The Friends Of Theater And Dance
Literature-History-Criticism Award

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY, AS IN CAREFULLY

A Friends of Theater and Dance (FOTAD) Merit Award has now been created for declared majors in Theater Literature-History-Criticism who have a 3.0 GPA or higher. An Award decision will be made in Spring Semester and applicants must be enrolled full time in that current semester. Seniors may apply if they meet the aforementioned prerequisites. The specific number and amount of awards will vary based on the quality of the applicants and the amount of funds available.

The Merit Award audition session will be Friday, Feb. 10, 2012. Requirements for the award include an oral presentation of the points (a written version of the presentation is to be submitted by the Feb. 6, 2012, deadline (see below), and a five-minute face-to-face interview with the FOTAD Awards Committee just after the presentation is made. Please make an appointment through Debbie Brown-Thompson in the department office.

The subject of the presentation could be about:

1) A play produced on this campus or elsewhere, or about a favorite playwright or both. We would like the presentation to include something about the play/playwright and how it/he/she fits into the canon of American/European/Other dramatic literature. Cite specific examples.

2) A review of a particular play, produced here or elsewhere. Should include a judgment about how well the play was produced in regard to the playwright's vision, or justify the director's choices if the play succeeds on other levels.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Remember, we want your own thoughts but, if you need to cite other sources, make sure and credit the source within the oral presentation and in the written version. We're not expecting MLA or Chicago Style Manual footnotes, but acknowledgement of other works is essential, if used.

ALSO NOTE: This Merit Award audition submission may be based on a paper or a presentation (following our criteria) already given in an earlier class.

All applicants must complete and place the following items in the FOTAD mailbox in the Department of Theater and Dance office no later than 4 p.m. on Feb. 6, 2011:

1.) A FOTAD Awards Application Data Sheet (available by clicking here) or can be done on-line by clicking here for the electronic submission form.

2.) One faculty member’s (typed) letter of recommendation

3.) An "UNofficial" SIUE academic transcript.

4.) A digital photo of yourself (can be cel phone photo) e-mailed to gconroy@siue.edu

5.) A half-page letter of application/introduction (MAX. ONE PAGE, DOUBLE-SPACED) telling us why the award would be important to you.

6.) A copy of the written version of the oral presentation to be given.

NOTE: This is your chance to shine. Please impress us.

The Awards Committee will present its recommendations to the Board for final approval on Feb. 12 and post winners in the department by Feb. 14.

Specific Instructions:

For FOTAD Lit-Hist-Crit Award Letter of application (MAX. ONE PAGE, DOUBLE-SPACED): Introduce yourself-name, major/minor, etc; give a brief background of work in Lit-Hist-Crit OR why you decided to major in this area and why you’re interested in it, and why you’re applying for a FOTAD Merit Award, future goals, etc.

Letter of Recommendation (from faculty member): Letter must be from faculty member teaching in applicant’s area of concentration; faculty member should have experience with the applicant in the classroom; letters are to be sealed and to be viewed only by the FOTAD Awards Committee.

Presentation and Paper: Position paper should be typed in narrative form and as long as it takes to make the points in the oral presentation.

Any questions about the awards should be directed to FOTAD President Greg Conroy (gconroy@siue.edu).

ANY DEVIATIOM FROM THE ABOVE RULES WILL RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION FROM THE AWARD COMPETITION.