Teen Repertory Company 2013

   For all of those who celebrate, Happy Easter! The past holiday weekend has been jam-packed with rehearsals and performances of two plays I was thrilled to be a part of: Drop Dead Juliet and All I Really Need to Know I Learned by Being in a Bad Play.

   For those of you who know me personally, you know that I never pass up a chance to be on stage! Both of these plays were a part of the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center's Teen Repertory Company. I have been a part of the Company since 2011 and have loved performing in shows with all of my friends from over the years. This year was no different. 

   For months, my fellow cast mates and I attended rehearsals and worked as hard as possible to perform the show as best we could. Before we knew it, the shows had arrived and it was time to show the community how much we had prepared. Both plays were comedies, and the audience seemed to love the shows!

My fellow cast mates and I with our wonderful director, Julienne Penza!

   I had such a wonderful time preparing these shows with my friends! The Teen Repertory Company has taught me so much about acting technique, and stage presence. I couldn't have asked for a better experience! Thank you to Julienne for being such a wonderful director! You have taught me so much since we met when I was in sixth grade. I can't wait for next year's Teen Repertory Company!

To learn more about the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center, click here.

To learn more about the Teen Repertory Company and the Teen Theater Project, click here.

XOXO,

Sarah 

Miss Long Island's Outstanding Teen 2013

   Well, it's official! I will once again be representing Long Island as Miss Long Island's Outstanding Teen 2013 at the Miss New York's Outstanding Teen Pageant this July! I am thrilled that I will once again be able to raise awareness of my platform, Heart U. This is something that the Miss America's Outstanding Teen Organization has given me a chance to do.

   I have some wonderful and exciting things planned for this year. I hope you continue to follow me throughout my year on this blog, and you may also follow my year through my personal Facebook account, my Heart U Facebook Page, or my Heart U Blog.

   I am looking forward to the exciting year ahead of me!

XOXO,

Sarah

Miss Long Island's Outstanding Teen 2013

Welcome Home, Miss America!

   Whew! What a busy week it has been! This past week my schedule has been filled with March Madness Spirit Week preparations, Varsity Softball practice, play rehearsals, and a chorus concert. Despite the hectic week I had, I still made time to take a trip to the New York Fashion Institute of Technology and attend the Miss America Homecoming Show on Saturday, March 16.
   The show was AMAZING and I was glad to reconnect with some of my Outstanding Teen and Miss New York friends! Not only that, but I was able to meet some really cool people at the Welcome Home After Party!

With Alexa Moley, Miss Richmond County's Outstanding Teen 2012. I met Alexa at the Miss New York's Outstanding Teen Pageant in June and we became great friends! She is such a sweet, funny, and genuine girl. I am happy to call her my friend!

With Ashley, Miss Staten Island's Outstanding Teen 2013. I didn't even have to approach this sweet girl because as soon as she saw me she treated me like she had known me my whole life. It was such a pleasure to meet her, and I cannot wait to compete with her in July!

With Claire Buffie, Miss New York 2010, Acacia Courtney, Miss NYC 2013, and Kira Kazam, Miss Cosmopolitan 2013! 

In front of the official Miss America Homecoming backdrop!

With Kate Shindle, Miss America 1998! A few years ago, I had the privilege of watching her perform in Legally Blonde on Broadway. I was so excited to learn that she would be attending the Homecoming! After taking a quick photo with her, I gave her a Red Dress Pin and explained my platform, Heart U, to her. She seemed really excited to learn about it, and she promised me she would look up the Go Red for Women Initiative when she got home. I even talked about my Broadway idol, Sutton Foster, with her! She was such a thrill to speak with!

With our Miss America. It took a few minutes to track her down for a picture- she was being pulled in every direction! But after taking a quick picture with Mallory, I gave her a Red Dress Pin and explained my platform to her. She didn't have much time to chat, but she seemed interested in what I had to say! 

With Shannon Oliver, our new Miss New York! She is so talented! I gave Shannon a Red Dress Pin as well, and she seemed very interested in my platform. Like Mallory, Shannon was being pulled in many directions, so I was happy to have gotten a picture with her!

One of the people I was most excited to meet was Rachel Wyatt, Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2013. I had heard that she was an unbelievably sweet girl, and I can testify to that! Not only did she take a picture with me, but I also had a wonderful conversation with her about my involvement in the Miss America's Outstanding Teen Program and my platform. She was very sweet when she thanked me for the Red Dress Pin I gave her!

With Miss New York's Outstanding Teen 2012, Shannon Ryan, and Miss Queen's Outstanding Teen 2013, Katherine McQuade! Great to see you both again!

Again with Shannon, Miss New York's Outstanding Teen. What a sweet, sweet girl! As soon as she saw me, she came straight up to me and gave me a big hug! Shannon is probably one of the nicest girls I have met, and I'm so glad I got to see her last night! I can't wait to see her again at the Miss New York and Outstanding Teen workshop!

   There were even more people at the Homecoming Party! Ericka Dunlap, Miss America 2004, Caressa Cameron, Miss America 2010, Susan Powell, Miss America 1981, and other former and current state titleholders! All in all, I thought it was an eventful and fun night!

Welcome Home, Miss America!

