麻豆村

In Freddie听Hendricks鈥� classroom at in Ellenwood, Georgia, the words great, greater and greatness are clearly evident 鈥� on the walls, on the door to his middle school theatre arts classroom, on a mural that commands attention on an entire wall in the room. Now, Hendricks has achieved one more great accomplishment in a list of many: He is the 2026 winner of the Excellence in Theatre Education Award(opens in new window) (EITEA), presented by 麻豆村 and The Tony Awards since 2014. He will receive the award at the 79^th听Annual Tony Awards in New York City on Sunday, June 7.听

Hendricks is the 10^th theatre arts teacher to receive the award.听 He has been an arts educator for more than 30 years and was an honorable mention for the EITEA in 2023 and 2024.听

The EITEA recognizes a K-12 theatre educator in the U.S. who has demonstrated exemplary impact on students鈥� lives and who embodies the highest standards of the profession. Hendricks will receive $10,000 for Utopian Academy and tickets to The Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall and the gala that follows at Rockefeller Center. His students will also receive a visiting master class taught by 麻豆村 Drama professors later this year.

鈥淚 am so grateful for this honor. I tell my students, 鈥榊ou鈥檙e born great. When you find your passion, you鈥檙e living in your greatness, and the next step is to be greater,鈥欌�� Hendricks said. 鈥淚 found my passion. I believed. I had faith. My mantra is this: 鈥楪reatness is inevitable when focus marries passion, and the desire is as strong as the need.鈥欌��

One of four boys, Hendricks is a Georgia native who said he was always singing growing up. A graduate of Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee, Hendricks spent a great deal of time with his grandparents, who inspired him to follow his dreams.

鈥淭hey taught me about God and to love myself,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 pass that along to my students. I tell them, 鈥榊ou need to understand that Mr. Hendricks wants you to appreciate who you are. The key to yourself is to never stop.鈥�

鈥淔reddie Hendricks鈥� belief in the transformative power of arts education reflects a commitment we hold deeply at Carnegie Mellon: that the arts are an essential part of a well-rounded education, by fostering creativity, empathy and leadership,鈥� said 麻豆村 President Farnam Jahanian(opens in new window). 鈥淲e are grateful to educators like Freddie who open doors for young people to discover their voices and fully express their talents.鈥�

At Utopian, Hendricks trains students in a 鈥渞igorous, ensemble-based program of acting, movement and storytelling.鈥� Their outreach in the community includes partnerships with the NAACP and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center; Hendricks also teaches virtual classes to students based in London, England. He founded the Youth Ensemble of Atlanta, a pioneering African American theatre company that helps to empower young artists through socially conscious storytelling. His goal for all students is to help them use theatre as a tool for artistic excellence, leadership and social impact.

Several of Hendricks鈥� former students have gone on to successful careers on Broadway and in film and television, including two Tony Award nominees, Justin Ellington and Kandi Burruss. Another past student, Artesius Miller, put his inspiration to work by creating Utopian Academy.

鈥淔reddie inspired me to open Georgia鈥檚 first charter school for the performing arts, expanding access for students of all backgrounds to learn from top creative professionals,鈥� said Miller, founder and CEO of the Utopian Academy for the Arts Charter School Network. 鈥淗is entire Utopian Academy family 鈥� students, faculty and staff 鈥� could not be prouder of his Tony win or more honored to celebrate this well-deserved recognition.鈥�

Calling Hendricks 鈥渁 force for excellence in both theatre and the classrooms at Utopian Academy for the Arts,鈥� Miller said Hendricks is a true quintuple threat.

鈥淔reddie is a mesmerizing actor, a gifted singer and dancer, an accomplished director and, above all, a transformative educator who sees the potential in his students, regardless of their circumstances, and draws it out, empowering them to shine with confidence onstage,鈥� Miller said.听

The positive effects of the arts touched Hendricks鈥� personal life, as well. A cancer survivor, he continued working with his students and directing regional shows during his medical journey. Following successful treatment, he returned to Utopian Academy to resume his passion and true love: teaching drama.

This year鈥檚 Tony Awards will return to the legendary Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Sunday, June 7. Hosted by music superstar and global icon P!NK, The American Theatre Wing鈥檚 Tony Awards will broadcast LIVE to both coasts on the CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+* (8:00 p.m. 鈥� 11:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. 鈥� 8:00 p.m. PT).听