The Business Council for the Arts (BCA) has announced that Plano’s own North Texas Performing Arts is a 2021 Obelisk Awards honoree in the Arts.
Get to know North Texas Performing Arts (NTPA), Business Council for the Arts 2021 Obelisk Award Honoree for Arts Education
NTPA is the largest youth-focused performing arts organization in the country, presenting classes, camps, and productions for ages five through 18, as well adult programming under the NTPA Repertory and Community Theatre. NTPA believes that every young person should have the opportunity to take the stage and have their voices heard. Founded by Sara Akers in 1991 as the Plano Children’s Theatre, NTPA is now comprised of five youth theatre troupes in Dallas, Fairview, Frisco, Plano and Southlake.
North Texas Performing Arts mission is to develop the character of youth through quality performing arts education and family entertainment. NTPA believes that theatre changes lives and strives to teach students not only how to act, sing, or dance but also how to be better humans with their 10 characters of North Texas Performing Arts: Teamwork, Leadership, Responsibility, Respect, Confidence, Integrity, Discipline, Gratitude, Positive Attitude, and Love One Another.
Each year, NTPA impacts over 11,000 young people with their key programming. NTPA Youth Theatre Troupes is for performers ages 5 – 18 years old. NTPA Academy is a daytime academic program with an emphasis on performing arts education for youth ages 13- 18, and NTPA Community Theatre engages families onstage together regardless of ability level. NTPA also has specialized programming including NTPA Starcatcher for neuro-atypical youth and adults to participate in music and drama, led by a drama therapist. NTPA Collegiate Pursuits is an intensive training for young people pursing performing arts in college and NTPA Repertory is a semi-professional adult group of performers who bring “Broadway to the ‘Burbs”.
The main facility of NTPA is the largest youth-dedicated performing arts venue in the country and located in Plano at the Shops at Willow Bend. The partnership that North Texas Performing Arts has with the Shops at Willow Bend has been instrumental in NTPA’s ability to present more than 150 productions and 1,100 performances annually. NTPA draws over 220,000 visits to the Shops at Willow Bend each year with its productions that in turn boost visits to the shopping center’s retailers, restaurants and more throughout the year. This mutually beneficial partnership led the Shops at Willow Bend to nominate NTPA for a 2021 Obelisk Award.
Learn more about North Texas Performing Arts and get tickets to upcoming September shows including Legally Blonde The Musical, Into the Woods, Cinderella, and High School Musical at www.ntpa.org.
According to 2021 Obelisk Awards co-chairs, Rebecca and Philip Silvestri: “North Texas Performing Arts has profoundly influence the lives of thousands of young people since it’s founding, providing them with skills for life garnered through theater practice.”
THE 2021 OBELISK AWARDS
The Obelisk Award honors businesses, nonprofits, and individuals, for their extraordinary support of arts and culture in North Texas.
Philip and Rebecca Silvestri, publishers of community-connecting magazine Local Profile, serve as co-chairs of BCA’s 33rd annual Obelisk Awards.
Presenting sponsors of the 2021 Obelisk Awards are Nancy A. Nasher + David J. Haemisegger.
Collector level sponsors are Capital One and Neiman Marcus Group.
Aficionado level sponsors are American Airlines, The Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Museum, Atmos Energy, Baker Botts LLP, The Beck Group, Bourland Octave Management, Comerica Bank, Corgan, Fisher & Phillips, Gensler, HALL Group, Haynes and Boone LLP, Holland & Knight LLP, Jackson Walker LLP, Jones Day, Local Profile, Maintenance, Inc., McGrath Family Charitable Fund, NorthPark Center, Oncor, Parkland, PepsiCo, PwC, PZP BizConnect, RealPage, SMU | Meadows School of the Arts, Tolleson Wealth Management, UNT, UT Dallas, UT Southwestern Medical Center, and Texas Instruments.
Catalyst level sponsors include the AT&T Performing Arts Center, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and Jane Nelson Institute for Women’s Leadership – TWU.
Advocate level sponsors includes Andy Smith and Paul von Wupperfeld and Appreciator Sponsors include Albert Outdoor Advertising, Charles W. Eisemann, and Southwest Airlines. The 2021 Obelisk Award Media sponsors are Local Profile and Patron Magazine, and Design sponsor is Banowetz + Co.
Recipients of the Obelisk Award receive an original artwork created by Dallas glass artist Polly Gessell, underwritten by the Craig + Kathryn Hall Foundation. J Crawford Construction Systems, LP underwrites the photography. The 2021 Obelisk Awards graphics are a detail of Athor/Laurentia, 2019 by local Dallas artist Zeke Williams, represented by Erin Cluley Gallery.
Sponsorships, tickets, and donations in recognition of the honorees and BCA programs can be purchased at www.ntbca.org/the-obelisk-awards.
BUSINESS COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS
Business Council for the Arts encourages, inspires, and stimulates businesses and municipalities to support the arts in the workplace, in education, and in the community. We are a connector between commerce and culture. Our programs bring wellness and equity into the workplace through the arts, develop next-generation business leaders for arts boards, inject creativity into work teams, measure the economic impact of the arts in North Texas, and enrich arts organizations with business best practices.
Contact us at bca@ntbca.org for more information, or visit our website at www.ntbca.org.