XOXO,

Sarah

Be Part of Teens in Training Camp 2013

   Just this past weekend one of my friends, Kristina, was crowned Miss Massachusetts's Outstanding Teen 2013. Kristina and I met through the Teens in Training Camp in 2011. Because of Kristina's win, I would like to share with you a little bit about Teens in Training Camp and my experience with the program.
   I attended Teens in Training Camp in August 2011 at the Miss America's Outstanding Teen pageant. I was thrilled to be among the first group of girls to participate in the camp. Throughout the week, my fellow campers and I were able to get an inside look at the Miss America's Outstanding Teen Organization and get helpful tips for competition. We attended talent, gown, interview, and even make-up workshops with professionals in order to learn how to do well in the Miss America's Outstanding Teen Organization. We also were able to take part in a photo shoot with the amazing Deb Knoske. All of the campers even got special seating at each of the Miss America's Outstanding Teen preliminary and final shows. Here are some pictures of my time at Teens In Training Camp:

With Lacy Russ, Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2011!

Just being silly!

   With the help of Teens in Training Camp, I was more than prepared for my first state MAOTeen experience! I even placed fourth runner up in my first year competing. If you are a teen and thinking about competing in the Miss America's Outstanding Teen Organization, wanting to become more prepared for your next MAOTeen competition, or just wanting to gain more confidence, then Teens in Training Camp 2013 is for you! You will not be disappointed! Who knows, you might even see me there this August!

XOXO,

Sarah

To learn more about the Miss America's Outstanding Teen Organization, click here.

To learn more about Teens in Training Camp, click here.

Don't forget to like Teens in Training Camp on Facebook, and follow them on Twitter!

Miss America's Outstandig Teen is Right Around the Corner!

The Miss America's Outstanding Teen Pageant is kicking off on August 14 in Orlando, Florida! Please join me and many other New Yorkers in wishing Shannon Ryan, Miss New York's Outstanding Teen 2012, luck as she prepares and competes in the national pageant!

Visit http://maoteen.org/ to learn mor about the Miss America's Outstanding Teen Organization!

Visit http://missny.org to learn more about Shannon, and how her year is going!

XOXO,
Sarah

Miss New York's Outstanding Teen: Days 2 and 3

   "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." - Philippians 4:13
   When I arrived in Staten Island for the Miss New York's Outstanding Teen competition, I decided that this bible verse would be my inspiration for the weekend. I decided that, because this was my first year competing in Miss New York's Outstanding Teen, I would go into the competition solely to make friends and have fun.
   At 9:00 am on Saturday, June 16, I had my first rehearsal with the first half of the wonderful contestants (the other half was busy taking regents examinations that morning). I had an amazing time meeting the girls and getting closer to them! After a three hour rehearsal, all of the teens were given a few hours to relax and prepare for interviews. I used some of this time to meet my grandmother (who flew out all the way from Oklahoma) at the hotel. At 4:15, I arrived in the lobby for interviews and had my interview at around 5:20! My interview went really well! I was glad that I was able to talk about my platform, Heart U, and about my interests in musical theater! My eight minutes with the judges seemed to fly by, and after my interview I was off to watch the second preliminary show for Miss New York!

In front of the hotel before leaving for my first rehearsal!

Right before walking into my interview!

   I had a VERY early start the next morning. I had a 5:15 am wake up call for a 7:30 am rehearsal. All of the girls seemed really tired! But all of that faded away once we finished learning routines and we started our dress rehearsal. We spent the rest of the day at the theater preparing for the 2:00 pm Miss New York's Outstanding Teen Preliminary Show. I had so much fun during the preliminaries and I feel like I did my absolute best! I was even given the chance to visit my family before launching into a final show rehearsal with the Miss New York Contestants.

With my "adopted" Miss contestant, Katie Guevarra, Miss Westchester!

Competing in Evening Wear and Onstage Question!

Video Credit goes to Katie Guevarra!

Competing in Talent!

Video Credit goes to Katie Guevarra!

   At the final show, I was honored to be apart of the Top 5 Contestants! What made the moment even more special was that I was standing next to my long time friend, Katherine McQuade! My goal going into the pageant was to make Top 5 during my first year competing, and I reached it! I was eventually decided as fourth runner-up to Miss New York's Outstanding Teen 2012, Shannon Ryan!

   I have so many people to thank for this wonderful opportunity. First, to Linda Carbo for answering my numerous (and probably very annoying at some points) questions about the Miss New York's Outstanding Teen Organization. Next, I would like to thank my family for always supporting me through all of my endeavors. To my mom and dad, thank you for driving me to all of my appearances and everywhere else I needed to be. And lastly, to God for giving me this amazing opportunity. Not many girls can say that they placed fourth runner-up to Miss New York's Outstanding Teen during their first time. Through God, I have been able to serve the Miss New York's Outstanding Teen Organization and my community to the best of my ability.

I truly can do all things through Him, who strengthens me.

XOXO,

Sarah

Miss New York's Outstanding Teen: Day 1

   Hey everyone! After a lot of traffic, and a much needed nap, I arrived in Staten Island for the Miss New York's Outstanding Teen competition today! I was really excited to watch the first Miss New York Preliminary show tonight too! I even made some new Outstanding Teen friends! But tomorrow is going to be a lot more jam-packed with activities!
   Tomorrow morning, the other teens and I head off to rehearsals for our preliminary show on Saturday. Next, I have interview tomorrow evening (which is what I am most excited for because interview is one of my favorite phases of competition). After interviews, I get to watch the second preliminary competition for the Miss New York contestants. Did I mention that my grandma, from Oklahoma, is flying down to New York to watch the competition tomorrow! I am so excited to see her! But, until tomorrow, I will be catching up on some sleep!

Goodnight!
XOXO,
Sarah