The Board of Colonial Players is pleased to announce that the CP scholarship program will now be named after Beth and Dick Whaley. You may know that CP intended The Beth Whaley Series as a way to honor both Beth's memory and her commitment to theater education. With Dick's passing last year, the Board felt that renaming the existing CP scholarship after both Beth and Dick would be a fitting, visible, and lasting tribute to both of their contributions to our organization. After consulting with the Whaley family, the board approved the name change in it's December 2020 meeting. Therefore Colonial Players is pleased to provide the following information about:

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 young people 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 theater.

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 theaters.
• 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

Colonial Players Scholarship Application & Guidelines can be downloaded from our Downloads page (under “Forms”) or by clicking below:

Applications are being accepted now, and MUST be postmarked or emailed no later than March 1, 2021. 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.

An application consist of:

• Completed and signed application form
• Resume (including awards, extra-curricular activities, etc.)
• Typed personal statement of not more than 300 words on the topic “What community theater has meant to me.”
• Proof of experience in community theater (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 theater connection
• Copy of official academic transcript in a sealed envelope from the school
• Completed Checklist

Questions?

For questions or assistance with the application, contact the Scholarship Committee by leaving a message at the Box Office at 410-268-7373 (your call will be returned) or 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..