East End Arts Council Sets Date for Teeny Awards Ceremony, Program Grows in Sixth Year
 
Riverhead, NY - The Teeny Awards, the groundbreaking student theatre arts recognition program of the East End Arts Council (EEAC) in collaboration with the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center, will celebrate its sixth anniversary on Sunday, June 8, 2008. The Tony Awards-style festivities start at 4 pm.

“We are thrilled that this year marks our first offshoot in another region of Long Island,” said Patricia Snyder, Executive Director of EEAC. “Greater Port Jefferson Northern Brookhaven Arts Council (GPJAC) has organized their own Teeny Awards for their service area of seven schools. Bonnie Grice, the WLIU radio personality and host of the popular syndicated talk show, The Song is You, has agreed to serve for Mistress of Ceremonies for a 6th year with us, as well as the first for GPJAC.”

Before opening remarks, each nominee will be introduced individually. This tradition gives all nominees, whether they win or not, an opportunity to literally shine in the spotlight that evening. In addition to the presentation of awards, some schools will perform a selected scene from their productions.

The Teeny Awards are presented to students to recognize their outstanding achievement in various areas of the theatre arts. Schools under the jurisdiction of the East End Arts Council are eligible and are invited by the committee in the fall. Participating high schools this year include Center Moriches, East Hampton, Eastport-South Manor, Greenport, Hampton Bays, Mattituck, Pierson in Sag Harbor, Riverhead and Mercy-McGann in Riverhead, Ross School in East Hampton, Shelter Island, Shoreham-Wading River, Southampton, Southold, and Westhampton Beach.

“The Teeny Awards celebrate the dedication, concentration and teamwork required to put on a production and focus on individual and group achievement irrespective to the size of the school or the amount of money allotted to the production,” said Toni Munna, Teeny Awards Coordinator.

Qualified judges are sent into participating high schools to review plays and, through a scoring system based on the educational rubric form, select three nominees in each of category. Through sponsorship and fundraising, scholarships are bestowed along with the awards.

Current sponsors include Target Stores, Bridgehampton National Bank, Joseph & Mary Ann Martorano, Mary Tiedemann, Tanger Outlet Center, Riverhead Building Supply, Riverhead Faculty and Community Theatre, Astoria Federal Savings Bank, Hudson City Savings Bank, Riverhead Rotary, Dr. Joseph Duva, Linda Dieterich, Esq., and The Open Book. Anyone interested in actively serving on a committee or becoming a sponsor of the Teeny Awards may contact Cathy Gerardi at EEAC, 631-727-0900. For more information on the program, please call 727-0900.
 
About The Teeny Awards
A collaborative project of East End Arts Council and Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center, the program was established in 2002 to provide recognition and encouragement to high school theatre students and to raise awareness in the community of the importance of theatre arts in education. The program is made possible due to its sponsors, including Target and Bridgehampton National Bank.
 
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Laura Helms
Communications Coordinator
East End Arts Council
133 East Main Street
Riverhead, NY 11901
631.727.0900