, Careerline Tech Center, Grand Haven, Grant, Hart, Kent City, Mason County Eastern, Muskegon Area CTC, Muskegon Catholic, Muskegon Heights, Newaygo, North Muskegon, Oakridge, Orchard View, Reeths-Puffer, Shelby, Spring Lake, Western Michigan Christian, White Cloud, and Whitehall Homeschool Partnership.
On Thursday, March 19, 2020, Showcase will feature student nominees and performances from Artios Academy of Grand Haven, Fremont, Fruitport, Hesperia, Holton, Mason County Central, Mona Shores, Montague, Muskegon, Pentwater, Ravenna, Walkerville, and Whitehall. The awards ceremony will follow these performances Thursday evening.
West Michigan Student Showcase is an annual celebration of excellence for high school youth of West Michigan. Students are selected by their respective schools in the areas of academics, athletics, digital media arts, literary arts, performing arts, and visual arts. Since 1981, high school students from Kent, Mason, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, and Ottawa counties have had an opportunity to be recognized. For many of our student nominees, this will be the shining moment of their high school years – for others, the beginning of an amateur or professional career as actors, musicians, writers, athletes, and artists.
West Michigan Student Showcase is sponsored by Patrick J. O’Leary, the Muskegon Area Intermediate School District, the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, Pro Audio, The Family of Gary W. Ostrom, Newaygo County Regional Educational Service Agency, West Shore Educational Service District, Arconic, Baker College, Cassell Training Center, Eagle Alloy, Fremont Area Community Foundation, Greater Muskegon Woman’s Club, Hines Corporation, Meijer, Muskegon Community College, and Spotlight Dance Academy.
For more information about West Michigan Student Showcase, visit www.WestMIShowcase.org # # #