New Episode Of Working In Theater W/ Larson Grants Airs 3/29

The American Theatre Wing has announced its newest episode of its popular "Working in the Theater" series, titled "New Writers, New Musicals: The 2009 Jonathan Larson Grants." The episode features 2009 Jonathan Larson Grants recipients Mark Allen, Dave Malloy, Thomas Mizer and Curtis Moore. The program, moderated by American Theater Wing Chairman Ted Chapin, will air on CUNY Television beginning Sunday, March 29 at 5:00 p.m., with additional airings Friday, April 3 and Saturday, April 4. It will also be available for viewing and for download as a podcast at americantheatrewing.org beginning Wednesday, April 1.

In "New Writers, New Musicals: The 2009 Jonathan Larson Grants," guests Mark Allen, Dave Malloy, Thomas Mizer and Curtis Moore will tell viewers what these grants and others mean to them and their work; how they became involved in musical theatre; the programs and workshops that helped their work move forward; what parameters they work within when writing for musical theatre; how much license they give to others to interpret their work; what they do to sustain themselves financially while pursuing their musical passion; dealing with the business aspects of writing and composing; and what Broadway represents for them.

Given annually to honor emerging composers, lyricists and book writers, The American Theatre Wing's Jonathan Larson Grants help to continue Tony Award-winning composer Jonathan Larson's dream of infusing musical theatre with a contemporary, joyful, urban vitality. The 2009 recipients are as follows: Mark Allen, Dave Malloy, songwriting team Thomas Mizer and Curtis Moore, and Ryan Scott Oliver. The grants, totaling $10,000, were presented at an invitation-only event on March 17th in New York City where musical numbers by the 2008 and 2009 recipients were performed.

An acclaimed fixture on New York television and in the theatre community for 30 years, the American Theatre Wing's "Working in the Theatre" offers an unprecedented forum for the meeting of theatrical minds. Bringing together performers, directors, playwrights, designers, choreographers, producers and behind-the-scenes personnel from the American and international theatre, the program offers a rare opportunity for students and audiences to see the people who create theatre engaged in thoughtful conversation with one another. With more than 600 past guests, "Working in the Theatre" has become an unequalled archive of theatrical talk, a chance to hear from the people behind the characters, stories and productions that draw us to the theatre.

 

The American Theatre Wing (Theodore S. Chapin, Chairman of the Board of Directors; Howard Sherman, Executive Director) is best known as the creator of the Antoinette Perry "Tony" Awards®, which it presents annually with The Broadway League. In addition to "Working in the Theatre," the Wing's other activities, all dedicated to recognizing excellence and supporting education in theatre, include "Guides to Careers in the Theatre," a video series developed for schools and libraries; a grants and scholarship program to New York City schools and not-for-profit theatre companies, which has awarded nearly $3 million since its inception; the Theatre Intern Group, a career development program for young professionals; and SpringboardNYC, a two-week college-to-career boot camp for young performers moving to NYC. Visitors to www.americantheatrewing.org can view or download an archive of "Working in the Theatre" and the career guides and listen to archive episodes of the hour-long interview series "Downstage Center," all as free, on-demand streaming audio and podcast.

For additional information about "Working in the Theater" and all American Theatre Wing programs, go to americantheatrewing.org.