Established in 2014, this scholarship honors the legacy of Dr. Mical Whitaker and his impact on African-American Theatre. A Metter native, Dr. Whitaker began his journey when he attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., and soon left for New York City to pursue acting. During the heart of the 1960’s, Dr. Whitaker created The East River Players, his own theater company, which blossomed as an important movement in African-American theatre. Soon to come was the Everyman Street Theatre Company, another of Dr. Whitaker’s creations, which still takes place today. Dr. Whitaker has served on the board of the Black Theatre Alliance, was the artistic director for he Richard Allen Center for the Culture and Art, and was the producer and director for the first national black theatre festival. Dr. Whitaker also produced a nationally syndicated radio show that featured namesakes such as Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee. In 1981, Dr. Whitaker began teaching at Georgia Southern and continues to take part in the theatre community. Among his accomplishments, Dr. Whitaker has won the Emma Award for Best Director, the Seattle-area Emmy for Television Production, a CEBA Award for Radio Production, an AUDELCO Award, and he has been inducted into the Georgia Theatre Hall of Fame. This scholarship is available to students interested in studying African-American theatre.
