Showcase 2010: Scholarships and Awards
Mickey Miners Award
Mickey Miners, former Curator of Performing Arts for Children at the Detroit Institute of the Arts
Mickey was one of the original members of the Showcase Committee and also a unique person. Known for his floor length mink coat nick-named 'Bucky, his flamboyant personality and dedication to the field, Mickey helped make the early Showcases international revolving parties. Mickey was always willing to reach out and talk with emerging artists and managers and encouraged professionalism in the field. Past Mickey Miners Award recipients are: Presenters—Maranne Welch, Brian Joyce, Gary Gaydos, Kim Peter Kovac and Heather Spicuzza.
Nominations have been extended to December 15 and must include:
-one page letter of support from the nominator (12 pt font, Times New Roman, single spaced)
-one page bio (12 pt font, Times New Roman, single spaced)
-resume of nominee
We welcome the submission of additional materials (press clippings, photos, testimonials, etc.). Please submit materials via email to daniel@ipayweb.org or mail it to the IPAY office. The IPAY Awards Committee consists of Ric Averill, chair, Alan Liddell, June Podagrosi, Susan Crofton, and Maranne Welch.
Learn more about last year's winner, The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts' Heather Spicuzza.
Victor Award
Victor Podagrosi, Child's Play Touring Theatre Founding Director
The People's Choice Victor Award was established in the late 1990s as a way of recognizing excellence in performing arts for young people. In the early years, the award was voted on by Showcase technicians and was a sort of 'congeniality prize.' For the last four years, the award has been a 'people's choice' of favorite performances from the Showcase.
The Victor Award was originated to perpetuate the memory of Victor Podagrosi, founding director of Child's Play Touring Theatre of Chicago and ALWAYS an audience favorite. Victor died of a heart attack in September 1995 during a company board meeting. He was 41. Past winners of the audience choice Victor Award include:
- 2009—Puppet State Theatre Company for their production of The Man Who Planted Trees—Cleveland, OH
- 2008—Speeltheatre Holland for their production of Pero or Mysteries of the Night—Tampa, FL
- 2007—Huis aan de Amstel for their production of Wolf—Cleveland, OH
- 2006—Det lille Turnéteater for their production of Hamlet—Philadelphia, PA
- 2005—LaJoye Productions for Snowflake—Cleveland, OH
Performances selected by the Showcase Selection process are placed on ballots made available to all Showcase attendees. Attendees will find ballots for each day's performances in their packets they receive at registration. Their rankings are averaged during the final Showcase party and the award runner-ups and winner are announced. The actual Award is a trophy made by the same company that creates the Oscars each year.
Learn more about last year's winner, Puppet State Theatre Company
Jim Rye Scholarship
Meredith Hoppe (right), Showcase 2008's Jim Rye Scholar, talks to Kim Peter Kovac, Producing Director, Theater for Young Audiences, The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Showcase 2008 Mickey Miners Lifetime Achievement Award winner.
The International Performing Arts for Youth's Jim Rye Scholarship offers an outstanding opportunity for graduates students to be involved with the inner workings of a theater for young audiences conference. After a competitive application and review process, Jim Rye scholars are provided with a year long membership in IPAY as well as Showcase conference registration. In addition, mentors with experience in the student's field of interest help the scholar navigate the conference and facilitate the student's introduction to other professionals in the field, allowing them important networking opportunities.
In return, the scholars provide valuable assistance to the conference organizers, helping the conference run smoothly by providing help as needed, taking on projects such as conducting audience surveys, working the IPAY booth and serving as reporters or recorders for educational sessions and discussions.Jim Rye was the Artistic Director of the Birmingham Children's Theatre. Jim served on the Showcase Committee, his company performed and exhibited, and he served as a mentor for many up and coming professionals in the field. We honor him by supporting the up and comers in today's ever expanding field of performing arts for young people.
Applications for the Showcase 2010 Jim Rye Scholarship are now closed. Please check back next year for the Showcase 2011 Scholarship application.
Learn more about last year's Jim Rye Scholars, Colleen Clement, Marla Hahn, and Amanda Kibler.