Published: April 02, 2007 09:49 am      

Red Mask scholarships build careers

Red Mask Players’ recent production of “Flaming Idiots” featured an ensemble of multi-talented performers. Two of them, David Laker and Jason Asaad, share a bond that transcends that show. They both were recipients of Red Mask Players’ Jean Lewis Scholarship.

Named after the founder of Red Mask Children’s Theater, the annual award goes to a student planning a career in theater, performing arts or a related area. Applications for the $750 scholarship are due by April 9, with auditions and interviews later.

The two local men won the scholarship 20 years apart. Laker, who lives in Fithian, won in 1977, the year the scholarship originated. Since then, 28 others have been selected for the award. One talented individual won two years in a row: Justin Vickers.

Star

Vickers, a former Danville resident, now divides his time between New York and the rest of the world as an internationally renowned tenor. He will return to Danville for a May 12 concert with Danville Symphony Orchestra.

Vickers recalled his first experience with Red Mask Children’s Theater as he prepared to leave NYC for Albania. He’ll direct an English language version of “Chicago” there for the second time.

“I had a small part as the professor in ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ with Red Mask’s Children’s Theater,” he said. “I was in eighth grade, and I looked old compared to the rest of the kids.”

At Danville High School, Vickers sang in chorus and show choir.

“Larry Voorhees was my teacher and choral director,” Vickers said. “He was instrumental in my choice of a career.”

When he learned about the Jean Lewis scholarship during his senior year, it seemed natural to apply. He won the first time in 1992, and it helped encourage him pursue a performance major at the University of Illinois. When he won in 1993, it seemed natural, too.

“I found Danville to be so supportive since the first time I performed,” Vickers said.

Both awards went toward books.

Mentor

Laker recalled spending his award the same way. He was finishing his associate’s degree at Danville Area Community College and had been accepted as a transfer student in theater by Illinois State University.

“I went to Oakwood High School and didn’t have as many opportunities to perform as people did in Danville,” the Illinois Department of Corrections employee said. “When I came to Red Mask Players, I was already a young man. I never did children’s theater, but Red Mask became my home. …

“My true legacy will be the young people I’ve mentored over the years at this theater. I’ve given something to them from my own experiences.”

Performer

Catlin’s Asaad won the Jean Lewis scholarship in 1997. He’d never appeared in a Red Mask show, but he admired the community theater group.

“I saw shows there, and I thought that I’d like to help out backstage,” Asaad said. “When I learned about the scholarship, I’d just graduated from DACC with my associate’s. I planned to go to Eastern Illinois University and major in speech communica-tions.

“The fact that they’d want to help a college student really impressed me.”

For his audition, Asaad performed a stand-up comedy routine that featured impressions of the day’s politicians. His community theater resume since then includes roles ranging from the lead in “The King and I” to the dancing busboy in “Flaming Idiots.”

He used the award much as his predecessors, for books for his theater class. Now the assistant director for the Vermilion County Emergency Management Agency, Asaad relishes performing.

“I knew I’d come back to this area,” he said. “No matter what my career, I knew I’d stay involved in theater.”

Tech guy

The Jean Lewis Scholarship has been awarded to young women as well as young men and to those interested in careers behind the scenes as well as onstage. Brian Morgan, the 2005 recipient, attends the University of Illinois with a major in scenic technology.

For his scholarship audition, Morgan presented a portfolio of his technical work. His specialty is taking designs and engineering them into something he termed “build-able. They’re like blueprints,” he said.

“When I won the award, I felt that people believed I was going to be successful.”

His advice to this year’s applicants was, “Present yourself and your profession in a way that shows your love and passion. Hard work does pay off.”

FYI

Applications for Red Mask Players’ Jean Lewis Scholarship are due April 9. Area high school students and university or community college students are invited to apply. Details and applications are available from guidance counselors, speech teachers or drama departments at area high schools and Danville Area Community College. For more information, contact Lamar Hull at 799-2531.