“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” Any theatre-lover will recognize these famous words from the Bard himself. The history of theatre is a long and illustrious one, and today the tradition is still strong.
Theatre tends to draw passionate people to it, and fortunately, there are many scholarships dedicated to helping future thespians pay for their higher education.
Listed below are a few scholarships for theatre majors:
American Theatre Organ Society Scholarship Program
Amount: $1,500
Deadline: July 1
The American Theatre Organists society manages the American Theatre Organ Society Scholarship program. They support amateur 13 to 22-year-old organists majoring in theatre. The program trains under-qualified, professional, theatre organ teachers.
If an applicant has earned more than $1,000 in a calendar year (excluding scholarships and prize money), or if they sell their recordings, they do not qualify for the scholarship.
The scholarship awards up to $1,500 and pays the winner in either $100 increments in bulk. A professional member must nominate an applicant. Winners must feature as an organist at any ATOS convention and also submit an essay.
The Archibald Rutledge Scholarship for the Arts
Amount: $2,000
Deadline: February 24, 2020
The Archibald Rutledge Scholarship for the Arts awards high school seniors planning on attending an accredited college/university in South Carolina. It is awarded annually to five applicants and the scholarship amount is $2,000 each.
Qualified theater students must submit a ten- to fifteen-minute one-act play. It is meant for students majoring in any of the five major categories- theater, creative writing, dance, music, and visual arts.
The Bob and Marti Fowler Future Theatre Educator Scholarship
Amount: $2,000
Deadline: April 1, 2020
The Educational Theatre Association maintains and awards the Bob and Marti Fowler Future Theatre Educator Scholarship. The $1,500 scholarship goes directly to the college and covers tuition and enrollment fees. Every year, the organization picks a college student who displays outstanding talent, shows a strong moral character, leadership abilities, organizational skills, promise, and experience (as well as a good academic standing).
Applicants need to be residents and citizens of the United States and must be pursuing a theater degree full-time at an accredited U.S. college or university. They also need to complete the Academic Works General and Student Conditional Application. That includes high school transcripts, an essay detailing why the applicant deserves the scholarship and a letter from the troupe director along with a questionnaire prepared by the association.
The Educational Theatre Association Board of Directors Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: April 1, 2020
The Educational Theatre Association Board of Directors Scholarship honors the past and current members of the EdTA Board of Directors, along with donations made by them. It is an annual scholarship worth $1,000 towards tuition and fees, payable to directly to the college/university of the candidate. It is open for undergraduate students who are sophomores, juniors or seniors in an accredited US university/college.
To apply, the student must complete the application form which includes a questionnaire, an essay, and letters of recommendation from the troupe leader. Experience of working in a troupe is a must, as is an interest and service in volunteerism and a good academic record.
The Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship
Amount: Varies
Deadline: Varies
The Kennedy Center manages the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship, which honors the late Irene Ryan. The principal scholarship awards an amount of $2,500 to two actors who reach the final round of the competition at the Annual National Festival held in Washington DC.
It was instituted to provide financial assistance to and recognize exceptional acting talents across the country. The award enables students to pursue an education in theater and its allied arts. The Foundation awards the scholarship to the school selected by the winner towards tuition and fees.
Applicants are evaluated on mastery of expressive vocals, skill with a physical instrument, demonstration of acting range, bold acting choices, a clear understanding of the text and several other nuanced abilities.
In addition to this, there are secondary awards of $500 for each regional representative of KCACTF and one award of $250 for the Best Partner in the national auditions.
The John L. Dales Scholarship Competition
Amount: Varies
Deadline: April 30, 2020
The John L. Dales Scholarship Competition honors John L. Dales, the Executive Secretary of the Screen Actors Guild Foundation. He played a major role in increasing compensation for working actors by movie studios.
This scholarship amount varies depending on the skills of the candidates and their needs. The scholarship has awarded more than $7.5 million to over 2,000 members of the SAG–AFTRA Foundation (Screen Actors Guild- American Federation of Television and Radio Artists Foundation) and their dependents.
The recipients of this scholarship need to either be members of the SAG–AFTRA foundation or their dependents, have experience in theater and require further education in theater at an accredited college, university, trade school or vocational school in the United States.
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