In partnership with the Cincinnati Arts Association’s Overture Awards and Local 12 WKRC, and in celebration of the upcoming local engagement of Billy Elliot the Musical, Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Cincinnati is proud to announce the Billy Elliot Dream Award. Billy Elliot the Musical plays at Cincinnati’s Aronoff Center from January 17 – 29.
This award and scholarship will be presented to a Tri-State student in grades 6 through 12 who is pursuing an artistic dream. The prize will consist of a $500 scholarship provided by Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Cincinnati’s Education Fund.
The Dream Award was created in celebration of the show’s visit to Cincinnati and in partnership with Local 12 WKRC and the Cincinnati Arts Association’s annual Overture Awards, the region’s largest solo arts competition for high school students.
Applications for the Billy Elliot Dream Award may be submitted by any student in grades 6 through 12 who is pursuing a dream as an artist in dance, visual art, performance art, creative writing, acting, singing or music. Any interested applicant should submit an essay of three double spaced pages or less describing his or her artistic dream, the challenges and obstacles they may have faced along the way, and how they have (or hope to) overcome these challenges. In addition, a performance video of under two-minutes is required exhibiting the talent of the entrant. Visual artists may submit images of their work. Students who are not able to record their performance on video may contact Steve Finn at the Cincinnati Arts Association ( [email protected] ) for assistance creating that portion of the application. No essay is required if the student can tell his or her story through the video in addition to the two minute performance or demonstration.
The application deadline for the entrants to the Billy Elliot Dream Award is Monday, January 23 rd at 5pm. Essay applications will be accepted by email, mail or drop off to the attention of Steve Finn ( [email protected] ) at the Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202. Video applications will need to be uploaded to YouTube or Facebook. Please include the link to your video on your essay so that the judges are able to identify your entry online. Application submission guidelines and rules can be found in their entirety at the bottom of this release.
Applications will be judged by a panel of arts professionals including Dee Anne Bryll (actor, director, choreographer, and theater instructor), Steve Finn (Director of Education and Community Relations, Cincinnati Arts Association), and Robert Lomax (classical / gospel vocalist). Three finalists will be chosen on Thursday, January 26 and will each be invited along with a guest to the final performance of Billy Elliot the Musical on Sunday, January 29 at 6:30 p.m. In addition, the three finalists and their guests will be invited to the Overture Awards Ceremony on Saturday, March 3 at 1 p.m. at the Aronoff Center where the winner will be announced and awarded their prize. The winner will receive a $500 scholarship provided by Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Cincinnati’s Education Fund.
Billy Elliot the Musical is based on the international film and featuring music from Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall, choreography by Peter Darling and direction by Stephen Daldry. This inspiring production tells the story of a boy who stumbles out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class, and how his family and his community come together to support his dream of auditioning for London’s Royal Ballet. Billy Elliot the Musicalhas earned critical acclaim on Broadway including 10 Tony Awards. The musical has also earned 81 national and international awards including ten Tony Awards, Best Musical by the New York Drama Critics Circle, Drama Desk, Drama League and Outer Critics Circle.
The Cincinnati Arts Association’s Overture Awards is the largest scholarship competition for high school students in the country. Last year more than 500 students from a thirteen county region of the Tri-state competed for $24,000 in scholarships in six artistic disciplines- Vocal Music, Instrumental Music, Dance, Drama, Creative Writing and Visual Art. The Overture Awards have achieved such a strong reputation with college admission officers that success in the competition is considered a noteworthy accomplishment. For more information about The Overture Awards, visit www.cincinnatiarts.org/overture_competition. For more information about Billy Elliot the Musical , visit www.BillyElliotTour.com .
Billy Elliot the Musical plays the Aronoff Center January 17-29, 2012: Tuesdays-Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 1 p.m. an 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $27.50 and may be purchased, online at BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com , Ticketmaster.com in person at the Broadway in Cincinnati Box Office downtown in the Mercantile Center at 120 East 4 th Street and the Aronoff Center Box Office or by phone at (800) 982.2787. For groups of 10 or more, contact the group sales department at (513) 369.4363.