The Tony Awards & Carnegie Mellon University Present the 2025 Excellence in Theatre Education Award to Gary Edwin Robinson of Brooklyn, NY | Gary Edwin Robinson, head of the Theatre Arts Program at Boys and Girls High School in Brooklyn, N.Y., has been selected as the 2025 winner of the Excellence in Theatre Education Award. The award, co-founded by Carnegie Mellon University, the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League, was presented at the 78th Annual Tony Awards in New York City on last Sunday.
Robinson has been a champion for expanding access to an education in the arts for all students, often bridging the gap for underserved communities. He has inspired his students to set goals beyond the stage and to imagine greater possibilities for their futures by highlighting the value of higher education.
He has developed programming opportunities to expose students to real-world opportunities and art. Through the Career and Technical Education pathway, students can shadow Broadway professionals, gaining technical and soft skills and confidence to pursue careers in theatre or whatever industry their passions lead. He has also collaborated with other programs to take students to see on and off-Broadway shows, feature films and even college tours.
“Edwin’s dedication to empowering the next generation of artists, both on and off the stage, is both profound and inspiring,” said CMU President Farnam Jahanian. “Carnegie Mellon University is thrilled to help recognize his impact in arts education and to celebrate his record of equipping students with the skills, confidence and community needed for lifelong success.”
The Excellence in Theatre Education Award recognizes a K-12 theatre educator in the U.S. who has demonstrated exemplary impact on the lives of students and who embodies the highest standards of the profession. Robinson will receive $10,000 for the Theatre Arts Program at Boys and Girls High School in Brooklyn and tickets to The Tony Awards and Gala. Robinson’s students will also receive a visiting Master Class taught by CMU Drama professors.
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Read more of this story here:
https://www.tonyawards.com/news/the-tony-awards-carnegie-mellon-university-present-the-2025-excellence-in-theatre-education-award-to-gary-edwin-robinson-of-brooklyn-ny/
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Entries Now Being Accepted for the Texas Troubadour Songwriter Classic – Deadline: August 21st
Entries are now being accepted thru August 21st for the Texas Troubadour Songwriter Classic. Judging is by LeRoy Parnell, an awarding winning singer/songwriter. Entries should be submitted to the following locations: online; https://www.BosqueArtsCenter.org or send mail to Bosque Arts Center, PO Box 373, Clifton, TX 76634. Entry guidelines are available online; email questions to Music@BosqueArtsCenter.org.
The BAC is a 501c3 organization with the mission of “promoting, fostering and otherwise developing cultural activities within Bosque and the surrounding counties.”
Thank you,
Linda Pfeiffer
Bosque Arts Center
Clifton, TX
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Judge Orders Managers for Late Johnny Winter to Pay $226,000 in Damages in Lawsuit Alleging Theft
By Dave Collins, Associated Press
A Connecticut judge has settled a bitter feud over the estate of the late legendary blues guitarist Johnny Winter, ordering his managers to pay $226,000 in damages for improper payments they received after his 2014 death and rejecting their claim to the rights to his music.
Relatives of Winter’s late wife, Susan, sued Winter’s manager, Paul Nelson, and his wife, Marion, in 2020, claiming the Nelsons swindled more than $1 million from Winter’s music business. The Nelsons denied the allegations and countersued. They accused the relatives of improperly having Paul Nelson ousted as the beneficiary of Winter’s estate, and they claimed ownership of his music rights.
After a seven-day trial before a judge in January 2024, Judge Trial Referee Charles Lee ruled Friday that the Nelsons received improper payments and made improper withdrawals from Winter’s accounts, but rejected claims they committed fraud, mismanagement and breach of contract.
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Read more of this messy story here:
https://apnews.com/article/johnny-winter-music-rights-estate-lawsuit-cc07797ed27c0913f0ddd28c449f6297
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The Tragedy Of Laurel And Hardy Explained
Messed Up History
While this story has little to do with music, pay attention to the contracts that they signed and to their lack of due diligence about their health, all problems encountered by musicians. (B.Dye) | Laurel and Hardy were a comedy duo who rose to fame during the Classical Hollywood era. Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy’s slapstick comedy dominated the 1930s, as they appeared in 107 films and earned an Academy Award. But behind the act were failed marriages, health problems, and financial ruin.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/news/the-tragedy-of-laurel-and-hardy-explained/
Patricia Calhoun, Westword, Alex Teitz, Denver Performing Arts Complex, Mike Johnston, Live Nation, Erin Keller, The Independent, Road Ready Talent Contest, Proper Trail, Larry Thompson,