Roger Spivy was born on Broadway in Enid, Oklahoma and it proved to be prophetic, for he was truly a showman in every sense of the word. After playing George M. Cohan at Arlington High School, he was hired to perform at Seven Seas Amusement Park, as well as Cedar point in Michigan, doing six shows a day. He worked with John Davidson, Bob Hope and Richard Thomas in the Miss Teenage America Pageant and choreographed the Miss USA and Miss Universe Pageants.
As a performer, he shared the stage with (and went on several times for) Gregory Hines in Sophisticated Ladies in the U.S., Paris, Tokyo and Russia. In New York, he danced in 42nd Street and Me and My Girl. Las Vegas found him with Ann-Margaret and Doug Henning, and he was Stage Manager, and later, General Manager of Dance Theatre of Harlem.
For ten years, he was General Manager of New York Harlem Productions, touring operas such as Porgy and Bess through Europe and the Orient. Roger never stopped teaching and encouraging young people.
In his memory, those who loved and cherished Roger honor his commitment to the theatre and young performers with the Roger Spivy Award. This $150 scholarship and medal is awarded to an outstanding soloist.
2005 — Shawn Lawson
2006 — Morgan Morrow
2007 — Kathryn Clark
2008 — Brittany Bean
2009 — Meagan Ward
2010 — Rachel Page
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