2011 Buckey Awards Awards            for Outstanding Arts and Culture

Like those people who show up at the Acker Musical Showcase every December, check out the 100+ musical acts in 75 venues and think, "Wow, I had no idea this many good musicians there were in my own town!"

So, the good folks at KAWC, public radio, and the K-JAZZ Radio Network are joining me in presenting this awards show celebrating Prescott artists and performers, as well as the people going out of their way to support those artists; with grants, organizing shows and events, even outstanding arts teachers  helping bring along the next generation of Prescott artists.

 

Over the last two months, 973 local arts fans told us who they love in our local arts scene.

Then, our top secret panel of arts journalists and boosters combed over the nominees to select 10 finalists in the following 8 categories:

Outstanding Visual Artist

Outstanding Musicial Artist

Outstanding Performing Artist

Outstanding Literary Artist

Outstanding Arts Organization

Outstanding Arts Educator

Outstanding Arts Philanthropist/Supporter

Outstanding Arts Event

From those 10 finalists in each of the 8 category, we chose our Buckey Award winners for 2011. You can see everyone nominated and the 10 finalists here.

Our first Lifetime Achievement Award will go to Jodi Drake, Sharlot Hall Museum's Education Curator and director of the the Blue Rose Theater at Sharlot Hall Museum for the last 17 years.  

 

During that time, Jody wrote 26 original scripts for the BRT, directed and/or produced 6 royalty productions and 33 guest and music presentations, including a historical recreation of "Marta of the Lowlands," the first production to be held at the Elks Opera House over one hundred years ago.

 

The BRT has performed for two Governors, many State conferences and retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Conner.

 

Through it all, Jody has personified the "Why not?!" attitude, the "Lead, Follow, or Get the Heck out of the Way" approach, the "Saaaaaaaay, you know, have you ever thought of being on the stage?" method that distinguishes all that is great in small town theatre.  

 

She has nurtured a generation and a half of theatre performers and audience members - always keeping it local, local, local. You like the play you're watching? Leave the theatre, walk 15 feet and you're standing where it really happened. Why don't you go with the guy in the seat next to you, that was his great-grandpa in the story. Try doing that at a production of "Brigadoon" in Scottsdale!

 

Please join us on April 2nd at the 1st Annual Buckey Awards when we honor Jody Drake for her contributions to the arts and culture of Everybody's Hometown and 8 other Outstanding Artists!

 

All finalists will recieve free admission. Tickets for all others are only $10, tax deductible, of course!

 

Forward to a Friend Who Loves Our Local Arts Scene

Forward to a Friend Who Loves What Jody Drake has Done for Prescott

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