Miami's Milton Perez-2007 Presidential Arts Scholar

 

MILTON PEREZ, NEW WORLD SCHOOL OF THE ARTS (NWSA)

THEATRE DIVISION SENIOR, NAMED

2007 PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLAR IN THE ARTS,

AND HEADS FOR WASHINGTON CEREMONIES JUNE 23-27

TO RECEIVE COVETED AWARD FROM PRESIDENT BUSH 

World renowned for its conservatory-style training, New World School of the Arts once again brings the Presidential Scholar in the Arts title home to the Theatre Division. Delivering an extraordinary performance earlier in the year, which also earned him the coveted NFAA (National Foundation for Advancement of the Arts) award, Milton Perez proved his theatrical skills and astonishing talent setting him apart from the other 140 students who participated in the nationwide program. As a Presidential Scholar, Perez will have the opportunity to invite a professor from the institution to join him as he travels to Washington on June 23-27 to receive his award.  

Perez, a young Cuban-American who lives in Miami, was nominated to receive the 2007 Presidential Scholar in the Arts award as he delivered an inspiring monologue presentation of Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie earlier this year. In his last year at New World School of the Arts' Theatre Division, Milton Perez spent a week taking master classes and working with such names as Academy Award Winners Celeste Holm and Debra Winger, and RENT star Anthony Rapp. He debuted in the starring role of Tevye in an elementary school production of "Fiddler on the Roof" at age 11, Milton took the stage by storm and has been refining his craft with discipline ever since. He was most recently seen as Second Man (Brush Up Your Shakespeare) in the New World Mainstage production of "Kiss Me Kate" and as Ross in "The Elephant Man".   

"As an actor, sometimes you don't really know whether you're getting your message across, whether you're affecting, communicating. When I'm onstage, I can't break character, look out into the audience and see if I'm reaching them. All I can do is be open enough to feel a change in the electricity, the vibrations of the room, the collective spirit in the air. So, when you finally win an award like this, you realize that your message has been received all along, and all your doubts were in vain. This award, or gift, has taught me not to doubt any more. From here on out, there's nowhere to go but up, contrary to popular belief. This is just the beginning for me, because if the President of the United States wants to shake my hand... I must be doing something right", said Perez. 

Added to the notable list of Presidential Scholar in the Arts awards received by New World School of the Arts students, this recognition is bestowed upon a handful of promising students in the nation each year. For the institution that forms and nurtures them, the reward comes in the form prestige and distinction. In 1984 the Florida State Legislature had the foresight to establish the New World School of the Arts to provide artistically talented high school and college students the means for achieving both an academic education and artistic training. The theater division at NWSA is dedicated to training exceptionally talented and committed students to pursue careers in the theater. The program concentrates on the actor's training, delving into fundamentals of physical and emotional preparation, and the achievement of truthfulness and expressive power on the stage.  

New World School of the Arts is a center of excellence in the performing and visual arts, and operates in partnership with Miami Dade County Public Schools, Miami Dade College and the University of Florida.  

For information on the Theater program at New World School of the Arts, please call 305-237-3541 or visit www.mdc.edu/nwsa.

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