Frankel, Lowdermilk Among NAMT Grant Recipients

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) and Executive Director Kathy Evans announced the grant recipients for the 2007 Producer-Writer Initiative (PWI) this past Monday at NAMT's annual Spring Member Conference in Orlando, FL.

The Producer -Writer Initiative is a program which awards five grants to NAMT Member theaters, who apply on behalf of their organization and a musical theatre writing team with whom the members wish to work.  The goal of the Producer -Writer Initiative is to build relationships between writers and producers working on the development of new musicals throughout the U.S and to foster the development of new work.

Each theatre will receive funding for a writing team's residency, supporting housing and travel costs and an artist stipend for the writing team.  Selected by lottery, the recipients are:
 

·         The Human Race Theatre Company (OH)

Funded by The Gilman & Gonzalez-Falla Theater Foundation Fellowship

Project:             Makeover

Writers:            Kim Sherman and Darrah Cloud
 

·         Lark Play Development Center (NY)

Funded by NAMT's New Works Fund

Project:            A Wonder in My Soul

Writers:            Marcus Gardley and Scott Frankel

·         SpeakEasy Stage Company (MA)

Funded by The ASCAP Foundation Irving Caesar Fund

Project:            The Woman Upstairs

Writers:            Kait Kerrigan and Brian Lowdermilk

·         The Spirit of Broadway Theater (CT)

Funded by the Jamie DeRoy & friends Fellowship

Project:            The Enchanted Cottage

Writers:            Kim Oler, Alison Hubbard & Thomas Edward

·         Theatre Under the Stars (TX)

Funded by NAMT's New Works Fund

Project:            Bingo Long

Writers:            Michael Bobbitt & John L Cornelius III

The residencies will take place between May 1, 2007 and April 30, 2008. 

Founded in 1985 and based in New York City, The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT), is the only national service organization dedicated exclusively to musical theatre.  NAMT membership includes not-for-profit and commercial theatres, presenting houses, universities, and independent producers.  Located throughout 33 states and 6 countries, the 144 member organizations share a commitment to nurture the creation, production, and recognition of new musicals and classics.  Last season, NAMT members cumulatively staged over 23,000 performances attended by over 17 million people and reached revenues of over $510 million.  NAMT has presented its annual Festival of New Musicals since 1989.  The Festival brings together leading theatre producers and writers, with the goal of furthering the development and production of new musicals.  For more information, visit www.namt.org.