The 2018 Kudzu Playhouse scholarship winners each have already accomplished some impressive achievements, and they have only just graduated from high school. Ireland Little, the Jim Anderson Legacy Scholarship winner, and Riley Young, the Kudzu Playhouse Heritage Scholarship winner, are both 2018 graduates of Hernando High School.

“Both of these winners have a deep-rooted love for theatre and have dedicated much of their youth to helping cultivate the performing arts in our community,” said Daniel Mullins, Kudzu Playhouse Board Member. “Kudzu Playhouse is proud to support both of these talented young people as they pursue their dreams.”

Ireland Little – Jim Anderson Legacy Scholarship Winner

The Jim Anderson Legacy Scholarship Award is dedicated in honor of a longtime supporter of the arts in DeSoto County, and specifically Kudzu Playhouse. The award recognizes a student who understands the importance of maintaining and supporting arts programs in our community and schools and has demonstrated a commitment to preserving and promoting these programs through participation in a variety of live performance activities.

The daughter of Scott and Erin Little, Ireland has exceeded those criteria remarkably. With over 25 performance and crew credits with Kudzu Playhouse alone and over 14 with Hernando High School, her dedication to the arts and arts instruction is overwhelming. Her academic achievements are equally as impressive. Little was named Valedictorian of Hernando High School’s class of 2018. She plans to attend the University of Southern Mississippi and major in biological sciences.

“Arts programs in communities and schools have given people the opportunity to find a home away from home,” said Little in her scholarship essay. “They are necessary in the world we live in. People deserve to have a platform to express themselves and their views. Moreover, maybe one day in the near future, another little girl will decide to do a summer camp…and be changed forever.”

Riley Young – Kudzu Playhouse Heritage Scholarship Winner

The Kudzu Playhouse Heritage Scholarship Award recognizes a student whose participation in the arts has affected significant personal growth in areas such as performance skills, technical skills, public speaking, self-confidence, esteem, or an appreciation of literature and the performing arts.

The son of Andy and Heather Young, Riley has surpassed the requirements for this award to an inspiring degree. With over 22 Kudzu Playhouse performance, crew and service credits alone, nine Hernando High School shows, and more than 20 with Panola Playhouse, his career is already quite prolific, and he’s just getting started. Young was recently named Outstanding Lead Actor at the Orpheum High School Musical Theatre Awards and will be traveling to New York City in June to compete at the national level.(1) He will also portray the title role in Kudzu Playhouse’s summer production of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” Young’s academic achievements are just as impressive as his theatrical accomplishments. An honor graduate of Hernando High School’s class of 2018, he plans to attend the University of Memphis and major in musical theatre.

“Before beginning theatre nine years ago, I barely recognized that any part of myself was built to perform in any form or fashion,” said Young in his scholarship essay. “Now I know that I wasn’t meant for anything but the stage.”

While the primary criteria for both awards are involvement in Kudzu Playhouse productions, fundraising, and promotion, students are also evaluated on other accomplishments or activities including non-Kudzu theater/performance experience, academic achievement, leadership, and community service.

(1) Riley Young was named one of eight Finalists at the 2018 Jimmy Awards in New York City, selected from 40 talented young performers from around the country.

2015 Kudzu Playhouse Scholarship Winners

In response to the growing interest in, and support of, the performing arts in our community, in 2015 Kudzu formally expanded its scholarship program to provide two annual awards to local youths, naming one in honor of a long-time Kudzu supporter. While the primary criteria for both awards is involvement in Kudzu Playhouse productions, fundraising and promotion – students are also evaluated on other accomplishments or activities including non-Kudzu theater/performance experience, academic achievement, leadership, and community service. Both awards are designed to help young thespians further their educational goals.

The 2015 winners of both awards each have a deep-rooted love for theatre and have mapped out ambitious plans to make performing their life’s work. Kudzu Playhouse is proud to support both of these talented young women as they pursue their dreams.

The Kudzu Playhouse Scholarship Award recognizes a student whose participation in the arts has affected significant personal growth in areas such as performance skills, technical skills, public speaking, self-confidence / esteem, or an appreciation of literature and the performing arts.

The 2015 Kudzu Playhouse Scholarship Award recipient is Lexie Lang, daughter of Rick and Suzanne Lang and a senior at Hernando High School. Lang credits her participation in theatre with helping her find who she truly is and what she wants to do with her life. Says Lang, “Although theatre is all about opening yourself up to the world and performing for others, there is also something deeply personal found in each actor’s performance; a reason that they’re doing this for not just the community, but for themselves.” Lang has appeared in more than 30 theatrical productions and has been recognized with several Allie Award nominations as well as MTA, debate, poetry and monologue competition honors. Lang has been accepted into the Young Americans College of the Performing Arts in Corona, California, a conservatory style program of study for students who wish to combine intensive performing arts training with experiences that broaden understanding of the global community.

The Jim Anderson Legacy Scholarship Award is dedicated in honor of a longtime supporter of the arts in DeSoto County, and specifically Kudzu Playhouse. The award recognizes a student who understands the importance of maintaining and supporting arts programs in our community and/or schools and has demonstrated a commitment to maintaining and supporting these programs through participation in a variety of live performance activities.

The 2015 Jim Anderson Legacy Scholarship Award recipient is Erica Peninger, daughter of Kim Peninger and a senior at Lewisburg High School. Peninger has participated in more than 30 live theatrical productions throughout the Mid-South and has been recognized with numerous nominations and awards for her portrayal of a wide variety of characters. Says Peninger, “I believe that it is important that all kids have the opportunity to delve into whatever artistic medium they wish so that they too can find themselves in their work.” Peninger plans to attend the University of Memphis and pursue a degree in Musical Theatre. She will travel to New York City in June to compete nationally in the Jimmy Awards held at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway as part of the National High School Musical Theatre Awards program.