DM Playhouse Awards Theatre Scholarship to Johnston High School Graduate

The Des Moines Community Playhouse has awarded the fourth annual Liska Miller Scholarship to Johnston High School graduate Katherine Crowley. The scholarship is given to a high school senior who has volunteered time either backstage or assisted in the education department.

This fall, Crowley will be a freshman at Creighton University where she will study nursing. She began volunteering backstage at the Playhouse five years ago. Crowley has volunteered her time in the education department at the Playhouse and worked backstage for her high school's junior varsity and varsity show choir ensembles.

Kathy Pingel, Playhouse director of education and youth programming, said, "What I really like about this choice is that she is going into a field other than theatre and acknowledges that the lessons she learned here will be useful."

Crowley said of her association with the theatre, "The Des Moines Playhouse has helped me discover who I am and who I want to be. I have learned how important it is to be yourself, put yourself out there, and work hard without a reward. The true reward is to be surrounded by people who care about you and provide something for others that can change them."

The Liska Miller Scholarship was established at the Playhouse in Miller's memory by her husband, Dave, and daughter, Shay. Liska was a frequent volunteer with the teen summer acting class, producing costumes and props, and selling tickets.

The Playhouse is Iowa's oldest and largest producing theatre. Located at the 42nd Street exit of I-235, the theatre has presented a full season of shows since 1919 and also offers a wide variety of educational experiences including classes for ages 4 to adult, theatre trips to New York, and volunteer opportunities onstage and backstage.

For more information about the Playhouse and the Liska Miller Scholarship, contact the Playhouse education department at 515-974-5365.

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