Musical Theatre West Receives $10,000 NEA Grant

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chairman Rocco Landesman announced today that Musical Theatre West is one of 788 not-for-profit national, regional, state, and local organizations nationwide to receive an NEA Art Works grant. Musical Theatre West is recommended for a $10,000.00 grant for the REINER READING SERIES. The 788 Art Works grants total $24.81 million and support the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence, public engagement with diverse and excellent art, lifelong learning in the arts, and the strengthening of communities through the arts. 

Launched in 2010, Musical Theatre West’s REINER READING SERIES seeks to preserve and promote American Musical Theatre by presenting semi-staged concert readings of classic and contemporary musicals that might not otherwise receive a mainstage production. These readings include lesser-known works by well-known composers, shows that may have had notoriety during their original run and have since fallen into obscurity, newer works by emerging composers, smaller “chamber-style” works that might not translate well onto the larger Musical Theatre West main stage, and other pieces from across the musical spectrum. These readings include professional actors and musicians performing the entire script and score (save some instrumental and dance sections), scripts in hand, and utilizing minimal props, costumes and staging. Under Actor’s Equity guidelines, only 29 hours may be used to rehearse and perform each reading.

Chairman Landesman said, “The arts should be a part of everyday life. Whether it’s seeing a performance, visiting a gallery, participating in an art class, or simply taking a walk around a neighborhood enhanced by public art, these grants are ensuring that across the nation, the public is able to experience how art works.” 

Michael Betts, Producer of the REINER READING SERIES, stated, “We couldn't be more thrilled to be recognized by the NEA with this grant for the Reiner Reading Series. To be able to keep the musical theater canon alive by preserving some of its lesser known or not often produced titles is a thrill, and we're so happy our audiences and the NEA have agreed about the importance of this work. In addition we get to keep the memory of one of our principal donors, Ken Reiner, alive by continuing our series. Aside from his wife, Dottie, there was no bigger aficionado of musical theater, and this series has been blessed by their support and love.” 

The NEA received 1,624 eligible applications under the Art Works category for this round of funding, requesting more than $78 million in funding. For a complete listing of projects recommended for Art Works grant support, please visit the NEA website at arts.gov.