Photo Flash: Maltz Jupiter's Conservatory Names Awards Winners

The Maltz Jupiter Theatre's Conservatory of Performing Arts has announced the winners of its annual Conservatory Awards.

Named for donors who made the physical construction of the Conservatory possible, the six awards are merit based acknowledgements of hard work, positive attitudes, and willingness to go the extra mile.

"We have dozens of hardworking, talented students at our Conservatory, but these students, in particular, have shown dedication and perseverance throughout the year," said Julie Rowe, director of the Conservatory. "We are so grateful to the donors and parents that help make the Conservatory such a vibrant place for our students to continue to thrive and cultivate their talents."

The winners were honored at a fundraiser luncheon on Feb. 26 at Frenchman's Reserve in Palm Beach Gardens. The event included a student showcase of Conservatory productions, including the musical Cats, which will be performed on the Theatre stage May 20 and 21 and features all of the award recipients.

Cats is under the leadership of original Broadway Cats cast members and Conservatory instructors Anna McNeely and Brian Andrews, who attended the luncheon and participated in the awards presentation.

Here's a look at the Conservatory's 2011 winners:

Conservatory voice student Frances Weissler, 13, earned The Mary Ellen and Dermot Healey Award for Leadership, given to a student who has inspired and motivated their fellow classmates, both in the studio and on stage. It is for a student who takes charge, makes decisions in the best interest of the other cast members and holds production values high.

Frances has been a Conservatory student since 2009, has performed in five Conservatory productions and performs with the Theatre's Youth Touring Company. She is in 8th grade at Independence Middle School.

Conservatory voice student Erika Sauer, 13, earned The Jodi Ann Saltzman Memorial Award for "Most Spirited," given to the individual in the Conservatory who is always willing to give of themselves to the moment. The student continues to pursue their love of the performing arts with passion and enthusiasm.

Erika has been a Conservatory student since 2009 and has performed in four Conservatory productions. She is in 6th grade at Jupiter Middle School.

Conservatory ballet and voice student Olivia Perrin, 14, earned the Dr. Bernard and Phyllis Eisenstein Cultural Award, given to a student who is aware of the impact that their rich cultural heritage has had on the arts. This student shares that heritage with fellow students and the greater community and celebrates cultural differences.

Olivia has been a Conservatory student since 2007, has performed in five Conservatory productions and performs with the Theatre's Youth Touring Company. She is a freshman at Dwyer High School.

Conservatory ballet and voice student Charly Hamann, 14, earned The O'Hagan Family Award for Outstanding Improvement, given to a student who has shown marked improvement in any one of the three disciplines - acting, voice, or dance. The student must show progress and regular attendance in class.

Charly has been a Conservatory student since 2009, has performed in two Conservatory productions and performs with the Theatre's Youth Touring Company. She is in 8th grade at St. Clare School.

Conservatory voice and modern dance student Caiti Marlowe, 14, earned The Maltz Jupiter Theatre Guild Award, given to a student who has shown commitment, determination and marked improvement in any one of the three disciplines - acting, dance, or voice. It is given to a student who best exemplifies the hard work needed to develop their talent.

Caiti has been a Conservatory student since 2010, has performed in one Conservatory production and performs with the Theatre's Youth Touring Company. She is a freshman at G-Star School of the Arts.
Conservatory ballet student Nicky Wood, 15, earned The Rick and Peggy Katz Award for Outstanding Achievement, given to the student who has shown marked progress in all three disciplines - acting, dance, and voice. The student shows excellence in attendance, preparation and maintains a positive attitude.

Nicky has been a Conservatory student since 2009 and has performed in three Conservatory productions and two Theatre productions. He will appear in the upcoming PNC Kids Korner tour of "Jack and the Beanstalk," his 30th production, and also wrote and directed "Panic in the Parthenon" for a Congressional Award Silver Medal. He is homeschooled and dual-enrolled at Indian River State College.

The Maltz Jupiter Theatre Conservatory of Performing Arts offers a challenging, innovative and quality theatre experience to students of all ages and abilities. In addition to a full schedule of classes, the Conservatory's workshops and master classes offer students an opportunity to learn first-hand about the world of theatre from nationally known composers and performers, agents and local instructors.

For more information on the Conservatory's programs, call 561-575-2672 for more information or visit www.jupitertheatre.org.

About the Maltz Jupiter Theatre
The Maltz Jupiter Theatre is an award-winning professional not-for-profit regional theatre dedicated to the performing arts whose mission is to entertain, educate and inspire our community. The Theatre is a member of the prestigious League of Resident Theatres and is located east of U.S. Highway 1 at 1001 East Indiantown Road and State Road A1A in Jupiter. For more information about the Theatre's upcoming shows and Conservatory of Performing Arts, visit www.jupitertheatre.org or call the box office at (561) 575-2223.