WPCNR STAGE DOOR. From Westco Productions. June 18, 2009: A White Plains High School senior and a senior from Port Chester High School are recipients of the 2009 Sonny Katz Scholarship Awards from the White Plains-based non-profit theater company, Westco Productions. The awards are from a scholarship fund named in honor of the late Seymour “Sonny” Katz, who had been a founding member of Westco’s Board of Directors. “Sonny” was best known as the White Plains City Marshall for more than 35 years.
Zach Sorrow, White Plains High School
Sergio Marroquin of Port Chester High
Recipients of this year’s scholarship awards of $1,000 each are Zach Sorrow, age 18, of White Plains and Sergio Marroquin, age 17, of Port Chester.
The Sonny Katz Scholarship Fund was established in 2006 by Westco to benefit students who will be studying the performing arts in college. Westco is celebrating its 30th season of providing quality entertainment for children and adults.
The Scholarships are given in honor of Seymour "Sonny" Katz a native of Port Chester, graduate of Port Chester High School, who lived and worked in White Plains for more than 50 years. He passed away in 2008 at age 86.
Zach Sorrow, a graduating White Plains High School senior, will be attending Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, to major in theatre. Zach has been in almost every school musical since sixth grade. He has studied voice for the past three years, and last year, attended a summer acting conservatory with the New York State Summer School of the Arts. He was selected to represent White Plains High School in the NYSSMA All-State Mixed Chorus last December.
Zach assistant-directed the high school’s production of The Laramie Project, was on the Varsity Swim Team, and has been actively involved with student government since 9th grade. He has accumulated over 300 hours of community service, primarily through the Midnight Run, a non-profit organization that provides aid to the homeless/poor in Manhattan.
Sergio Marroquin, who is graduating from Port Chester High School, is planning to attend Westchester Community College in the fall of 2009. He intends to major in theater. Sergio’s performing career began in the 5th grade, when he starred as Hamlet in a school production of the Shakespeare play.
Shows he has done since include Cabaret, Godspell, Little Shop of Horrors, Grease, and Seussical. Sergio is proficient at creating music using computer software, and hopes to minor in some aspect of music in college. He also plans to explore possibilities of becoming a drama teacher so he can introduce young people to the performing arts.
This year’s scholarship awards breakfast will be held on June 28, 2009, at Westco’s rehearsal studio in the ArtsWestchester building, 31 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains.
