Announcement
Boston, MA —
On Saturday, May 14 at 7:00 p.m. EST, Emerson College will host the 2011 EVVY Awards Show in front of a live audience at the 1,200-seat Cutler Majestic Theatre. Modeled after the Emmys and Oscars, it’s the largest multi-camera, live college campus event in the United States. In addition to being broadcast throughout Boston on BNNTV, the event will also be streamed live, making it accessible worldwide.
The EVVYs is a celebration of Emerson’s world-renowned communication and arts programs. Thirty-five awards are presented to students in a variety of categories including Outstanding TV Personality, Outstanding Theatrical Production, and Outstanding Cinematic Achievement. And while students are recognized on stage, hundreds of Emerson students will be working behind-the-scenes to produce the show—putting into action what they’ve learned about lighting, sound, set design, costume design, directing, and filming a live event.
“This is an opportunity for audiences to enjoy the next generation of filmmakers and television and theater professionals,” said Emerson alumnus and executive producer of the NBC sitcom Friends, Kevin Bright, who’s also the faculty advisor and executive producer of the EVVYs. “I’m very happy to be a part of such a wonderfully collaborative and professional production, working side-by-side with talented and dedicated students.”
Students spend months preparing for the College’s biggest event of the year—from vetting through more than 700 submissions to writing the scripts and coordinating stage production. They also work directly with industry professionals. Those who consulted on this year’s EVVYs include Glenn Weiss, live TV director (Emmy Awards); Arthur Lewis, live TV/theatre stage manager (Academy Awards); Stacey Foster, producer and sound designer (SNL); Bob Dickinson, live TV lighting designer (Conan, Grammy Awards, and Country Music Awards); and Joe Stewart and John Shaffner, television production designers (Ellen DeGeneres Show and Emmy Awards).
In recognition of the EVYYs 30th anniversary, there will be some special highlights. The largest, most highly produced opening number in the show’s history is titled “#So Emerson,” which translates to “Hashtag So Emerson,” inspired by the viral trend on Twitter. EVVY alumni—from the premier show in 1981 through to last year—will present the awards, honoring the work of current Emerson students. Students will present alumna and host of Access Hollywood Maria Menounos with this year’s Alumni Award of Distinction.
Additionally, Emerson College President Jackie Liebergott, who retires at the end of June, will be honored for her 18 years at the helm.
Also, for the first time this year, the EVVYs has added Outstanding Vocal Performer as an award category. More than 100 students auditioned, and 10 were selected to have their performances posted on YouTube. Fans and industry professionals, including singer/songwriter Eric Hutchinson, chose the top three performances and those students will perform live at the EVVYs. The final selection of the Best Vocal Performer will be chosen live, via text, at the ceremony.
Notable judges who helped review and rank this year’s student submissions include Alan Higgins, writer/producer (The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and Malcolm in the Middle), judging Comedy Writing; Rob Paine, producer (Academy Awards, MTV Movie Awards), judging Studio TV Series; Bob Pook, graphic art director (SNL), judging Motion Graphics; H.B. "Buck" Lewis, character designer (Kung Fu Panda, Ratatouille, and Cars), judging Animation; and Morgan Foehl, editor (I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry, Click, and Rescue Me) judging Editing.
Tickets for the EVVY Awards are on sale now, starting at $10, and available for purchase at www.aestages.org or by calling 617-824-8000. The show starts at 7:00 p.m. at the Cutler Majestic Theatre (219 Tremont Street, Boston) and runs approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes. The EVVYs is a live television event, airing on BNNTV in Boston (Comcast, Ch. 9 or 23 | RCN, Ch. 15 or 83) and live streamed at www.EVVYawards.org. It will re-air in select markets and online soon after the live event.
Awards for Writing, Journalism, and Marketing, among other disciplines taught at Emerson, are presented at a banquet in April.
About the College
Based in Boston, Massachusetts, opposite the historic Boston Common and in the heart of the city’s Theatre District, Emerson College educates individuals who will solve problems and change the world through engaged leadership in communication and the arts, a mission informed by liberal learning. The College has 3,780 undergraduates and 670 graduate students from across the United States and 50 countries. Supported by state-of-the-art facilities and a renowned faculty, students participate in more than 90 student organizations and performance groups. Emerson is known for its experiential learning programs in Los Angeles, Washington, DC, the Netherlands, London, China, and the Czech Republic as well as its new Global Portals, with the first opening last fall in Paris. The College has an active network of 51,000 alumni who hold leadership positions in communication and the arts. For more information, visit Emerson.edu.
