Now celebrating its 16th year, The Majestic Empire Foundation is proud to present the 2024 Performing Arts Scholarship Program. This annual presentation offers numerous educational opportunities, including workshops, master classes and a preliminary audition process. We are proud to offer scholarship opportunities for students in singing, dancing, acting, technical theatre, and communications.
Now in its 12th year, The Majestic Empire Foundation’s Performing Arts Scholarship Program offers countless educational opportunities and awards more than $100,000 in scholarships to performing arts students from San Antonio and the surrounding area annually.
The scholarship program culminates in the Joci (pronounced JAW-SEE) Awards, a one-night showcase of 25 performing arts students from San Antonio and the surrounding area. Since the program’s inception in 2009, Las Casas has awarded over $1 million to deserving students who excel in the performing arts, making it the largest scholarship funding source of its kind in the United States.
Jocelyn ‘Joci’ Straus, the moving force behind the restoration of the Majestic and Charline McCombs Empire Theatres, founded Las Casas and spearheaded the effort to raise more than $10 million for the restoration of both theatres. After founding Las Casas in 1988, Straus led fundraising and restoration efforts that allowed the Majestic renovation to be completed in just 11 months. She then worked to raise the funds necessary to restore the Empire Theatre, which reopened in 1998 after being dark for 25 years.
The Majestic Empire Foundation will award at least $105,000 in scholarships in 2020.
Yes! Las Casas has made several refinements to the scholarship program so that any student who is interested in the performing arts can benefit greatly from the experience along the way. By applying, students have access to free musical theatre master classes, which assist students in repertoire selection and performance techniques. We are proud to be able to offer these opportunities so that every student gains something special from the process.
No. Applicants may only apply in one (1) category. We recommend selecting the category in which you feel strongest in competing.
25 finalists are selected to compete in the Joci Awards.
Not necessarily. The number of finalists selected from each category varies each year based on highest scores and where natural breaks in scoring occur. The number of total applicants in each category may also be taken into consideration.
No. All five categories (Vocal, Acting, Dance, Best Lead Actor in a Musical and Best Lead Actress in a Musical) of The Majestic Empire Foundation’s Performing Arts Scholarship Program are open to students in grades 9-12. Please note that Best Lead Actress and Best Lead Actor applicants must be playing a Qualifying Rolein their high school musical during the 2019-2020 school year and must have their high school production adjudicated. If you’re unsure if your high school production is scheduled to be adjudicated, please contact us.
Absolutely not. Las Casas believes in the importance of the arts no matter which career path scholarship recipients ultimately pursue. Past winners have gone on to study business, communications, pharmacy, and more!
Everything you need to know about participating in the Joci Awards Scholarship program:
Is your student applying to compete in the Jocis? Everything a guardian can do to help:
Interested in students in your drama program applying to compete in the Jocis? Everything a teacher needs to do:
Applying to compete in the Jocis? Everything you need to prepare:
Made it to the Finals? Everything you need to prepare:
Yes; each finalist will be presented with a monetary award on the evening of the Joci Awards.
No.
Yes.
Scholarships are made out to the college or university of your choice and under no circumstances to the individual applicant.
Generally late July to early August.
In addition to playing a qualifying role in an approved high school musical,students interested in applying in the Best Lead Actor and Best Lead Actress categories must have their high school production adjudicated. Students must then fill out an individual application before the deadline. If you’re unsure if your high school production has been or is scheduled to be adjudicated, please contact us.
Be sure to submit your completed application before the deadline. All students who successfully submit their application before the deadline are invited to two free workshops (dates, times, and locations TBA) and preliminary auditions. Preliminary auditions for applicants in the Best Lead Actor/Actress categories will be held at the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre; date TBA. If you’re unsure if your high school production is scheduled to be adjudicated, please contact us.
In order to compete in the Best Lead Actress/Actor categories, a student must have played a lead role in their high school musical during the 2019-2020 school year. These rules are set forth by the National High School Musical Theatre Awards (NHSMTA)/The Jimmy Awards and unfortunately, do not include home school, regional, or community theatre productions.
Although the Best Lead Actress/Actor categories are a part of the Joci Awards, they are also associated with the National High School Musical Theatre Awards (NHSMTA) or The Jimmy Awards. As a Regional Awards Program, The Majestic Empire Foundation and the Joci Awards must comply with the rules set forth by NHSMTA for these two categories.
Adjudication, preliminary audition, and Joci Awards scores are all factored into an overall score. The two finalists with the highest overall score in the Best Lead Actor and Best Lead Actress categories will advance to the Jimmy Awards in New York City. Note: Winning the category the evening of the Joci Awards does not guarantee advancement to the Jimmy Awards.
Joci Awards finalists in all five categories (Vocal, Acting, Dancing, Best Lead Actress and Best Lead Actor) are eligible for scholarship money and to be selected as the overall winner, which includes an additional prize of $10,000.
JOCI AWARDS
PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS PROGRAM
The Majestic Empire Foundation is proud to present the Joci Awards Production Assistants Program opportunity as part of its annual performing arts scholarship program and in affiliation with Joci Awards Theatrical Producer, Blanchard Creative Group.
Production Assistants serve as Behind-the-Scenes staff for the Awards Show, shadowing professionals and assisting on lighting, sound, music, choreography and stage-management for the evening of theater. They also recieve an award and scholarship. PAs are chosen through submitted written materials describing their experience and goals for work in the theater. High School age young people passionate about backstage work, directing, choreography and design are encouraged to apply.
Applications to participate in the 2024 Joci Awards are live now.
The deadline to apply for Production Assistant is March 15, 2024.
JOCI AWARDS
The Majestic Empire Foundation is proud to present the Joci Awards Student Reporter Program opportunity as part of its annual performing arts scholarship program and in affiliation with Joci Awards Theatrical Producer, Blanchard Creative Group.
The Student Reporter covers the rehearsal, build up and the Awards Show night, interviewing performers and attendees before, during and after the show. They also receive mentorship from San Antonio journalists as part of the experience as well as an award and scholarship. Student Reporters are chosen through submitted written materials describing their experience and goals for work in journalism. High School age young people passionate about journalism and particularly reporting on community and public interest are encouraged to apply.
Applications to participate in the 2024 Joci Awards are live now.
The deadline to apply for Student Reporter is March 15, 2024.
We invest in the past, present, and future of the performing arts by preserving historic theatres and nurturing young theater artists.