Portland High School Students Shine at 2024 Sutton Foster Awards

Portland High School is proud to announce the achievement of two of its talented students, Cooper Wittenbach and Lyndsey Camp, who showcased their skills as selected representatives of Portland High School’s theater program at the 2024 Sutton Foster Awards held this past Saturday, June 1st, at the Wharton Center. 

The Sutton Foster Awards, a highly competitive event involving over 120 nominated students from across the state, provided a platform for young performers to display their talents and dedication to the arts. The event, which involved preparation over multiple weekends, challenged students to learn new music and dance numbers to perform alongside their peers, with each element acting as an audition for a chance to advance to the National High School Musical Theater Awards held in New York City. 

The culminating moment of the event came with the announcement of the eight finalists, four male and four female, selected from the pool of exceptionally talented performers. Among the finalists was PHS Senior Lyndsey Camp, whose outstanding performances secured her place as one of the top female performing artists in the state.  Each finalist then performed a song of their choice for the judges in front of the audience, and from those performances the Michigan representatives for Nationals were selected. This year’s representatives come from Loy Norrix High School in Kalamazoo and H.H. Dow High School in Midland.  

"We are immensely proud of both Cooper and Lyndsey for their achievements and hard work," said Chandra Polasek, director of Portland High School Theater,  "And to have one of our own named as a finalist is phenomenal. It was such a joy to see Lyndsey perform in the spotlight on that stage. I am so excited to see her be recognized for her artistry, and cannot wait to see her shine out in the world.” 

The Portland High School community extends its heartfelt congratulations to Cooper Wittenbach and Lyndsey Camp for their success at the 2024 Sutton Foster Awards. Their achievements are a testament to the strength of Portland High School's performing arts program and the unwavering dedication of its students.