Photo Coverage: Julia Gytri, Avi Amon, Emily Gardner Xu Hall, Andy Roninson ane Ben Wexler Receive 2019 Jonathan Larson Grants

Just yesterday, the American Theatre Wing presented the 2019 Jonathan Larson Grants to Julia Gytri & Avi Amon (book, music and lyrics), Emily Gardner Xu Hall (book, music and lyrics), Andy Roninson (music and lyrics), and Ben Wexler (music and lyrics). Four prestigious grants of $10,000 each, as well as additional support in the form of residencies, concerts, and recording grants, totaling over $50,000, were presented at a private event at the WNYC Greene Space.

This year's recipients were selected by an expert panel consisting of Music Director/Arranger/Composer Annastasia Victory (Once On This Island, Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope), Music Director/Arranger/Writer Jason Michael Webb (Choir Boy,The Color Purple) and Producer Alia Jones-Harvey (Ain't Too Proud - The Life And Times Of The Temptations, American Son).

The Jonathan Larson 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. 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 artists' creative endeavors.

The American Theatre Wing is dedicated to offering Jonathan Larson Grant recipients additional industry resources to advance their work.

Past recipients of the Larson Grants include Benj Pasek & Justin Paul (Dear Evan Hansen, The Greatest Showman), Dave Malloy (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812), Amanda Green (Hands on a Hardbody), Tom Kitt & Brian Yorkey (Next to Normal), Joe Iconis (Be More Chill), Matt Gould (Witness Uganda), Michael Korie (War Paint, Grey Gardens), Shaina Taub (Twelfth Night), Max Vernon (KPOP, The View UpStairs), and Michael R. Jackson (A Strange Loop).