The Henry Mancini Musical Theatre Awards find a new home

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MIDLAND, PA. (09/30/2013)(readMedia)-- Officials from Geneva College and Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center today announced the beginning of a new partnership for the Henry Mancini Musical Theatre Awards. The 20th anniversary of the awards will be staged at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center in Midland.

"This is a natural evolution for the Mancini Awards," Geneva College President Ken Smith said. 'While Geneva College has been proud to host the awards these past twelve years, passing the baton to Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center allows Geneva to focus on our core programs with the knowledge that the awards have found a new home perfectly suited to present the best of high school musical theatre in our area."

The Mancini Awards are managed by a committee of volunteers, headed by longtime chairwoman and Geneva faculty member Louise Copeland. The committee and structure of the awards will remain the same with the move to the Center.

"We look forward to working with Louise, and helping the Mancini Awards to grow at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center," said Artistic Director Gavan Pamer. "The Center's mission is to be affordable, accessible and available for arts in the tri-state region and we believe that hosting the Mancini's is yet another way to fulfill our mission."

High schools from Beaver, Butler, and Lawrence Counties are eligible to participate in the Mancini Awards, which promote and celebrate musical theatre for future generations. Two student winners from the Mancini Awards receive a scholarship to attend the National Musical Theater Awards, often called the Jimmy Awards, in New York City. Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center will underwrite the scholarships to send the student winners to Broadway for the prestigious competition in June.

Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center is a natural fit for the awards, since it has an existing relationship with the Mancini family. Ginny Mancini, widow of Henry, granted the Center permission to name its community education program, Henry Mancini Arts Academy, after him.

"I am so grateful for the support Geneva College has shown the awards, and am pleased to see that Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center will continue this fine tradition," Mancini said.

Managing Director of the Center Sal Aloe said, "This is just one of the many ways the Center continues its strong relationship with the Mancini family."

Over the course of the twelve years of hosting the awards, Geneva College committed numerous resources to support the event.

"We view this as an exciting new era for the Mancini's" said Smith. "The Mancini Awards have always been a wonderful celebration of musical theatre for the western Pennsylvania region, and Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center is poised to continue that tradition."

Geneva College invites students to accept the challenge of an academically excellent, Christ-centered education. Offering nearly 40 undergraduate majors, an Adult Degree Completion Program with fully online and campus-based options, and seven graduate degrees, Geneva has programs that place students at the forefront of higher learning. Adhering to the inerrancy of scripture, a Geneva education is grounded in God's word as well as a core curriculum designed to prepare students vocationally to think, write and communicate well in today's world.

Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center is an arts, education, and cultural asset for western Pennsylvania and the surrounding tri-state region. Located in a beautiful park setting in Midland Pennsylvania, the Center is home to Henry Mancini Arts Academy, Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center Professional, Student, and Dance Companies, and also hosts arts education programs and other events. Since the Center first opened its doors in June 2006, its mission has been to strengthen the cultural, educational, and economic vitality by making high-quality arts and education programs available, accessible, and affordable for everyone.

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