USCA Earns Coveted Award from SC Theatre Association

Related Media

AIKEN, SC (03/26/2018) The South Carolina Theatre Association announced that the University of South Carolina Aiken will receive the SCTA Founders Award, which will be presented during the group's annual awards celebration at Trustus Theatre in Columbia, S.C., on May 26 at 7 p.m.

"The SCTA Founders Award is the most prestigious honor the South Carolina Theatre Association can bestow. It is given to recognize the individual or organization that has made the most significant contribution to theatre in South Carolina during the year most recently completed," according to the press release announcing SCTA award winners.

This award reflects USC Aiken's contributions made July 2016 - June 2017.

"The faculty and students are thrilled for the university that we are receiving the Founders Award, South Carolina Theatre Association's highest honor," said Jack Benjamin, chair of the visual and performing arts department and executive director of the Etherredge Center.

"We are dedicated to bringing quality theatre to the university as well as the Aiken community."

Founded in 1967, the South Carolina Theatre Association is an offshoot of the Southeastern Theatre Conference. At that time, SETC established statewide theatre organizations in each of its 10 states. SCTA now hosts an annual statewide convention every November. The 2017 SCTA Theatre Convention was held on the USC Aiken campus.

SCTA's annual awards celebration held in the spring honors theatre practitioners throughout South Carolina.

"For 50 years the SC Theatre Association has been the place to go for theatre in South Carolina to connect, create and cultivate theatre opportunities in our wonderful state for students, educators, professional actors and designers, and leaders.

"We are thrilled to continue this celebration. Last year, we marked a milestone of 50 years and have come so far since the beginning and look forward to celebrating the people who are making it happen every day and look to the future of theatre in [South Carolina]," said Harry Culpepper, Jr., SCTA immediate past president.

According to the release, in addition to USC Aiken earning the Founders Award, other winners were:

2017 Lifetime Service Award - Chip Egan. The Lifetime Service Award is a plaque awarded to a person judged to have contributed significantly to theatre in South Carolina throughout his or her career.

2017 Outstanding Theatre Educator Award - Peter Duffy. The Outstanding Theatre Educator Award is given to the K-12 theatre educator, college or university professor, or teaching artist judged to have done the most at their respective educational levels for theatre students in South Carolina during the year most recently concluded.

2017 SC Theatre of Distinction Award - Footlight Players Theatre. The South Carolina Theatre of Distinction Award is given to a theatre in South Carolina that has exhibited a history of artistic, professional, or educational excellence, producing seasons of high artistic quality and establishing a strong presence in the statewide theatre community.

Trustus Theatre is partnering with SCTA to host the event, which is open to the public. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased online at: www.southcarolinatheatre.org.