Julianne Wick Davis, Dan Collins Awarded 2012 Jonathan Larson Grant

The American Theatre Wing announced today that the recipients of the 2012 Jonathan Larson® Grant are Julianne Wick Davis (Composer) and Dan Collins (Book, Lyrics) for their work on Southern Comfort. The prestigious grant, totaling $10,000, will be presented on Tuesday, March 27 at a private event in New York City. The event will feature special performances from Southern Comfort.

The grants, given annually to honor emerging composers, lyricists and book writers, help to continue Tony Award®-winning composer Jonathan Larson’s dream of infusing musical theatre with a contemporary, joyful, urban vitality. This year’s recipients were selected by Mark Hollmann (Urinetown) and Robert Lopez (The Book of Mormon).

Dedicated to celebrating excellence and supporting theatre, the American Theatre Wing awards the Larson Grants to artists to recognize and showcase their work with no strings attached - except to put it to the best use possible to help further the artist's creative endeavors.

Past recipients of the Larson Grants include Tom Kitt & Brian Yorkey (Next to Normal), Chad Beguelin & Matthew Sklar (The Wedding Singer), John Bucchino (A Catered Affair), Laurence O’Keefe (Bat Boy: The Musical), and Michael Korie (Grey Gardens).

The American Theatre Wing (Theodore S. Chapin, Chairman, Board of Directors; Heather Hitchens, Executive Director) is a not-for-profit organization best known as the creator of the Antoinette Perry “Tony” Awards®, which it presents annually with The Broadway League. In addition to “Downstage Center,” “Working in the Theatre” and a host of other online resources, The Wing sponsors many activities, all dedicated to recognizing excellence and supporting education in theatre. Visitors to americantheatrewing.org can listen to, watch or download from ATW’s extensive media collection, and learn more about all of its programming for students, aspiring and working professionals, and audiences who want to learn more about the making of theatre. Follow ATW on Facebook.com/TheAmericanTheatreWing and Twitter.com/TheWing.