NSP Scholarship - 2026

January 7, 2026

To: Fine Arts/Guidance Departments  

The North Shore Players, a Danvers-based community theatre company, announces its annual memorial scholarship award. The scholarship was originally established to honor the memory of Viola J. Patten, a multi-talented member of the North Shore Players, and was changed in 1994 to include the departed and beloved founding members, Barbara Hannon and Polly Jenkins.  This scholarship will be granted to a graduating senior who plans to major in the performing arts (theatre, music, dance) and is currently attending one of the following high schools :

Andover, Beverly, Danvers, Everett, Georgetown, Hamilton-Wenham Regional, Lynn Classical, Lynn English, Lynnfield, Malden, Marblehead, Masconomet, Medford, Melrose, North Andover, Peabody, Revere, Salem, Saugus and Swampscott High School.

 We are also accepting applications from home-schooled students from the communities represented above. However, if the applicant has been a member of the North Shore Players or a parent of the applicant has been a member of the North Shore Players for at least the past 2 years, then the applicant may be a senior at an accredited high school.

The North Shore Players Memorial Scholarship for the Performing Arts committee will accept up to three applications per school.  If, in the discretion of the committee, there is no appropriate candidate, it reserves the right to hold the scholarship over until the following year.

Scholarship applications can be downloaded  from this web page (see below).  All applicants must meet the criteria as outlined in the scholarship application. Applications must be accompanied by:

1. A letter of reference from a school teacher, administrator, adviser, etc.

2. A letter of recommendation from someone outside of the school.

3. A copy of high school transcript.

4. An essay on the choice of major, including the reason for the choice.

The deadline for filing the application is April 15, 2026. 

The scholarship is $1000 (or more dependent on the number of applicants)

How to submit completed application and associated documents: 

Option 1:

 Download the application below, print it out, and fill it in by hand.  Then mail it along with copies of the other above requested documents to: 

The North Shore Players Memorial Scholarship Committee c/o Hal Morse, 14A Berry St. Danvers, MA 01923

Option 2:

Download the application below.  Fill it out by hand, scan it, and then email it along with the other requested documents (as e-files) to NSP’s email address:  northshoreplayersma@gmail.com

Options 1 or 2:

For submitting the Scholarship Application when choosing Option 1 or 2  open the file below for downloading.    (To open, just click on it, then enlarge it with the up arrow.)  

Last year the 2025 NSP Memorial Scholarship for the Performing Arts awards went to: 

Anna Bacchi of Andover High School  and

Evelyn Gayhart ~ (Home schooler and Everett High School) Lil

Support our North Shore Players Memorial Scholarship  

Donate here: https://www.zeffy.com/donation-form/nsp-memorial-scholarship-for-the-performing-arts--2025 

The North Shore Players Memorial Scholarship was established in the 1980s in memory of Viola Patten.  Later the names of other very special founding members of the group from 1957 were added. Those founding member were Barbara Hannon and Polly Jenkins.  

The NSP Memorial Scholarship has been helping college students work toward their dream of working in the performing arts for over 35 years.  

Help us continue this support of the performing arts education.