The Grand Awards, sponsored by Fox 17 and The Grand Rapids Community Foundation, are now in their eleventh year. Modeled after the New York Tony awards, the Grand Awards are given annually in early October, celebrating and recognizing the theatrical productions and performances of the previous season in the Grand Rapids community.

Both community and college productions vie for awards in as few as 17, and as many as 24, categories which recognize artistic excellence in many forms. The practical purpose of the Grand Awards is to raise money for a theatre scholarship to further the studies of a student or young adult who has done outstanding work, in both college and community, and who intends to follow a career in theatre.

The Grand Awards first recognized 5 local theatre companies with a total of 18 awards. Calvin College was not among those first recognized for the 1996-1997 production season nor did Calvin receive any awards the following year. In 1999 the awards tide began to turn for the Calvin Theatre Company when David Leugs won a Grand Award for Scenic Design for his work on the Calvin production of The Physicists, directed by Jim Korf. In October of 2000 Calvin received 3 more Grand Awards for theatre productions from the 1999-2000 season. To date, the Calvin Theatre Company has received a total of 26 Grand Awards.

For the 11-year history of Calvin Theatre Company and the Grand Awards, click here: