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The Curtain Call Awards
The Danny Marona Performing Arts Scholarship Fund is also dedicated to raising awareness of the performing arts through the Curtain Call Awards. As a division of the DMPASF, Curtain Call is designed to recognize the high level and sheer quantity of local entertainment our area has come to enjoy. Billed as “the ‘Tony Awards’ for southern Idaho” the Curtain Call Awards honors and celebrates those incredibly talented volunteers who work to bring productions to life, whether it be onstage, backstage, or pre-production. The Curtain Call Awards is the standard of unity for our entire performance community.
Curtain Call Awards presents awards in five divisions; Plays, Musicals, Special Events, Youth Plays, and Youth Musicals. Productions of the Curtain Call League Members are reviewed, and at the end of the year the Nomination Committee produces a slate of nominees. Curtain Call Association members then vote on their choices. For more information, or to become a member of the Curtain Call Awards, please go to www.curtaincallawards.com or call 1-888-MARONA1 (1-888-627-6621).
Danny's Dream Becomes A Reality
Years ago; almost forty to be exact, Danny Marona had this crazy dream that talented high school kids could compete before a live audience for college scholarships. In 2007 that dream became reality and in 2009 The Danny Marona Performing Arts Scholarship Fund is understandably proud to have handed out twenty-five scholarships. Marona says the idea for his scholarship fund ignited when he went to watch his ninth grade music teacher (Marilyn Reedy) perform a piano concerto in front of a live audience as part of her Master’s thesis for her degree in piano performance. Says Danny, “I started thinking how neat it would be if high school performing arts students could earn college scholarships the same way Mrs. Reedy earned her Master’s degree.” That idea stayed on the ‘back burner’ for some forty years until Marona retired in February of 2007. “In ’07 when I retired and wanted to do something more than just, ‘smell the roses’ I realized that it was time to stop dreaming and start doing.” Danny felt this was something he could not do alone so he set about to assemble a board of directors to join with him in his ‘excellent adventure.’ He sought out the most highly accomplished business leaders and performing art’s aficionados in his community. “All I had to do was convince them of the importance of the performing arts in our community,” said Marona. “It really wasn’t a hard sell. These are all insightful and intelligent people who instinctively understood the concept.” The next part was the most difficult; raising the money to pay for the scholarships. Federal or state grants were simply out of the question for an upstart scholarship program with no track record, so Danny and his board of directors set about to come up with some creative fundraising ideas. Marona, along every member of his board of directors ponied up their own money to get the fund up and running. Then they came up with the idea of doing a gala fundraiser at Danny’s home called, “The Party of The Century.” The party lived up to its billing and is now an annual event. Aside from the party the fund relies solely upon the generosity of concerned citizens of, “The Magic Valley.” Later this year Danny Marona has scheduled a meeting with the Governor of Idaho (Butch Otter) to see if he can shake loose some state funding. Danny’s wife Sherry says, “You either spiral up or spiral down.” You can bet Danny Marona has every intention of spiraling up.
Danny Marona Performing Arts Scholarship Fund
Danny's recent retirement from the stage has now afforded him the time and opportunity to make the education of young performing artists not only a number one priority but a full time commitment as well. Mr. Marona's knowledge and background as a performer coupled with his relentless zeal and boundless energy are sure to be a winning combination in this most worthwhile endeavor.
However, the initiation of this scholarship fund is only the beginning. Danny says, "It is vitally important that we build something that will take on a life of it's own. And we can only do that by keeping the performing arts in the forefront, thereby creating 'top of mind awareness' within the hearts and minds of all Idahoans." Our founder is adamant in his belief that this scholarship fund must ultimately be able to exist independent of the name Danny Marona. "If we do not achieve that goal," says Danny, "we will have failed." "And I have no intention of failing." Learn more about the Danny Marona Performing Arts Scholarship Fund