Signature Gets 300K Grant for Developing New Musicals

Signature Theatre's Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer announced a $300,000, multi-year grant from The Shen Family Foundation for The Next Generation, a program to help emerging composers create new works for musical theater.  An expansion of Signature's American Musical Voices Project, this program will award three commissions in 2008: composers Matt Conner, Adam Gwon, and Gabriel Kahane will each receive a $25,000 commission to write new musicals for Signature Theatre.  The Theatre is also awarding honorees Peter Foley and Marisa Michelson $5,000 grants for the development of their musical ideas in preparation for three additional $25,000 Next Generation commissions to be given in May 2009.

The program also includes a performance component for the new works. The Next Generation commissioned artists will take part in Signature Theatre's new summer performance initiative entitled the "21/24 Signature Lab."  Beginning in July 2009, each commissioned musical will have a three-week rehearsal period and two performances. "21/24" will also feature a cabaret performance highlighting the composers of The Next Generation.

"We're grateful for the continuing support of The Shen Family Foundation toward our new American musical theater initiative.  It's an exciting time at Signature Theatre as we provide opportunities for up-and-coming composers to develop and present their new works," stated Eric Schaeffer.  "The Next Generation grants will help pave the way for the future writers of the theater.  Each of these writers has a unique voice and I am thrilled not only to give them the opportunity to write these new musicals but also to present them over the coming years."

Ted and Mary Jo Shen, executive directors of The Shen Family Foundation, released the following statement: "We are very excited about broadening our commissioning collaboration with Signature Theatre to include emerging composers who write with exceptional originality and high artistic aspiration.  Eric Schaeffer and his colleagues make ideal partners for us because of their longstanding commitment to excellence and innovation in the musical theater works they produce."

The American Musical Voices Project began in May 2006.  At that time Musical Theater Composer Grants presented to Ricky Ian Gordon,Michael John LaChiusa, and Joseph Thalken awarded each composer $25,000 a year plus health coverage for four years.  Each of those grants was accompanied by a commission to create a new full-length musical that would be produced at Signature Theatre during its 2009-2011 seasons.  In addition, Musical Theater Leadership Awards were made to four individuals in recognition of their extraordinary influence on and contribution to the advancement of new musical theater. Those recipients were orchestrator Bruce Coughlin, composer Adam Guettel, singer/actress Audra McDonald, and director/musical director/orchestrator Ted Sperling. Each Leadership Award was presented in conjunction with a one-time grant in the amount of $25,000 to support the artist's continued contributions to musical theater.

To experience the music of Signature's Next Generation composers and get further information, please visit the continually developing microsite signature-theatre.org/american_voices_next_gen.htm.

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