Nominations for 2015 Minty Awards Dinner Gala Honorees Now Open

Annual Minty Awards Dinner Gala to be held Thursday, January 15 at Nicotra's Ballroom.

The Minty Awards Dinner Gala honors educators, casts, alumni and community friends who have helped pave the way for our current generation of Theatre Students.

Four awards will be handed out at the Dinner Gala, each recognizing a specific concentration of excellence for our High School Theatre Programs.

Nominations are currently being accepted for the following awards:

The Carl William Lesch Memorial Award for Educator of the Arts

This award, named after the first director of musical theater on Staten Island, is awarded to an educator in the Performing Arts that has made a positive impact on the lives of his or her students. This award is open to educators of our Staten Island high schools, public or private. All members of a school's production team (Director, Musical Director, Choreographer, etc.) are eligible to receive this award.

Distinguished Alumni Award

This award is given to an alum of one of Staten Island's High School Performing Arts Programs who has gone on to have a successful professional career in the Performing Arts. The awardee's career path does not necessarily have to be theater, but any field of the Performing Arts (Theatre, Film, Music, Television, Production, etc.). Students who did not attend a Staten Island High School but still played an active role in one of its Performing Arts Programs are eligible for this award.

Community Enrichment Award

This award is given to an individual or organization that has enriched the lives of theatre students in the local community, either through funding or nonmonetary support. The awardee will have demonstrated a successful effort in supporting Performing Arts on Staten Island and helping our students showcase their talents.

Outstanding Show Award

This award is given to a production that has stood the test of time as a pinnacle of success in high school theater in the local community. In your nomination, please be sure to include why this production was so successful when it was first performed and how it has remained important and special in the lives of its cast members, production team, school, and local community. Musicals and Straight Plays, whether produced on a school's main stage or alternative location are eligible for this award. Productions from both public or private schools are eligible.

Please keep each nomination to no more than 750 words. Feel free to include pictures, videos, quotes, and any additional information you believe would be helpful to our Nominating Committee.

"Last year's Gala was a marvelous event uniting the High School Theatre Community of Yesteryear and Today," said Executive Director of The Minty Organization, Michael J. Pinto. "We hope to continue that tradition that bridges the gap between young and old, and bring theatre lover of all ages to come together for one evening and celebrate the Arts in our High Schools."

All nominations are due by October 15. Please email nominations to mintyawards@gmail.com.

The nominations will then be reviewed by the Gala Awards Committee and be released on or around November 17.

Tickets for the Dinner will also go on sale November 17.