半岛体育

The Tony Awards and partner Carnegie Mellon University are seeking nominations for the third annual Excellence in Theatre Education Award to be acknowledged at the Tony Awards telecast June 11.

The Tonys are seeking 鈥渢he teachers who create the next generation of theatre artists. These are dedicated professionals who discover talented students, nurture them, inspire them, and set them off on a lifelong journey as theatre supporters and professionals.鈥�

Deadline for all application materials is February 10, 2017. Submissions are being accepted online for K-12 theatre educators at an accredited institution or recognized community theatre organization. Anyone鈥攆rom students and school administrators, to friends, neighbors, and family鈥攃an submit a worthy teacher for consideration. He or she must be a teacher whose position is dedicated to and/or includes aspects of theatre education. Submissions can be made at .

The winner will also receive a cash prize for his or her school, a flight to New York City, hotel accommodations, and a pair of tickets to the Tony Awards ceremony and gala.

Candidates will be screened by a panel of judges from , the and Carnegie Mellon University. The finalists will be announced at a date to be announced in the spring.

鈥淲e are thrilled to be able to continue to shine a light on some incredible teachers 鈥� whose influence we see on our stages every night. Often times, teachers are the first ones thanked in Tony Awards acceptance speeches,鈥� said Heather Hitchens, president of the American Theatre Wing, and Charlotte St. Martin, president of The Broadway League, in a joint statement. 鈥淎nd we look forward to hearing more inspiring stories from around the country for this year鈥檚 Excellence in Theatre Education Award.鈥�

The inaugural Excellence in Theatre Education Award went to Corey Mitchell, a Theater Arts teacher at the Northwest School of the Arts in Charlotte, NC.

Last year鈥檚 second award went to Marilyn McCormick, a drama teacher at Cass Technical High School in Detroit, MI. McCormick and the Cass Tech students who nominated her were informed of her selection by a surprise visit to McCormick鈥檚 classroom by Ren茅e Elise Goldsberry, a 2016 Tony Award winner for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical for her role in Hamilton. Goldsberry is a CMU alumna and served on last year鈥檚 judge鈥檚 panel.

"