Muskegon High School Currently In 2nd Place For NBC’s ‘Smash’ Contest

NBC's 'Smash' Make A Musical contest could make students at Muskegon High School famous (well, at least locally famous)! The school is currently in second place, with a total of 10,047 votes as of the time this is written. But, they're not far behind the first place school (University High School in Los Angeles) MHS is competing against 30 other schools from all over the country.

The goal of the contest is to help underserved schools put on a school musical, and the winners will receive resources to put on their own production.

If MHS continues to be in the top 10, it will get a free Broadway Junior ShowKit that includes the rights to perform a musical, two master classes with teachers from New York-based iTheatrics, a local project adviser, two teacher stipends and a technical theater fund.

West Michiganders can help them out, too! As this is up to popular vote! Just head to the contest's official website and click on the school's name. Voting goes through May 4, and you can vote once a day.

Unlike many schools around the country, MHS doesn't put on a musical every year. In fact, their theater directory, Karli Baldus, told MLive that there isn't actually enough funding, thought there are many students interested in theater.

The school is part of the International Thespian Society and has performed at the West Michigan Theatre Festival at Muskegon Community College for the past four years. And despite financial challenges, the theater program is growing.