Winifred Ward Award Acceptance Speech

Check out the acceptance speech Jacob gave at the AATE conference after Purple Crayon received the Winifred Ward Outstanding New Children's Theatre Company Award!

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“At an AATE workshop in 2008, members of Purple Crayon Players were asked to pretend for a moment that they were teenagers. We didn’t have to think back very far.

To be considered colleagues here is an honor in itself. To receive this award affirms one of our essential beliefs: not only can people of all ages connect with Theater for Young Audiences, people of all ages can create a brighter future for Theater for Young Audiences.

Thank you to our ardent proponents, Sandy Asher and Drew Chappell, playwrights who tell the stories of our field. Thank you to our steadfast mentors, Rives Collins and Betsy Quinn, who have inspired our story by sharing theirs. Thank you to our tireless peers collaborators (some of who are sitting right over there) past and present. Thank you AATE for validating our emerging voices.

Here’s to more songs, more stories.”

- Jacob Watson

Artistic Director (2010-2011)

Purple Crayon Players