Sun City theater company awards 12 scholarships

The Theatre Company of Sun City in Huntley announced that its Scholarship Program was successfully completed for 2008.

This year, a record number of scholarships were awarded to 12 deserving and talented young people.

The program was designed to help defer the costs of theater-related training, workshops, and camps. Such training must be directed toward developing skills and confidence in all theater arts, whether in acting, dance, sound, lighting, set design or other roles associated with putting on a show.

Awards were open to all full-time students, and recipients didn't have to be a relative of a Sun City Huntley resident.

In fact, eight of the winners were associated with School District 158.

Applications were reviewed by the theater company's board of directors, and final selections were made at the April 16 meeting. Awards were communicated to the winners, and checks will be sent directly to the institutions providing the training.

In each case, the awards will help with the tuition.

The winners are:

• Kylen Sandquist, 15, a Palatine High School student and the grandchild of Pat and Peggy Molohon of Sun City. She has appeared in more than 25 shows and has worked on costumes, stage crew, props, advertising and set construction. She sings soprano in her school's Show Choir quintet. In addition to theater-related activities, Kylen has been very active in church functions and sports such as Celtic soccer. She will attend a one-week session at the Showchoir Camps of America to be held this summer at Millikin University in Decatur.

• Abby Moore, 16, a Huntley High School student with a very strong background in dance. She has been dancing since she was four years old and literally dances almost every day. She has been in the "Nutcracker" since 1995 and has performed in her school's variety show since 2001. Abby also teaches ballet at the DeKalb YMCA and is a substitute teacher at the Beth Fowler School of Dance in Genoa. She will attend a five-week summer intensive program at the Orlando Ballet School in Florida.

• Hannah Smith, 16, a Huntley High School student, is a longtime dancer who started when she was 3 years old. In December, she was featured in an article in a local newspaper about her role in the "Nutcracker" at the Woodstock Opera House. Hannah's goal is to become a professional ballerina. She has had 13 years of training and performing in ballet and other dance forms. Hannah was selected from a pool of 3,500 to attend the four American Ballet Theatre summer intensive programs in Austin, Texas.

• Kate Darby, 14, a Heineman Middle School student who has a strong background in the "other theater activities" category. Besides acting, she has been a student director, assistant stage manager, and involved in props and sets on a number of occasions. Kate has been quite active in non-theater activities as well, such as volunteer work, church, Girl Scouts and school clubs. Kate will be attending the Christian Youth Theater's summer camp at Judson University in Elgin.

• Ryan McCain, 17, a Palatine High School student who has a solid background both on and off the stage. In the past eight years he has been in more than 30 musical shows. Ryan plays the piano and trumpet. He also sings and dances with the Palatine High School show choir. His work experience includes acting teacher, director, choreographer and light technician. He will attend a one-week session at the Showchoir Camps of America to be held at Millikin University in Decatur.

• Jazmine Chartrand, 14, a Heineman Middle School student who has been very active on stage. She has appeared in seven shows with the Huntley and Heineman performing arts centers. Jazmine also attends the John Robert Powers School in Chicago, where she has studied acting for commercials and public speaking. She has been invited to audition at the International Presentation of Performers to be held in Las Vegas this summer.

• Devon Thompson, 16, a Huntley High School student who has acted in church productions shows in middle school, and during her three years in high school. She has been involved with ballet and jazz dance at The Summers Academy of Dance for seven years. Devon also is an editor of her high school's newspaper, The Voice, and is a member of the 2008 state journalism team. She will be attend Huntley High School's Theatre Camp.

• Connor Smith, 12, a home-schooled student and Hannah Smith's younger brother. He already has an impressive experience in dance. Connor has performed with Crystal Lake Central High School productions for five years, appearing "The Nutcracker," "Sleeping Beauty" and, most recently, "Hello Dolly." His non-theater activities include tennis, soccer, Kyuki-do, and eight years of Awana Club, where he received a Timothy award. He will attend Huntley High School's Theatre Camp.

• Kara Sandquist, 12, a Walter R. Sundling Junior High School student in Palatine and also the grandchild of Pat and Peggy Molohon of Sun City. She has been acting since she was 6. Among the shows Kara has appeared in are "Grease," "Mrs. Scrooge," "Mrs. Claus and the Great Christmas Caper," "Les Miserables" and "Children of Eden." Kara has worked backstage on props, costumes, advertising and stage crew. She also is a member of the track team and volleyball team, and is a student council representative. Kara will attend a one-week session at the Showchoir Camps of America to be held at Millikin University in Decatur.

• Bobby Gallegos, 14, a Heineman Middle School student who recently appeared in the school's production of "Aladdin Jr." He has attended the Lamb School of Theatre, Music and Art for five summers. Besides appearing in a regular musical production the students also write and perform their own show. Bobby's non-theater activities include church functions, basketball, baseball and football. Bobby will again attend the summer program at the Lamb School in Sioux City, Iowa.

• Katie Gallegos, 11, a Marlowe Middle School student and Bobby Gallegos' younger sister. She has appeared in P.T.A. variety shows for six years, done poetry readings, and performed on stage at the Lamb School for the last four years. In addition to singing and dancing, Katie is also a member of the school band, where she plays tuba. Katie will again attend the summer program at the Lamb School in Sioux City, Iowa.

• Tyler Nowotnik, 11, a Hannah Martin Elementary School student and the grandchild of Bob and Mary Reuter of Sun City. He has been dancing tap, jazz, ballet, lyric and hip-hop at annual recitals since 1999. Tyler has also been an actor in three Theatre Company of Sun City musical productions: "Fiddler on the Roof," "South Pacific" and "Bye, Bye, Birdie." He also is a figure skater and a member of the St. Mary's Youth Choir. He will attend the Dupree Summer Jazz'n Tap Camp this summer in Chicago.