Poetry champ: All in a day’s work for Victoria Fanning, Morristown’s performing dynamo

Mitra Sharif of Madison High and Victoria Fanning of Morristown High, Region 4 winners of Poetry Out Loud, at MPAC. Photo courtesy of MPAC.
Mitra Sharif of Madison High and Victoria Fanning of Morristown High, 2017 Region 4 winners of Poetry Out Loud, at MPAC. Photo courtesy of MPAC.
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Video playlist: Victoria Fanning’s winning recitations of Blake, Cummings and Mali, Feb. 27, 2017

By Kevin Coughlin

How did Victoria Fanning prepare for this week’s Morristown Onstage talent contest?

By winning a poetry competition, of course!

Victoria Fanning of the Treble Threats sings at Morristown Onstage Media Day 2017. Photo by Kevin Coughlin, Jan.7, 2017.

Victoria Fanning of the Treble Threats sings at Morristown Onstage Media Day. Photo by Kevin Coughlin, Jan.7, 2017.

On Monday, she strode onto the stage of the Mayo Performing Arts Center–the same stage where she will compete on Wednesday with her vocal trio Treble Threat–and three poems later, she walked off with a regional title in the national Poetry Out Loud program.

“I put a ton of work into it and it’s paid off. Now I can’t wait to represent Morristown High School at States!” Fanning said.

The Morristown High School junior and fellow regional winner Mitra Sharif of Madison High School will vie for the state poetry crown at the College of New Jersey, on March 9, 2017.  The national finals are in Washington D.C. on April 24-25.

 

Mitra Sharif of Madison High and Victoria Fanning of Morristown High, Region 4 winners of Poetry Out Loud, at MPAC. Photo courtesy of MPAC.
Mitra Sharif of Madison High and Victoria Fanning of Morristown High, 2017 Region 4 winners of Poetry Out Loud, at MPAC. Photo courtesy of MPAC.

Fanning will have to squeeze poetry rehearsals in between…rehearsals for Legally Blonde, Morristown High’s spring musical. She plays Paulette, on March 23, 24, 25 and 26.

Poetry has proven most challenging, so far.

TREBLE THREATS: Victoria Fanning, Anna Skelton and Nile Birch at Morristown Onstage Media Day 2017. Photo by Kevin Coughlin, Jan.7, 2017.

TREBLE THREATS: Victoria Fanning, Anna Skelton and Nile Birch at Morristown Onstage Media Day. Photo by Kevin Coughlin, Jan.7, 2017.

“I sing so often that it’s second nature, but this was different,” said Fanning, who recently sang with Broadway stars Kristin Chenoweth, Aaron Tveit and Laura Benanti.

At Morristown Onstage, she will sing–and sign–John Lennon’s Imagine with classmates Nile Birch and Anna Skelton.

For Poetry Out Loud, Fanning combed the program’s website and chose to recite The Chimney Sweeper by William Blake, [i carry your heart with me (i carry it in)] by E.E. Cummings, and Undivided Attention by Taylor Mali.

“Honestly, I randomly read poems until I found ones that resonated with me.  I really wanted the poems to have meaning,” she said. 

The Region 4 competition showcased students from 11 area schools. Now in its 10th year, Poetry Out Loud challenges high school students to use memorization and recitation to embrace great poetry, master public speaking skills, and build confidence.

Victoria Fanning in the Spring 2016 MHS production of 'Once Upon a Mattress.' Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Victoria Fanning in the Spring 2016 MHS production of ‘Once Upon a Mattress.’ Photo by Kevin Coughlin
A TOUGH JOB, BUT... Brandon Long gets caught between leading ladies Victoria Fanning and Maggie Mustion, after 'You Can't Take It With You' at MHS, November 2016. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
A TOUGH JOB, BUT… Brandon Long gets caught between leading ladies Victoria Fanning and Maggie Mustion, after ‘You Can’t Take It With You’ at MHS, November 2016. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

Created by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, Poetry Out Loud is supported locally by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

Fanning rated Monday’s experience among the highlights of a career that already includes school productions of Once Upon a Mattress and You Can’t Take It With You, and Mary Poppins at MPAC.

“This is the first time I felt a connection to reciting poetry.  I have tried to write poems in the past, but it never went any further. This has been an amazing experience! I never thought I would enjoy it so much,” she said.

So here’s a head’s-up to the 14 other finalists in Morristown Onstage:

'Queen Victoria' Fanning, after 'Mary Poppins' premiere. Photo by Kevin Coughlin, June 3, 2016
‘Queen Victoria’ Fanning, after ‘Mary Poppins’ premiere at MPAC. Photo by Kevin Coughlin, June 3, 2016

Don’t be too surprised if one of the Treble Threats lays some iambic pentameter on you backstage.  Spouting rhymes has become second nature, almost.

“I recited my poems for anyone that would listen — my family, friends, teachers,” Fanning said of her practice routine.

“I even asked to recite them in front of my classmates. It really helped me to be more comfortable.” 

 

Students from 11 area schools competed in regional Poetry Out Loud contest at MPAC, Feb. 27, 2017. Photo courtesy of MPAC.
Students from 11 area schools competed in regional Poetry Out Loud contest at MPAC, Feb. 27, 2017. Photo courtesy of MPAC.

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