Gary Edwin Robison: A Dream Come True

 A dream came true for high school Theater teacher Gary Edwin Robinson on the night of June 8, 2025. During the 78th Annual Tony Awards, hosted at Radio City Music Hall, Gary was presented with the 2025 Excellence in Theater Education Award. The Excellence in Theater Education Award was established in 2015 with the promise to recognize a K-12 teacher in the US for their exemplary work. It highlights an educator who consistently radiates positivity to their students and shows commitment to the excellence of the art. The award comes with a physical presentation for Gary, but a $10,000 donation for his arts program, too! Additionally, Gary's students are given a specially designed master class to heighten their creativity to new levels. 

Gary is now the 10th annual recipient of this award. Gary is a Teacher and Chair of the Theater Arts Program at the Boys and Girls High School in Brooklyn, NYC, so being granted this award close to home allowed all the feels to flourish. If being the first from within the surrounding area of NYC couldn’t be enough, Gary is also the first recipient from the Empire State, or the “theater capital” of the world. 

Gary is committed to elevating his teachings to the most pristine level. During the school year, Gary teaches five classes daily and leads a 3-year program dedicated to his students to explore acting, playwriting, directing, producing, and more. While many of Gary's students continue to indulge themselves in careers in the field of acting, Gary holds the ideal that acting plays a role in their lives, no matter the future career they pursue. In an interview with the New York Post, Gary says, “‘Theater really can help you in any walk of life. And I say, ‘I am that bridge to help you get to where you want to be in your career path.'”

 Gary’s commitment to the art, his students, and the overall character development through the community showed the whole world that night why he was the flawless choice for this honor. (Written on June 15, 2025)