KENMORE, N.Y. (WKBW) — We know how rich the theater culture is here in Buffalo and part of that culture is our homegrown talent.
Clare Day is a senior at Kenmore West High School and has been acting since she was in 4th grade.
"I feel like I just have a lot of fun," Day said. "It's just all fun being on stage and that's what I enjoy the most."
Day has performed in several of Kenmore West's productions including Cinderella and A Piece of My Heart. Now, she'll be standing in the spotlight amongst actors from around the country in the English Speaking Union (ESU) National Shakespeare Competition.
Day is the third Ken-West student in the past seven years to compete.
"I'm super excited to get the experience. I don't even care if I win, I'm just really excited to go," Day said.
Diana Gruninger has been teaching at Kenmore West for 18 years and says Clare's dedication to the stage is unmatched.
"Clare is a really hard worker. She's talented. She's poised. She's put her time in," Gruninger said. "She's done everything. She's just bright and sweet and she just is a great kid."
The competition is being held on Monday, but Clare will spend the entire weekend in New York City participating in different workshops and networking opportunities. She says this is one of her favorite parts of the weekend.
"I'm just really excited to meet other kids and get to know how their programs are," Day said. "I think that's a real interesting thing to see what their shows are, to see how big their program is, and to see how theater has impacted them as a person."
No matter the result at the curtain call in New York City, what matters to Day is the opportunity she has to put Kenmore West and Buffalo on center stage in a national spotlight.
"I just don't really hone in until stuff like this happens, but I'm just very glad to be a part of it," Day said. "To be going through with this and to be representing Kenmore West, and Buffalo, like that's a pretty big deal."
The final competition is on Monday at the Lincoln Center in New York City. From all of us at 7 News, we wish Clare the best of luck!
