What do high school sports have that the drama departments do not?

The evidence supporting sports participation for young people is overwhelming...It has the power to combat everything from

racism to low self-image, to the high-school drop-out rate." (Sue Castle, Executive Producer of PBS Sports: Get in the Game)

“I believe that in a great city, or even in a small city or a village, a great theater is the outward and visible sign of an inward and

probable culture.”- Sir Laurence Olivier

What do high school sports have What do high school sports have that the drama departments do that the drama departments do

not?not?

A way to recognize the achievements of A way to recognize the achievements of participantsparticipants

The 2010 Excellence inThe 2010 Excellence inHigh School Musical Theater High School Musical Theater

AwardsAwards

Recognition of outstanding Recognition of outstanding achievement by students and achievement by students and educators will be made in the educators will be made in the

areas of:areas of: PerformancePerformance DesignDesign DirectionDirection ChoreographyChoreography Technical Technical

productionproduction Overall production Overall production

excellenceexcellence Orchestra Orchestra

achievementachievement

Why?Why?

Seeking a way to recognize those Seeking a way to recognize those students who put months of work students who put months of work into their productions each year, the into their productions each year, the Excellence AwardsExcellence Awards were created. were created.

The Excellence Awards emphasize The Excellence Awards emphasize the importance of arts education by the importance of arts education by celebrating and supporting celebrating and supporting dedication to high school musical dedication to high school musical theater. theater.

Who can participate?Who can participate?

Public and private high schools in both Public and private high schools in both Barry and Eaton Counties are invited to Barry and Eaton Counties are invited to participate in this event.participate in this event.

How will it be done?How will it be done?

The The Excellence AwardsExcellence Awards judges are judges are comprised of area theater comprised of area theater professionals, performing artists, professionals, performing artists, theater arts educators and those theater arts educators and those with a history in the theater field. with a history in the theater field.

Three judges will attend each Three judges will attend each participating school and evaluate participating school and evaluate their production, rating nearly every their production, rating nearly every aspect of the school’s performance.aspect of the school’s performance.

How will they be awarded?How will they be awarded?

On May 16, the On May 16, the Tony AwardsTony Awards-style -style ceremony will be presented on the ceremony will be presented on the Charlotte Performing Arts Center stage, Charlotte Performing Arts Center stage, complete with guest presenters and live complete with guest presenters and live music.music.

Schools nominated for best musical Schools nominated for best musical production will perform one musical production will perform one musical number from their show. number from their show.

All schools will take part in a finale All schools will take part in a finale production.production.

Atlanta's recipient of the Shuler Hensley Award for Supporting Actor, A. J. Klopach, and the cast from Pebblebrook High School's "Footloose" perform at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. 

Broadway League's Distinguished Lifetime of Service Award Broadway League's Distinguished Lifetime of Service Award winner, Chris Manos, presents Atlanta's Shuler Hensley winner, Chris Manos, presents Atlanta's Shuler Hensley Award for Leading Actor to Jake Moskowitz at the Cobb Award for Leading Actor to Jake Moskowitz at the Cobb

Energy Performing Arts Centre. Energy Performing Arts Centre.

How can you help?How can you help?

We are looking for sponsors to help We are looking for sponsors to help cover the costs of the awards and use of cover the costs of the awards and use of the facility for the ceremony.the facility for the ceremony.

We need to purchase 18 personalized We need to purchase 18 personalized awards at a cost of $50 each.awards at a cost of $50 each.

Sponsors of the awards will be Sponsors of the awards will be announced with the award, featured in announced with the award, featured in all publications for the all publications for the Excellence Excellence AwardsAwards and will be engraved on the and will be engraved on the awards themselves as well as listed in awards themselves as well as listed in the program.the program.

We are also seeking donations to help We are also seeking donations to help cover the cost of using the Charlotte cover the cost of using the Charlotte Performing Arts Center for the event.Performing Arts Center for the event.

Custodial services, along with other Custodial services, along with other costs need to be covered and we are costs need to be covered and we are asking your help in meeting this need.asking your help in meeting this need.

Any amount, no matter how small will Any amount, no matter how small will help put on an outstanding show to help put on an outstanding show to recognize local students.recognize local students.

If your organization would like to sponsor If your organization would like to sponsor the entire awards ceremony, at a cost of the entire awards ceremony, at a cost of $2,500, the awards will be renamed after $2,500, the awards will be renamed after your organization. For example, if your organization. For example, if Hometown Lumber were to sponsor the Hometown Lumber were to sponsor the awards, the title would become awards, the title would become The The Hometown Lumber Excellence Awards.Hometown Lumber Excellence Awards.

The return in advertising dollars and The return in advertising dollars and marketing potential far outweighs the marketing potential far outweighs the investment. If you are interested in investment. If you are interested in sponsoring the event, please do not hesitate sponsoring the event, please do not hesitate to contact me.to contact me.

Amy Jo KinyonAmy Jo Kinyon

Excellence Awards DirectorExcellence Awards Director

(517) 231-1554(517) 231-1554

excellenceawards@ymail.comexcellenceawards@ymail.com

www.excellenceawards.wordpress.comwww.excellenceawards.wordpress.com