Morristown High Senior Sydney Scheer wins Paper Mill Playhouse scholarship

Sydney Scheer has won a scholarship from the Paper Mill Playhouse. Photo courtesy of MHS Theatre.
Sydney Scheer has won a scholarship from the Paper Mill Playhouse. Photo courtesy of MHS Theatre.
0
Sydney Scheer has won a scholarship from the Paper Mill Playhouse. Photo courtesy of MHS Theatre.
Sydney Scheer has won a scholarship from the Paper Mill Playhouse. Photo courtesy of MHS Theatre.

Editor’s note: MHS Theatre is on a roll. Earlier this week, the school was honored by Montclair State University for its production of A Christmas Carol.

By Ralph Losanno

Sydney Scheer,  a senior at Morristown High School, was notified Friday that she is one of four​ students selected by the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award committee to receive a $1,000 scholarship at its awards ceremony on June 7, 2016.

Sydney Scheer, hard at work. Photo courtesy of MHS Theatre.
Sydney Scheer, hard at work. Photo courtesy of MHS Theatre.

Her application was selected from hundreds. It consisted of a personal essay about the meaning of the performing arts and a directing team essay about her role in the school theater. Grade point average, participation in school, extra­curricular theater activities and acceptance to a college also were factors.

Sydney was recognized for her work on Morristown’s spring production, Once Upon a Mattress.

The scholarship committee comprised Paper Mill Playhouse administrative and education department staff.

Sydney will be receiving the ​Jane Burgio Memorial Scholarship​, given in memory of a pioneer in the arts in New Jersey.

Jane was the first female Secretary of the State, serving for eight years under Gov. Thomas Kean, where she helped to establish the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, which provides support to theaters, museums, orchestras, and dance companies throughout the state.

This is a fitting award for Sydney, as she prepares to head to Ithaca College in the fall to pursue theater studies.

BEHIND THE SCENES  with MHS senior Sydney Scheer in 'Once Upon a Mattress.' Photo courtesy of MHS Theatre.
BEHIND THE SCENES with MHS senior Sydney Scheer in ‘Once Upon a Mattress.’ Photo courtesy of MHS Theatre.

The directing team and peers have described her as “a staple of our theater, a hardworking, ambitious, kind, and creative person … a role model, friend, drill sergeant, and inspiration to all she works with.”

In the nominating essay provided to the Paper Mill Playhouse, the directing team wrote:

“Sydney​’s dedication to the company, the directing team, and the theater program as a whole is truly inspirational and undeniably beautiful.

“Sydney is the right hand, and sometimes left as well, of the directing team, not only following directions to a T but also in determining the best course of action for many things, making suggestions, developing and implementing initiatives or activities, and just being everyone​’s rock when the days got a bit ​stormy.​”

It is with overwhelming happiness, pride, and true joy that the directing team shares this information.

We cannot wait to see her on the Paper Mill stage accepting this award, and we know she will continue to make Morristown High School proud in her future endeavors.

Ralph Losanno is a producer for Morristow High School Theatre.

Sydney Scheer and crew building the set for 'Once Upon a Mattress.' Photo courtesy of MHS Theatre.
Sydney Scheer and crew building the set for ‘Once Upon a Mattress.’ Photo courtesy of MHS Theatre.
Kate Croonquist, center, stars in 'Once Upon a Mattress.' Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Kate Croonquist, center, with cast of ‘Once Upon a Mattress.’ Photo by Kevin Coughlin

LEAVE A REPLY