Wright State partners with Miami Valley High School Theatre Awards

Wright State is now the title sponsor of the Miami Valley High School Theatre Awards and will begin offering scholarships to students who participate in the program. (Photo by Erin Pence)

Wright State University and its School of Fine and Performing Arts are partnering with a prominent theatre program for local high school students to raise awareness of and attract more students to Wright State’s nationally recognized theatre program.

Wright State is now the title sponsor of the Miami Valley High School Theatre Awards, which support local high school theatre productions and students. The awards program is presented by Dayton Live, a nonprofit organization that operates the Schuster Performing Arts Center and other well-known arts venues in downtown Dayton.

And beginning in the 2024–2025 academic year, Wright State will annually offer two scholarships to students who participate in the Miami Valley High School Theatre Awards and are accepted into the university’s theatre program.

One of the scholarships will be awarded to a student majoring in musical theatre or acting, and the other will be awarded to a student majoring in theatre design, technology or stage management.

Partnering with the Miami Valley High School Theatre Awards (MVHSTA) and Dayton Live will help strengthen Wright State’s connection with the local arts community, said Dan Zehringer, D.M.A., professor of music and chair of the School of Fine and Performing Arts.

“We see this as a real win-win for Dayton Live and for Wright State,” he said. “Having a mutually supported relationship with our professional arts organizations downtown is paramount to our success. We rise together when we support each other.”

“We are thrilled to have Wright State University as the title sponsor for the Miami Valley High School Theatre Awards,” said Gary Minyard, chief creative officer of Dayton Live. “This program celebrates, supports and advocates for high school theatre programs across the Miami Valley, and to add this partnership means thousands of high school students in our region will continue to receive the very best performing arts experiences. I can’t wait to see how the MVHSTAs grow over the next few years.”

During the 2022–23 academic year, students from 26 local high schools participated in the Miami Valley High School Theatre Awards program, culminating in a showcase event and awards ceremony on June 6 that featured 400 students performing on the Schuster Center stage.

In addition to the Schuster Center, Dayton Live operates the Victoria Theatre, the PNC Arts Annex and the Metropolitan Arts Center, which is home of The Loft Theatre. Its venues host national Broadway tours and performances by the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Dayton Ballet, Dayton Opera, The Human Race Theatre and Muse Machine.

Zehringer said becoming the title sponsor of the high school awards program signals to students and parents that Wright State values the arts and supports programs important to students.

“We’re excited to let the community know that we’re here, that we’re a great value, and we have nationally and internationally recognized arts program,” he said.

It can also increase the visibility of Wright State and its theatre, dance, music, visual arts and motion picture programs, Zehringer said.

He said opportunities exist to recruit more talented students from Raider Country to enroll in the School of Fine and Performing Arts and all the outstanding programs across Wright State.

In particular, he said, students are often not aware that scholarships are available in the areas of theatre production, lighting, set design and costuming.

“I think there is an opportunity to say to these students, ‘Design technology is a possible career option for you. You can have a fabulous career in the back of the theatre, building sets, designing sound and lighting, and dressing actors,” Zehringer said. “There’s a space for you, and we want to help you realize that dream.”