Columbia Scholastic Press Association

130 Scholastic Crown Award finalists announced

The Columbia Scholastic Press Association posted the list of finalists for its Crown Awards program for scholastic (middle junior and senior high school) publications at its official website, located at http://www.columbia.edu/cu/cspa.

One thousand five hundred and twelve publications actually sent their publications to Columbia for review by the Crown Awards Board of Judges, representing 84% of the total number of members eligible to enter the contest.

Five hundred and seven newspapers, two hundred and seventy magazines and seven hundred and thirty-five yearbooks published during the 2002-2003 academic year were judged for the 2004 Crown Awards Program.

38 Collegiate Crown finalists announced

The Columbia Scholastic Press Association posted the list of finalists for its Crown Awards program for collegiate publications at its official website, located at http://www.columbia.edu/cu/cspa.

One thousand five hundred and twelve publications actually sent their publications to Columbia for review by the Crown Awards Board of Judges, representing 84% of the total number of members eligible to enter the contest.

Five hundred and seven newspapers, two hundred and seventy magazines and seven hundred and thirty-five yearbooks published during the 2002-2003 academic year were judged for the 2004 Crown Awards Program.

CSPA receives 12,930 entries in its 21st annual Gold Circle program

The Columbia Scholastic Press Association's 21st annual Gold Circle Awards program, its annual competition for individual achievement by student writers, editors, designers and photographers, attracted 12,930 entries from colleges, universities and secondary schools throughout the United States.

Entries were accepted from student newspapers, magazines, yearbooks and videos either originally printed or broadcast from November 1, 2002 through October 31, 2003. Student journalists working on these print or electronic media chose from as many as 77 available categories for individual or staff entries.

Mississippi Newspaper Adviser Wins 2003 Journalism Teacher of the Year Title

Beth Fitts was not asleep when she heard she had been named the 2003 National High School Teacher of the Year. But she felt as though she were in a dream.

Richard Holden, executive director of the Fund, reached Mrs. Fitts at her home. The veteran journalism teacher and adviser at Oxford (Miss.) High School recalled, "When Rich told me I said, 'Can you say that one more time?' God is so good. I'm so excited."

Fund expands Center for Editing Excellence

The board of directors of the Dow Jones Newspaper Fund expanded its Centers for Editing Excellence, a key part of its Newspaper Editing Intern Program, in approving $560,500 in grants and operating expenses for 2004 programs for college and high school journalism teachers, and high school and college students.

The Fund will add a Center for Editing Excellence at Pennsylvania State University, where interns sponsored by Ottaway Newspapers Inc. will train before beginning their 2004 internships. The Penn State program joins seven other centers across the country. "The training program at our Centers for Editing Excellence is critical to the success of our intern program," Richard Holden, Fund executive director, said. The addition reflects Ottaway's commitment to sponsor 12 interns in 2004, he said.

Boston Girl going Big Time on Broadway

The lights dim, the audience becomes quiet and the curtains open. The spotlight lands on a country girl named Millie, played by Emily Rozek, standing there with all the confidence in the world.

Rozek, was born in Boston and always wanted to sing and dance. In a way, "she always knew what she wanted to do in life." Emily first acted on Broadway Annie Get Your Gun in which she played Winnie Tate. She has been in national tours such as South Pacific as Nellie and Sunset Blvd. as Mary. She was so excited to be in such a successful shows as Annie Get Your Gun and now Thoroughly Modern Millie.

Keeping the line straight and true

JoAnn M. Hunter, a dance captain for Broadway's Thoroughly Modern Millie, contributes to the excitement of Broadway musicals through the art of dancing. She has a long history of dancing, starting at the age of eleven, after being inspired by her mother.

Hunter's dancing skills helped garner a scholarship to study dancing in New York City, which she received between her junior and senior years in high school. At age 17, she moved to New York City.

"My first step in New York City and I was hooked," Hunter said, describing her first personal experience with the city.

From Oz to the Big City

"I'm not perfect."

That is the response actress Jessica Grové gave when asked what she most wanted people to know about her.

Grové's answer belies her talent as an actress and singer. At the age of fifteen, Grové was cast as Dorothy in a major production of The Wizard of Oz opposite stage and screen veterans like Mickey Rooney and eternally glamorous Eartha Kitt-a huge responsibility for one so young.

Grove, however was up to the task and the experience and maturity she gained from both that and her early acting experiences still shows.

In the background, but not in the shadows

"This is a dream come true," says Matt Wall, glancing around the empty theater. He gazes at the stage, then looks back. "This is exactly what I wanted to do."

Wall is sitting in the deserted Marquis Theater, discussing the origins of his career in the theater. It is nearing seven o'clock, and in just a few more minutes, Wall will be performing on the stage directly in front of him.

On Tonys and teaching

How does an interview with the Tony Award-winner for Best Actress in a Musical begin?

You would expect to hear about where she was raised, her inspirations as an actress and as a woman...and maybe even what she had for breakfast.

But with Sutton Foster, star of Broadway's Thoroughly Modern Millie, you don't have to ask anything at all.

Foster comes out, whisks you in, and sits you down on a green futon sofa adorned with a pillow of SpongeBob SquarePants.

"How are you?" she asks in a voice that rings with timbre and sweetness.

Looking around, momentarily facing an overstuffed rubber ducky chair and a picture of her and Hugh Jackman. You can almost reply with something her Millie Dillmount alter-ego may say: "I've never felt better...not for the life of me."

The Conductor of the Troupe

In a musical production, a conductor's direction is extremely important, guiding both the actors and musicians through the musical storytelling. Likewise, the stage manager guides the actions of both the actors and the technical staff, resulting in many stage managers being considered "conductors" of their particular troupe.

As an assistant stage manager for Broadway's Thoroughly Modern Millie, Charlie Underhill oversees many things backstage during a performance. Without the stage manager's presence, almost everything would be out of control.

Looking for love in all the big places

Anyone itching for a glimpse of what 1920's America was like can immerse themselves in a song and dance experience right here in New York City.

The personalities of the era, including tap-dancing actresses who lived in transient hotels and sang on the very streets of New York are personified in the six-time Tony Award-winning musical Thoroughly Modern Millie.

Sutton Foster (Tony Award-winner, Best Lead Actress in a Musical, 2002) plays Millie Dillmount, an innocent girl trying fulfill her dream of "making it" and finding true happiness and love along the way.

Throughly Modern Magic

Imagine sitting in a theatre, watching a show and hearing the same old monotone voices for an hour and half. Boring. That is definitely not the case in the spectacular musical Thoroughly Modern Millie. The music is the heart and soul of this Broadway production. There is never a dull moment on the Marquis Theatre stage.

Millie is a comedic musical about a small town girl from Kansas trying to make it in the big city. She gets a bobbed haircut, wears short dresses and goes on a quest to become more "modern". Millie, played by Sutton Foster, looks for a job as a stenog and tries to find herself a suitable husband in the new city.

You just can't forget about the boy!

"Forget about the boy!" they sing in the Broadway smash hit Thoroughly Modern Millie, but after the pleasure of meeting the boy himself, you'll know that it's simply impossible.

Audiences are struck by the performance and presence of Christian Borle upon seeing Millie at the Marquis Theatre, and the charm, humor, and intelligence with which he delivers each word certainly transcends to his personality offstage. Entering his dressing room - which is lit only by a festive string of icicle lights draped across the mirror - a framed Return of the Jedi poster and the fantastic array of comic book and movie figures lining his dresser immediately catch your eye.