Children's Theatre of Elgin/Fox Valley recipient of ITA Award in creative drama/theatre for young audiences

JULY 22, 2024 (ELGIN, ILLINOIS) – On August 3, 2024, Children’s Theatre of Elgin/Fox Valley Theatre Company (CTE/FVTC) will be honored as the recipient of the Illinois Theatre Association’s 2024 Award of Excellence in Creative Drama/Theatre for Young Audiences. The awards presentation will be during an Awards Brunch as part of the Illinois Theatre Association’s Annual Members Celebration – A United Front, A celebration of Theatre in Illinois, which will be held at Two Brothers’ Roundhouse in Aurora.

Each year, the Illinois Theatre Association recognizes both individuals and organizations for their significant contributions of promoting quality theatre throughout the state of Illinois. CTE/FVTC was nominated by the Illinois theatre community, and accepted by ITA’s Board of Directors. We are thrilled to provide this much-deserved recognition.

ABOUT CTE/FVTC
The Children’s Theatre of Elgin (CTE), located in Elgin, Illinois, has been a cherished institution in the community since its founding in 1988. In 1993, Fox Valley Theatre Company (FVTC) was added as a subsidiary as a more advanced option for older students. Dedicated to providing children and teens with opportunities to explore the world of theatre, CTE offers a range of programs that emphasize the importance of creativity, teamwork, and personal growth.

“It’s humbling that CTE/FVTC has been recognized with this award” declared CTE Board President Veronica Comings. Through its commitment to high-quality productions and educational experiences, The Children’s Theatre of Elgin / Fox Valley Theatre Company continues to be a place where all individuals have an equitable opportunity to learn, grow, and enrich their lives through theatre. “This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our artistic teams, performers, and volunteers, who continuously strive to ensure that we present high quality productions to the community at an affordable cost. Our program continues to grow and flourish with talent, welcoming dozens of new performers from across the greater Chicagoland area to each production.” observed Board Member, Brent Houltram. The company seeks to implement multiple EDI measures (equity, diversity, and inclusivity) per show, such as sensory friendly previews, American Sign Language Interpretation, and/or Featuring Spanish Subtitles. “This award is a tremendous honor” says CTE Technical Director Catie Early, “It’s a reflection of a lot of hard work.”

CTE/FVTC’s next performance is “The Prom” at the Blizzard Theatre at Elgin Community College. The show is September 6-8 and 13-15. For tickets go to https://cteelgin.com/the-prom-tickets-on-sale/ For additional information about CTE/FVTC, visit us at www.cteelgin.com

OTHER RECIPIENTS INCLUDE:

• Secondary School Theatre – J.R. Willard-Rose (Homewood-Flossmoor HS)
• College/University Theatre – Kevin Long (Harper College, Chicago Shakespeare Theater)
• Community Theatre – Joseph Ennenbach (Stage 212, Morris Theater Guild, Streator Engle Lane, and Princeton’s Festival 56)
• Professional Theatre – James Calitri (Artistic Director, Festival 56)
• Award of Honor, ITA Non-Member – John Collins (Executive Director, Goodman Theatre)
• Award of Honor, ITA Member – Richard Arnold, Jr. (Production Coordinator, College of DuPage)
• Anne Thurman Mentorship Award – Patricia Haynes, 1950-2024, Accepting the Award is her Daughter, Erin Fitzpatrick (Mother McAuley HS, founder of 99th Street Summer Theatre)

ABOUT THE ILLINOIS THEATRE
Mission Statement: The Illinois Theatre Association is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to advocate for the important values that theatre at all levels in the state of Illinois bring to individuals as we strive to expand hearts and minds through work both on the stage and off. Our work includes the important mission to inspire, engage, challenge, nurture, educate and empower artists and audiences in order to enhance the cultural landscape of Illinois, making our state a more conscious and compassionate community. Ultimately, we look to celebrate the essential power of the theatre to illuminate our common humanity.

Vision Statement: As an organization devoted to the advocacy of theatre in the state of Illinois, we believe that embracing differences is essential for our theatres to not only survive, but thrive. The ITA strives to be an energizing force for collaboration and advocacy in the theatre community. We are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in all areas of our organization.

For more information about the Illinois Theatre Association, visit www.illinoistheatre.org or call (773)
804-8975.