CTFA’s Orlin Corey Medallion Award - History
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-The Award is juried by the Trustees of the Childrens Theatre Foundation and prominent representatives from the TYA community. Beginning in 2021, CTFA is also accepting nominations from the TYA community.
-Awards are presented annually at a celebratory event, held in various cities and/or virtually, online.
-The Medallion Event is an annual gathering of notables in the field of theatre for young audiences and students honoring the Medallion Award recipients.
-Recently, the event has partnered with the national conferences of AATE (American Alliance for Theatre & Education) and TYA/USA National Festival and Conference, in alternating years.
-In honor of thirty-four years of service and leadership on the board of the Children's Theatre Foundation, in 2010, the Medallion Award was renamed the Orlin Corey Medallion Award.
HISTORY of Past Recipients list is a who's who of luminaries, artists, educators, entertainers, organizations, who have focused their work on the child and youth audience.
ORLIN COREY – an Oklahoman and WWII Navy veteran – was educated at Baylor University, studying with Paul Baker, receiving two degrees. For a year he studied at London’s Central School of Speech and Drama, working with Gwynneth Thurburn.
For fifteen years he produced theatre at Georgetown College in Kentucky, and Centenary College in Louisiana. A highly individual artist, of distinctive style, his productions won large audiences and critical praise.
In 1957, his production of The Book of Job led him to form the Everyman Players after its sensational success at the Brussels World Fair and a tour of England. Other classics – Electra, The Tempest, Reynard the Fox, among 10 – kept the Players alive – 5 off-Broadway productions, 7 in London, and around the world from Capetown in South Africa to South America, Europe, Canada and the U.S.A. till 1980.
In 1974, he became publisher of Anchorage Press, and president of the Children’s Theatre Foundation.
In honor of thirty-four years of service and leadership on the board of the Children's Theatre Foundation, in 2010, the award was renamed the CTFA Corey Medallion Award. Orlin Corey served as a Trustee Emeritus and presented the awards to the recipients each year through 2015.
Orlin Russel Corey 1926-2015 Our friend and colleague, Orlin R. Corey, passed away, peacefully, Sunday morning, October 11, 2015. CTFA’s Orlin Corey Medallion Award is named in his honor.
Read A Tribute to Orlin Corey from CTFA President, Roger Bedard