SPRINGFIELD – Members of the MA Critics Circle Scholarship Committee have announced the criteria and other pertinent information regarding its second annual scholarships.
MA Critics Circle honors the best of community theatre in the Pioneer Valley and Northern CT in an annual Tony Awards-like event. Last year’s awards added the scholarship component, which continues as a very important part of honoring local talent. The MCC Scholarships have been renamed the Walter Haggerty Scholarships in memory of local theatre writer, critic, educator, and fan Walter Haggerty who passed away this year. Haggerty regularly wrote theatre reviews for In the Spotlight and DidYouWeekend.
MCC Awards is looking to give back to the local art community by awarding a $500 scholarship to two college-bound high school seniors based on demonstrated academic and art achievement and an expressed interest in pursuing an education in the arts.
Important to note is that, for the purposes of these scholarships, “art” is all-inclusive; meaning theatre, music, dance, performance art (onstage or backstage); and visual art and writing.
At the time of application, students eligible for assistance must be graduating high school seniors who reside in Massachusetts or Connecticut and living in Hampden, Hampshire or Hartford counties and intend to continue their education at a community college or four-year college or university.
Applicants must submit four pieces of information. The first is a one-page essay summarizing “Future Vision: How my art inspires my future self”. Letters of support are required both an academic source and an “art” source. Finally, samples of work are expected; i.e. playbill copies, photos of art, music tape, etc. The judges include members of the scholarship sub-committee of the 15-member MA Critics Circle committee.
The deadline for applicants is a postmark no later than May 15, 2015. Material must be mailed. No applications will be accepted via email. All applicants will be notified of their status after June 5, 2015. Scholarships will be presented at the Massachusetts Critic Circle 2015 Awards on Thursday, June 11, 2015 at the Majestic Theater, West Springfield, MA.
Questions may be emailed to MA Critics Circle Chairperson Mary Ann Dennis at [email protected] or Scholarship Chairperson Shera Cohen at [email protected] or directed to the MA Critics Circle 2015 Awards FaceBook page. No calls please.
