Starkville High School seniors Daniel Nicholson, left, and Chakira Clark have both been accepted to the prestigious American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City. (Photo by Charlie Benton, SDN)
Not just one, but two Starkville High School thespians marked a prestigious milestone earlier this month.
Seniors Chakira Clark and Daniel Nicholson were both accepted to the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City.
Both students have participated in theatre for several years, and auditioned earlier this semester. AMDA is a prestigious performing arts school with campuses in both New York City and Los Angeles. The school’s acceptance rate is 21 percent.
“I’ve always really enjoyed theatre, Nicholson said. “It’s one of my biggest passions. Even if I don’t go to AMDA, because it is very expensive, it means a lot to me because I got in. I’ve only performed in Mississippi. I only know what it’s like around here. The fact that I was able to be recognized by a school in New York for my ability. It’s really cool.”
Nicholson said in addition to AMDA, he was also considering studies at Mississippi State University, Vanderbilt University and Carnegie-Mellon University, among others.
Clark said she was set on attending AMDA, now that she had gotten into the school.
“It was kind of unexpected,” Clark said. “I didn’t think I’d actually get in when I audition.”
She described the audition process at the International Thespian Conference held in Nebraska, saying she had auditioned for several programs at once.
“It’s really exciting, because it’s kind of rare for a student from Mississippi to kind of travel and leave and go that distance, or see that much success so early,” said SHS theatre teacher Trisha Pate. “A lot of times, they have to go to college, and graduate schools tend to be in larger areas. I’m really excited for them, and I was very proud of them during their auditions.”
Pate also said Clark and Nicholson’s success had inspired several other students in the program.
“A lot of them are pretty much set on doing the same audition,” Pate said.
Nicholson said he was surprised two students made it into AMDA, saying it was the first time he knew of it happening at Starkville High School.
“Our program has been good before, but I don’t feel like this has happened in quite a while or ever at this school,” Nicholson said. “I think it shows that our program is definitely growing a lot.”