Starlight Theatre Accepting Scholarship and Ticket Applications

Starlight Theatre is now accepting scholarship applications through March 21 from ethnically diverse youth in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades who have a passionate interest and strong ability in the performing arts. Starlight's Vincent Legacy Scholarship will award two individuals funding of $2,500 for dance, voice and acting training.

Starlight and local community leaders Greg and Rebecca Reid created the Vincent Legacy Scholarship Fund in 2006 and have since awarded 19 scholarships. The Reids also provided an endowment fund for the scholarship "to provide youth who show performing arts promise the opportunity to further refine and improve their skills through professional instruction, but who otherwise might not be able to secure additional training."

In addition to meeting ethnic and financial criteria, students must show a passion for the performing arts, maintain an academic achievement level equal to or greater than a "B" (3.0) grade level, attend school regularly with no unexcused absences, and demonstrate an interest in community service.

The Vincent Legacy Scholarship provides more than just financial assistance. The winners also join a group of talented former winners as well as adult mentors who help guide and encourage the scholars as they advance in their performing arts training. Past recipients continue to stay in touch and mentor new recipients.

Applications for the Vincent Legacy Scholarship and a list of past recipients are available at www.kcstarlight.com.

In addition to their scholarship program, Starlight Theatre is continuing its 64-year-old tradition of offering free nights of Broadway musicals to not-for-profit groups serving individuals who might otherwise miss out. Since the theatre's inaugural season in 1951, the Starlight Community Ticket Program has distributed 364 free tickets every night of every Broadway performance to select groups and the individuals they serve.

Applications for the Starlight Community Ticket Program are now being accepted for Starlight's 2014 Broadway season. This year, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organizations operating in Kansas and Missouri may choose from five Broadway shows at Starlight - a total of 31 performance nights with more than 11,200 free tickets available. In 2013, 113 local not-for-profit organizations received free tickets through this program.

"The Starlight Community Ticket Program focuses on groups dedicated to enhancing the lives of underprivileged and at-risk youth, the medically dependent or disabled, and low-income older adults. We do, however, also try to give all new groups that apply at least some of the tickets they request provided that they meet our qualifications," said Bob Potemski, Starlight House Manager and program administrator.

Community Ticket applications and program details are available at kcstarlight.com under "Education and Outreach" or by contacting Bob Potemski at community@kcstarlight.com or 816.997.1163. A completed application packet must be received no later than 5 p.m. March 21.

Starlight Theatre, winner of the 2013 Venue Excellence Award from the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM), is the largest and oldest performing arts organization in Kansas City and the second largest outdoor producing theatre in the country. Opened as a theater in 1950 and as a not-for-profit organization in 1951, Starlight presents and produces Broadway musicals and concerts, offers extensive community outreach and educational programming including classes, scholarships and Starlight's Blue Star Awards, one of the largest high school musical theatre award programs in the country.

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