Scholarship

The Andrée Karas Scholarship Fund

The Andrée Karas Scholarship

After dedicating nearly forty years of service to United Players of Vancouver (‘UP’), Andrée Karas retired as President and Artistic Director in October 2020. Andrée’s inspired leadership of UP, and her contribution to the theatre community in Vancouver at large, have helped to recognize and foster talent amongst young and emerging artists.

Each year, to honour her achievements, UP will award the Andrée Karas Scholarship (AKS) of $2,500.00 to a student in the Dramatic Arts in order that they may pursue studies in their chosen area of theatre. This award applies not just to acting, but to other areas of stage craft as well, including technical studies.

The granting of the scholarship award is at the sole discretion of the AKS Committee, whose decision in the matter is final.

AKS 2025
This year UP has decided to focus on the newer members of the theatre community. Only those students who are graduating high school and going into their first year of theatre studies, or first year college/university students continuing their theatre studies, may apply for the 2025 award.

ELIGIBILITY
Applicants must:
• have participated in theatre arts, in whatever capacity
• be accepted/enrolled into the first or second year of the course/program/unit for which they are applying for the scholarship
• live in the Greater Vancouver area and be a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident
• be able to produce evidence of the above, but only in the event that they are asked for interview
• supply the names and telephone numbers of two references
• be prepared to attend a short interview with the AKS Committee to put forward their case for receiving the award

APPLICATIONS
Applications may be submitted from April 1 to June 30 of the year in which their relevant course/program/unit is starting.
Applicants will be advised whether their application has been successful by July 31.
The application form is a Word document.
Click here to download the form.
Please return the completed form to the AKS Committee at: akstheatre2025@gmail.com or info@unitedplayers.com

Artistic Director Emerita: Andrée Karas

Andrée Karas has been a part of live theatre in the Lower Mainland as producer, director and actress for over 40 years. In her years as Artistic Director of United Players, she became known for her artistic abilities, her courage, tenacity and integrity. She is highly respected in the arts community and has given United Players the reputation of a unique community theatre company offering high-standard live theatre of critically acclaimed playwrights. Her philosophy of inclusion and encouragement has proved invaluable to the careers of many aspiring artists. Andrée received the Mary Phillips Award for Behind the Scenes Achievement at the 2012 Jessie Awards, and the federal government’s Hidden Hero Award in 2020.