The 2023 Drama Awards Night Celebrates a Year of Success! #207Now #drama #awards #thespians #techcrew @mainewestdrama @mainewesttechcrew @mainewestfab @mwactivities

 

Congratulations to all of the students who have participated in the Maine West Drama program during the 2022-2023 school year! Tonight's Drama Awards Night recognized students for their achievements in the drama classes, and for their outstanding contributions to the production season: Drop Dead (fall play), Young Frankenstein (musical) and Trap (spring play). Whether they contributed on or off the stage (go tech crew!), each and every person was instrumental to creating these inspiring performances and for sustaining a drama program that enriches us all!

Tonight many students were also inducted into the International Thespian Society, an honors organization for theatre students around the world. Congratulations to everyone who was inducted!

Bravo to Selma Velic who was selected by their peers for the "Top Thespian" award!

As is tradition, some of next year's season was announced at tonight's awards ceremony. 

Drum roll....

Next year's fall play will be...

...The Diary of Anne Frank...and

...next year's musical will be...

Mean Girls The Musical (High School Edition)!

We are looking forward to the 2023-2024 school year and drama season!

Many more pictures from tonight's Drama Awards can be found HERE.

Thank you to Mr. David Harmon and Mr. Peter McManus for all of  your time and energy organizing tonight's Drama Awards!

Thank you to our entire incredible staff who make the drama program what it is at West:

Mr. David Harmon (drama teacher and director of the fall play and musical), Mr. Peter McManus (auditorium manager and tech director), Mx. Ashley Benson (costumer for fall play and musical), Ms. Desi Rae Stricker (co-costumer for fall play and musical), Ms. Mya Figueroa (costumer for spring play), Ms. Judy Klingner (director of spring play), Ms. Daniella Valdez (musical producer), Mr. Bernie Gerstmayr (musical pit orchestra director), Mr. James Schiffer (musical vocal director), Ms. Isa Ramirez (musical choreographer).

Bravo to Maine West's Piano Students! #207Now #piano #musiceducation @mworchestras @mwactivities @mainewestfab

 

Bravissimo to all of the pianists who performed at this afternoon's piano recital! 

Your performances, after only a year or two of study, were impressive! We look forward to seeing how you continue to grow as musicians!

Thank you to all of the friends and family members who came out to support our musicians today!

Enjoy more photos from today's recital HERE.

Thank you to Ms. Daniella Valdez for teaching these pianists and for organizing today's performance to celebrate their achievements!

Maine West Artists Participate in Des Plaines Art Guild's 70th Anniversary Show at the Frisbie Center #207Now #visualart #artshow @mainewestart @lloyd_mwphoto @mainewestfab

Maine West visual artists are part of the Des Plaines Art Guild's 70th Anniversary Art Exhibit on display at the Frisbie Senior Center. Students' mixed media artwork can be enjoyed by the public at the Frisbie Senior Center on Friday, June 2nd. 

Congratulations to the visual artists with work in this show!

Thank you to Maine West visual art teacher Ms. Melissa Lloyd and Maine West alumna and Des Plaines Art Guild member Rhonda Popko for collaborating to make this opportunity available to our students!

Maine West Film Students Find Success at MMEA Film Festival & NATAS 2023 #207Now #mediaarts #excellence @wmth_west @mainewestfab @mwactivities

The work of several Maine West film students recently received recognition from two prestigious film organizations: Midwest Media Educators' Association (MMEA) and The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS; the organization behind the Emmy Awards). 

We are so proud of these students and their film teacher, Ms. Rebecca Orr, for their achievements!

Congratulations to the following students:

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Student Production Award Nominees (LINK)

Ash Carmichael - Arts and Culture Nomination: Expressing Identity Through Art

Addie Webb - Serious News Nomination: Banned Book Week at Maine West

Russell Adaya - Public Service Announcement Nomination: Be Kind PSA

Midwest Media Educators' Association Award Recipients (LINK)

Kris Modi - Recipient of the Lucas Palermo Scholarship

Marjorie Padar and Avery Rizzi - 1st Place Demonstration: How To Put Up a Birdhouse  

Nikhil Nair - 3rd Place Demonstration: How to Make a "Dum" Good Biryani

Ash Carmichael - 2nd Place News Package: Expressing Identity Through Art

Abby Wilson - 5th Place News Package: New Feature Twirler: Olivia Young

Marjorie Padar - 3rd Place Public Service Announcement: Surviving Your Family During the Holidays

Ben Pluta - 4th Place Public Service Announcement: Porch Pirate PSA

Ben Pluta - 3rd Place Talk Show: Career Corner with Michael Norman

More pictures from the 2023 Midwest Media Educators' Association can be found HERE.

Rock Guitar Concert 2023 #207Now #guitar #rock #musiceducation @mainewestfab

 

On Wednesday, May 3rd, students in Guitar 1 and 2 classes performed in a Rock Guitar Concert in the Lower Commons. The house was PACKED with family, friends and fans - all there to cheer on our musicians!

A HUGE congratulations to all of the students who performed tonight!

HERE are MANY more pictures from tonight's show!

HERE is the program from tonight's concert.

None of this would have happened without this rock star....

A HUGE THANKS to Mr. G for making this happen!