Kravis Center Announces 'Dream Awards' for High School Musical Theater

The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts is excited to announce its newest arts education program, the Kravis Center Dream Awards: Celebrating High School Musical Theater Excellence.

This new performing arts education initiative for high school students, being launched for the 2017-2018 school year and sponsored by PNC's Arts Alive program, will be open to all public and private high school students in Palm Beach County. During the yearlong program, which begins in September, Kravis Center theater adjudicators will view and critique eligible musical theater productions at participating schools.

On Sunday, June 3, 2018, student ensemble work and individual students' accomplishments in musical theater performance will be recognized and honored at an exciting awards event in the 2,195-seat Dreyfoos Hall at the Kravis Center.

"We have always wanted to create a high school musical theater awards program here at the Kravis Center, so we're thrilled that our Dream Awards are launching this season," said Judith Mitchell, Kravis Center CEO. "Our community has become the cultural capital of Florida, and these awards are a testament to the mission of the Kravis Center, as well as to the hard work by our local educators to make arts education a priority for our young people."

At the Dream Awards event, two local student actors - one male and one female - will be selected from among the eligible performers to travel to New York City to participate in the National High School Musical Theater Awards, known as the Jimmy Awards, and represent Palm Beach County while taking part in a weeklong musical theater intensive. The culmination of the intensive will be the Jimmy Awards ceremony performance on the Minskoff Theatre stage on Broadway. All expenses for this student experience will be compliments of the Kravis Center.

During the awards event at the Kravis Center, an inspiring local theater educator and his/her commitment to performing arts education will also be honored.

"We know what art can do, how it changes perspectives, even changes lives," said Cressman Bronson, PNC regional president for Florida East. "From classical music and fine art to dance and theater, we're committed to keeping the arts alive in Florida."

Bronson added that the arts and culture industry in the state of Florida generates approximately $49.7 billion in annual revenues, according to the Division of Cultural Affairs.

The Dream Awards pilot program has three primary objectives:

• To provide much-needed enrichment and access for students and drama teachers to learn from theater professionals. By launching this program, the Kravis Center expands the resources available to underserved students and under-funded theater arts programs throughout Palm Beach County schools.
• To celebrate the art form of musical theater and to elevate the prominence of our schools' musical theater programs, helping make our community aware of the fine work that is being produced in our local high schools.
• To engage the community and offer performance excellence at an affordable ticket price. This project welcomes family members, students and community members to experience the outstanding work of these young performers while contributing to the development of future audiences for live performing arts in southeast Florida.

Starting in September, Kravis Center theater adjudicators will attend eligible musical performances at each participating school and prepare written evaluations of student performances. The written feedback will then be provided to both the students and directors to enhance the growth of each individual program.

Selected student actors, individually and in ensembles, will be invited to join the cast for the end-of-year awards production. In the spring, these groups will work with a guest stage director, a guest choreographer and a guest musical director to workshop the awards production, which will take place in Dreyfoos Hall on Sunday June 3, 2018 at 7 pm. A group of honorary judges will attend the awards celebration and will select the actor and actress who will go on to the Jimmy Awards ceremony in New York City.

Educators interested in having their theater programs participate in the 2017-2018 Dream Awards are encouraged to contact Miranda Hawkins at the Kravis Center at hawkins@kravis.org or by calling 561-651-4251. Applications to participate are due by September 15th, 2017.

About the Raymond F. Kravis Center

The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts is a not-for-profit performing arts center whose mission is to enhance the quality of life in Palm Beach County by presenting a diverse schedule of national and International Artists and companies of the highest quality; by offering comprehensive arts education programs; by providing a Palm Beach County home in which local and regional arts organizations can showcase their work; and by providing an economic catalyst and community leadership in West Palm Beach, supporting efforts to increase travel and tourism to Palm Beach County. Please visit kravis.org.

About the PNC Foundation

The PNC Foundation, which receives its principal funding from The PNC Financial Services Group (www.pnc.com), actively supports organizations that provide services for the benefit of communities in which it has a significant presence. The foundation focuses its philanthropic mission on early childhood education and community and economic development, which includes the arts and culture. For more information about Arts Alive grants visit www.pncartsalive.com.

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