This year the NSP Memorial Scholarship for the Performing Arts has been awarded to two graduating students ($1000 each). The recipients are:
Anna Bacchi of Andover High School and
Evelyn Gayhart ~ (Home schooler and Everett High School) Lil
Anna Bacchi of Andover High School has described her love of theatre in her application essay as a life long passion to create scripts for both theatre and movies. She will be attending University of Southern California as a Dramatic Arts major in the fall. In high school Anna was very active in the performing arts such as the Theatre Guild, Swing Dance, Vocal Swing and Show Choir. At her church she participated in the Youth Group, the Choir, and as a camp counselor. Other community activities included working as an umpire for the Andover Girls Softball League. Further accomplishments include National Honor Society and the Tri-M Music Society.
Evelyn Gayhart of Everett High School, as well as a home schooler has participated in multiple community activities for many years. In fifth grade Evelyn started a theater club at her school. Evelyn has played violin and piano since childhood and was a member of the Everett High School Orchestra. She has participated in many community theatres, including two recent plays with the North Shore Players! She also established the Evelyn's Free Library Network and also has volunteered at the Eliot Family Resource Center. Evelyn will be going to Berklee College of Music in the fall and eventually aspires to become a music therapist.
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.
See our NSP Scholarship page for more information!
The appliction process begins in January of each year when a new application is presented on this page: The next one will be posted in January 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 the following high schools :
Andover, Beverly, Danvers, Georgetown, Hamilton-Wenham Regional, Lynn Classical, Lynn English, Lynnfield, Marblehead, Masconomet, North Andover, Peabody, Salem 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 website: www.northshoreplayersma.org. 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, 2025.
The scholarship is $1000 (or more dependent on the number of applicants)
How to submit completed application [three different ways]: [Currently not available]
Option 1: Download this application, 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 this Application. 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
Option 3: [On-line fillable and submittable form]
An on-line (fillable) Google Forms application is now available. All of the requested documents will be uploadable while filling out this form. Therefore be sure to have scanned e-files of the letters of recommendation and references, along with your transcripts ready to upload when choosing this option. Your completed application will automatically go to the a Google/Forms drive when you hit “Submit” at the end of the form . You will not permitted to make further edits or uploads after you hit "Submit". You will also received an email at the email address that you specified showing you your completed form.
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.) If you prefer option 3, scroll down past the application immediately below to get there.
Options 3: [Currently not available]
For submitting the Scholarship Application when choosing Option 3 (the on-line fillable application form), open the file below when you're ready to fill it in. It is recommended that you have all the requested documents, such as Letters of Recommendation and Reference along with your transcript in e-file formats ready to upload while you're filling in the form. Be sure to prefix all of the files (file names) that you have to upload with your initials followed by a dash.
One final note: Once you start filling in the form, and fill in your email account, your work will be saved. This means that you can quit working on the form, and later return to this page, and click on this form to complete your application.
The on-line fillable form is below.
The 2025 NSP Scholarship winners will be posted on this page at the end of May 2025
The 2024 NSP Memorial Scholarship has been Awarded!
We are thrilled to announce this year's recipient of the NSP Scholarship, high school senior Lila Pasquarello from Beverly, Massachusetts. Lila has demonstrated exceptional academic excellence at Beverly High School and has an outstanding record of community service.
Since 2016, Lila has been actively involved in more than 15 student productions, taking on both participatory and leadership roles. She has also served as a student officer of the Advanced Vocal Ensemble at Beverly High School, showcasing her dedication and talent in the performing arts.
In recognition of her achievements and to support her continued education in the performing arts, Lila will be awarded a $1500 scholarship from the North Shore Players. She will be pursuing her passion at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA.
Congratulations, Lila! We at the North Shore Players are incredibly proud of you and look forward to seeing all the wonderful things you will accomplish.
Beverly High School graduating Senior Lila Pasquarello is awarded the North Shore Players Memorial Scholarship by NSP Scholarship Committe Chair & Treasurer Hal Morse at the BHS graduation commencement (May 29, 2024).
From a previous scholarship winner:
My name is Peter Zachari and 35 years ago I had the privilege of receiving the Viola J. Patten Scholarship upon graduating from Peabody High School. Just wanted to let you know that scholarship was put to good use. I obtained by BFA from Salem State and my MFA from the University of Florida. I currently reside in New York City and my newest play, The Chesapeake Chicks, that I wrote and directed premiered at Theater for the New City in New York City. The show stars Karen Lynn Gorney, who starred as the lead in the movie Saturday Night Fever and "All My Children."
I saw your postings on Facebook recently and it made me smile in remembrance of how happy I was to receive the award from you.
Many thanks,
Peter Zachari
To find out more about NSP Membership, just click the "Join Us" tab at the top of the page!
To participate in an NSP production, click the "Auditions" tab at the top of the page!
Questions? Contact the NSP at northshoreplayersma@gmail.com