The Beth and Dick Whaley Scholarship Program

The Colonial Players’ scholarship program was established to:

• Encourage participation in theater in general, and The Colonial Players in particular.
• Reward individuals with a demonstrated record of active involvement in community theater (with preference for Colonial Players service).
• Foster life-long appreciation for and support of community theatre.

Eligibility Criteria

• Prospective full-time students who will have earned a high school diploma, or the equivalent, by the end of the current academic year.
• Past or present residents of Anne Arundel County or documented involvement in Anne Arundel County community theater.
• Demonstrated participation in any aspect of community theater (e.g., cast, crew, design, tech, etc.) with a preference given for service with The Colonial Players.
• Major in theater is not required.
• Past awardees satisfying eligibility criteria may reapply in subsequent years. Priority will be given to new applicants.

Scholarship Awards

Scholarship award(s) are between $2,500 and $5,000 depending upon the number and quality of applications submitted. The Colonial Players reserves the right to withhold any scholarship or to award a second scholarship (if merited) in any given year.

Allowable Scholarship Uses, Extensions and Responsibilities

Funds must be used toward a full-time program at any accredited post-secondary school. In the event that the student does not attend school the proposed year, the student may request an extension to use the funds the following year. A request for extension describing the reason must be submitted in writing to the committee. The committee may grant or deny the request. Any extension granted may not exceed one year. Awardees are responsible for providing a statement of expenditures at the end of their first semester to the scholarship committee at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Application Submission, Review Process and Deadlines

Applications must be postmarked or submitted via email no later than Friday, February 28, 2025. Please check your application materials.

Incomplete applications will NOT be considered. Once the Scholarship Committee has reviewed all applications received, applicants may be contacted for a face-to-face interview. Scholarship announcements and award check(s) will be issued by the end of May. All applicants will be notified by email. Application materials will not be returned. The Colonial Players is not responsible for lost or misplaced materials.

Application Materials 

• Completed and signed application form — available from our Downloads page (under “Forms”) or click here to download
• Resume (including awards, extra-curricular activities, etc.) 
• A typed personal essay of 300 words or less on this topic: “What role community theatre has played in my life and what I expect to see as its role in the future.” Strong essays will use specific examples as support.
• Proof of experience in community theatre (e.g. single-sided photocopies of playbills, news clippings, photos, letters from directors, stage managers, or other persons in authority, etc.) 
• At least three signed letters of recommendation from a theatre connection
• Copy of official academic transcript in a sealed envelope from the school
• Completed Checklist — available from our Downloads page (under “Forms”) or click here to download

Questions?

For questions or assistance with the application, contact the Scholarship Committee by email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Mail completed scholarship application materials to:

The Colonial Players, Inc.
Attn: Scholarship Committee
108 East Street
Annapolis, MD 21401

or email completed scholarship application to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..