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It was a red, white and blue day!
Highlighting the theme, tables were decorated with red, white, and blue flower arrangements that included a “Playbill” featuring each scholarship awardee’s photo and name. A fundamental goal of MTW Footlighters, in addition to the camaraderie and friendships in the group, is to provide scholarships to talented young people, in support of musical theater.
Musical Theatre West Footlighters President Marnos Lelesi greeted the nearly 200 attendees present at the scholarship awards luncheon, held at the Grand on June 21. There were scholarship recipients, parents and family, teachers, and mentors present as she congratulated the MTW Education-Outreach program. She remarked that the program provided theater experiences to more than 18,000 students in 2024, as well as presenting special matinee performances to nearly 8,000 middle school students.
Each year, the group awards scholarships to local high school students. Since the inception of the program, it has awarded more than $120,000 in scholarships. Many past recipients have participated in premier musical theater programs across the country and abroad. Several have appeared on Broadway.
MTW Executive Director Paul Garman announced the presentation of 18 scholarships, which expanded about 10 years ago from only vocal performances to include dance and technical stage accomplishments. Three technical scholarships were presented for set design, lighting and costume to Jason Strotman (Footlighters Scholarship – Tech); Julia Gisel (Dramatic Arts Alliance Guild Scholarship – Tech); and Juliette Lin (Cathy Crane scholarship – Tech).
Vocal scholarships were presented to Reese Lynch (Jane Netherton Scholarship); Samantha DiCrisi (Ken and Dottie Reiner Scholarship); Gavin Russell (Don Knabe Scholarship); Colin Eaton (Mu-ZAK Scholarship); Elli Baluyut (Stevi Merideth Scholarship); Maya Liebetrau (Maloney & Spiegel Families Shining Star Scholarship); Taven Blanke (James H. Ackerman Scholarship); Isabella Gavilanes (Don Temple Family Scholarship); Remington Walker (John Bisom Scholarship); Juliana Zonni (Footlighters Scholarship, funded by Jim & Vicki Cunningham); Aydean Eskandari (Garman Family Scholarship); and Nevaeh Salinas (Dr. Frances Grover Scholarship). Two additional Footlighters Scholarships for dance were presented to Ava Lee and Rina Nelson.
A special treat was when the vocal scholarship recipients and their mentors (past scholarship recipients who coach and guide the students) broke into a lively group rendition of “There’s No Business Like Show Business” from Irving Berlin’s “Annie Get Your Gun.” This was followed by 14 individual solo performances of musical theater songs ranging from “Phantom of the Opera,” “Some Like it Hot,” “Godspell,” “My Fair Lady,” “Mary Poppins,” and “Funny Girl,” as well as two dance performances – one modern and one tap. The rousingensemble finale by all the scholarship recipients was “Go the Distance” from Disney’s “Hercules.” All present were thoroughly impressed by the talent and poise demonstrated by these young people who performed like true professionals with many years’ experiences.
The ever-popular opportunity prize drawings were held with several baskets provided by Diane Spiegel and Lisa Malony being presented to lucky ticket holders. Stephanie Davis won a lovely tea set; Nancy Eilers was the happy winner of the coveted greeting cards hand-made by Marnos Lelesi; Robert Sciortino won voice lessons; Marilyn Tyo a wine rack (with wine); Temre Vouga a lovely pink tote; and Beverly Silverman went home with a gardening basket.
Not to be missed: MTW’s Broadway in the Park to be held at the Grand on Aug. 17.
Seen at the Scene: Marlene Temple, Cynthia Terry, Stephanie Davis, Roxanne Korzeniowski, Bonnie Castrey, Linda Loseke, Pam Dingwell, Nancy Eilers, Toni Ellis, Jan Foster, Nancy Koblensky, Cheryl McNulty, Ginny Pace, and Jan Hall Zolin.
A new venue for the Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach’s Auxiliary held its 80th Annual Meeting and Installation on June 17 at the Lakewood Country Club. There were 35 attendees present to see Roxie Hause installed for her fourth year as the Auxiliary’s president.
Memorial Medical Center Foundation President Rob Gunsalus was presented a check for $100,000 towards the Auxiliary’s pledge of $600,000 for Pediatric Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.
Among the executive board officers installed were Glenda Wycoff, Kathy Milich, Lisa Maloney, Mary Jo Crites, Jane Nielsen, Marvel Domski, Sally Lane and Margie Penny.
New members this past year received their pins; 17 members received jewels on their pins for their hours worked this past year.
The group raised more than $150,000 total with fundraising efforts which included: more than $68,000 from the Designer Fashion Show; $12,000 from two bake sales; $9,000 from baby photos and other gifts and donations to/from the gift shop.
Seen at the Scene: Hospital Guests Rob Gunsalus, President of the Memorial Medical Center Foundation and Josue Hernandez, Director of Development. Auxiliary Committee Chairs Linda Dilday, Maryann Dilday, Shannon Aguilar, Sandy Strouse, Karen Carpenter, Carol England and Beverly Crawford.
News of Social events with charitable purposes may be sent to Shirley Wild at spwild@verizon.net or by fax to 562-594-9468. Please include a contact phone number. Send high-resolution jpeg photos, by attachment, to spwild@verizon.net and include group name and identification of individuals from left. Call Shirley at 562-594-9468 for more information.
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