Altoona Community Theatre's Isaac Mishler Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theatre

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Recent Productions


Oklahoma!
by Rodgers and Hammerstein
May 3 - 6, 2012

On Golden Pond
by Irving Berlin
February 16-19, 2012

White Christmas
by Irving Berlin
November 17-20, 2011

Murder on the Nile
by Agatha Christie
September 12-25, 2011

ACT PRESENTING ISAAC AWARDS SUNDAY

Altoona Community Theatre will present its Seventh Annual Isaac Awards this Sunday, May 27, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Historic Mishler Theatre. Named after Isaac Mishler, who in 1906 built the historic playhouse which serves as ACT’s performance home, the awards recognizing student achievement in high school musical theatre in Blair, Bedford, Cambria and Centre counties are patterned after Broadway’s Tony Awards.

"During the school year, we have a panel of judges from ACT who attend the musicals of participating high schools, then we announce nominees in categories like Best Production, Best Musical Number, Best Actor and Actress,” says Steven C. Helsel, Operations Manager of ACT. "On Sunday, during a two-hour ceremony emceed by WTAJ-TV10 news anchor Carolyn Donaldson, we'll feature musical numbers by this year's 11 schools and announce our winners. The students winning the top individual awards receive $500 scholarships to the colleges of their choice. A random-drawing for a $1,000 also is presented to one of the schools to be used towards next year's production budget, since a lot of the drama programs have to raise the money needed to cover their expenses on their own.”

Sponsors for this year’s Isaac Awards are Andrews and Beard Law Offices, The EADS Group, Shirley Pechter, Penn State Altoona, Altoona Regional Health System, The Blair Companies, Dean & Elsie McKnight and Mr. & Mrs. William Rossman.

The 11 schools and productions represented in this year’s ISAACS are:

• Altoona Area High School – “Back to the 80’s”

• Bald Eagle Area High School – “Bye Bye, Birdie”

• Bedford Area High School – “Guys and Dolls”

• Bishop Carroll High School – “Schoolhouse Rock Live”

• Bishop Guilfoyle High School – “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”

• Central Cambria High School – “The Drowsy Chaperone”

• Conemaugh Valley High School – “The King & I”

• Great Commission School – “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast”

• Philipsburg Osceola High School – “Bye Bye, Birdie”

• State College Area High School – “The Drowsy Chaperone”

• West Branch High School – “Godspell”

At the conclusion of the awards ceremony, a reception will be held at The Columns, across from the Post Office in 11th Avenue, for all participants and attendees.

A limited number of reserved seats remain for The Isaacs and may be purchased at the Mishler box office beginning at 5:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $19.50 each.


ACT Offering Summer Workshops

Altoona Community Theatre will offer Summer Workshops for Children and Teens during June, July and August. The sessions help kids build self-confidence, self-expression and concentration skills through theatre games and improvisational exercises. Students also get an understanding of what it takes to stage a live theatrical show (from auditions through performance) by preparing a short play for family and friends, presented at the Historic Mishler Theatre. Classes are divided according to grade level students will enter in September.

The schedule for the summer is:

Workshops for Students Going Into Kindergarten or Grades 1 and 2:

  • K-1 -- June 18 to 22 from 10 a.m. to Noon with Julie Settle Binus
  • K-2 -- June 25 to June 29 -- 10 a.m. to Noon with Julie Settle Binus
  • K-3 -- August 6 to 10 -- 10 a.m. to Noon with Rachel Wagner
  • K-4 -- August 13 to 17 -- 10 a.m. to Noon with Rachel Wagner

Workshops for Students Going Into Grades 3, 4 and 5:

  • A-1 -- July 18 to 29 -- 1 to 4 p.m. with Gina Volpe
  • A-2 -- July 9 to 20 – 9 a.m. to Noon with Julie Settle Binus
  • A-3 – July 23 to August 3 -- 1 to 4 p.m. with Karen Volpe

Workshops for Students Going Into Grades 6, 7 and 8:

  • B-1 -- July 9 to 20 -- 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. with Gina Volpe
  • B-2 -- July 23 to August 3 – 9 a.m. to N oon with Karen Volpe
  • B-3 -- August 6 to 17 – 1 to 4 p.m. with Rachel Wagner

Workshops for Students Going Into Grades 9, 10, 11 and 12:

  • C-1 -- July 9 to 20 -- 6 to 9 p.m. with Karen Volpe

All ‘K” Workshops present a short performance in the Mishler at 11 a.m. on their final day. All "A" "B" and "C" Workshops present their performances in the Mishler at 7 p.m. on the Thursday evening before their final day.

Students must be available for all class sessions without absences. Registration fees are $60 per student for the one-week K-level workshops and $125 per student for all of the two-week A-B-C-level workshops. Families enrolling more than one child in the workshops receive a discount on tuition for the additional siblings. To register using a Discover, MasterCard or Visa, call the ACT administrative office at (814) 943-4357. Registration forms also are available on ACT’s Web site at www.altoonacommunitytheatre.com/docs/brochure_2012.pdf.


Upcoming Events

May 2012

Tech Rehearsals: "The Isaacs"
Sunday, May 27
Mishler Theatre

Performance

7TH ANNUAL ISAAC AWARDS
Sunday, May 27
7:00 p.m.
Mishler Theatre
MEMORIAL DAY - ACT Office Closed
Monday, May 28

June 2012

Isaacs Committee Meeting
Tuesday, June 19
6:00 p.m.
BCAF Board Room
ACT Board Meeting
Tuesday, June 19
7:00 p.m.
BCAF Board Room
ACT General Meeting
Friday, June 22
7:00 p.m.
ACT Rehearsal Hall
open to anyone interested in any aspect of theatre - followed by special entertainment and social hour

Click here for the full Calendar of Events