AUBURN, N.Y. (Aug. 4, 2016) -- The Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival (FLMTF) has announced the launch of The Thommie Walsh / Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival Scholarship Fund. The Thommie Walsh/FLMTF Scholarship Fund was created to honor Thommie Walsh’s legacy and to aid students in Cayuga County pursuing a college degree and career in musical theatre.
The Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival will launch the Scholarship Fund at its 2016 Festival Fundraiser: A Nantucket Clam Bake on Owasco at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. For each ticket sold to the fundraiser, a portion will be set aside as a donation to the Scholarship Fund. The Festival will be accepting additional donations to the scholarship fund. The funds will be granted to a Cayuga County student pursing a college degree in musical theatre at the school of their choice. The winner of the scholarship will be selected and announced in spring 2017 and will be awarded for the student to use for their fall 2017 semester.
“We are honored to announce the launch of this scholarship Fund,” said FLMTF producing artistic director, Brett Smock. “The Festival is deeply committed to arts education and the cultivation of excellent musical theatre artists. This Scholarship Fund is a meaningful way to recognize and support emerging talent while continuing to honor Thommie, his legacy and his beloved community.”
Thommie Walsh, an Auburn native, was an accomplished actor, choreographer and director. His illustrious choreography and directing career led him to win multiple honors including Tony and Drama Desk Awards. Walsh most notably originated the role of Bobby in “A Chorus Line” on Broadway, a character that was heavily based on his life. Walsh passed away in 2007.
The 2016 Festival Fundraiser: A Nantucket Clam Bake on Owasco is sponsored by Generations Bank and Arby’s and Dan and Karol Soules. The event will be held Saturday, Aug. 27 from 6-9 p.m. at the home of Bob and Luda Foresman. It will include, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, lobster, clams, claws, BBQ and linguica sausage, live music and dancing, a raw bar, a cigar and scotch bar, the 2017 Festival season announcement and more. For more information and tickets, visit: www.FestivalGala.com.
About Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival:
Four hours from New York City and situated between Syracuse, Rochester and Ithaca, the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival is the largest producing musical theatre organization in New York state, outside of New York City. The Festival is headquartered in the town of Auburn, NY – set in the picturesque Finger Lakes wine region of Central New York – and operates on multiple stages. Named NY Theatre Guide’s “Best Professional Theatre, 2015,” it has provided over forty years of top-notch entertainment to over 68,000 patrons each season and is routinely recognized by industry press for its artistry and execution.
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