Rainbow Company Staff Accept the CTFA Medallion Award

On Friday, August 5th, 2010, Karen McKenney, J Neal, Kris Shepherd and Toni Molloy-Tudor accepted theChildren's Theater Foundation of America Medallion award in San Francisco, California. 

Children's theatre pioneer, Moses Goldberg, gave this speech before presenting the award to Karen and Toni

Las Vegas, Nevada: the name evokes images of an exotic fairyland where dreams might come true, or might be shattered by the laws of chance. But, of course, real people live in Las Vegas – real families with real children. And those children have their own dreams.  Since 1976, those children and families have had the Rainbow Company Youth Theatre to inspire and nurture those dreams. The Company is an innovative program of the City of Las Vegas, Arts and Community Events Division, that recognizes the skills, confidence, and discipline to be gained through direct participation of youth in the arts.   Adults and children perform together to present a five play season to the community, but the core of the Company is probably its Student Ensemble – consisting of 40 students age 10 through high school who plunge intensively into a yearlong immersion in the world of theatre. Classes, workshops and outreach programs touch many other residents, and an annual tour brings a dynamic performance to parts of the state that may have no other exposure to live theatre.  Since there are very few cities that sponsor this kind of program, I asked the Mayor of Las Vegas, Oscar Goodman, “Why?” His response:

“The Rainbow Company is a cultural jewel for Las Vegas and has been recognized as one of the top children's theatre programs in the country.  Since its inception in 1976, the Rainbow Company has had a positive impact on the lives of youth in our community.  Las Vegas is a world class city so it is only fitting that it is home to a world class program like the Rainbow Company."

As might be expected, the Company has won many distinguished honors during the past 34 years. In 1980 they received the Winifred Ward-Zeta Phi Etta Award for the best new Children’s Theatre in America, and in 2007, they received Nevada’s Governor’s Arts Award for Leadership in Arts Education.  Only four full-time staff members anchor the program and all are exceptionally noteworthy for their longevity, teamwork, and passion for the program.  On behalf of the Children’s Theatre Foundation of America, I am honored to present Corey Medallions to the Rainbow Company Youth Theatre, to its Education Director, Dr. Toni Molloy-Tudor, and to its Artistic Director, Karen McKenney."