TRAVERSE CITY — Art and musical theater have come together to create speed painting, which was the opening act for the International Firework Championship this past weekend.

Speed painter Annika Wooton told us her story as she took us behind the scenes while she prepared for her show.

“For me now as a performer, this is a way that I get to share my talents and connect with communities across the country,” Wooton said. “And that’s what gives me goosebumps every time.”

Annika Wooton began speed painting in her senior year of high school. She combined her love of theatre and art and has now made it her career.

She previously did pageants, winning Miss Kansas in 2019. During that show, she painted Ruth Bader Ginsburg in 90 seconds.

“One of my mentors in the theater asked me to paint live

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