Broadcast Music Inc Announces the Launch of The George Bailey Fund

Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), the global leader in music rights management, and the Dramatist Guild Fund (DGF) are pleased to announce the launch of The George Bailey Fund designed to benefit the participants of the esteemed BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop. The fund will provide first and second-year workshop members with financial assistance for unforeseen expenses that go beyond the normal day-to-day cost of living that would hinder the pursuit their craft.

The name of the fund was inspired by a scene in It's A Wonderful Life, which stems from an assignment given during the workshop. In the scene, George Bailey gives his friends and neighbors what they need to tide them over financially, which is exactly what the donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, hopes the fund will achieve. As someone who has participated in the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop, the donor has seen firsthand how unexpected expenses can interfere with the creative process.

Grants of up to $500 per person will be awarded during each workshop term, September through August. Applications will be accepted starting today by going to dgfund.org/grants and will be managed by the Dramatists Guild Fund (DGF). Patrick Cook, BMI's Director of Jazz & Musical Theatre, who also directs the workshop, will determine the eligibility for grants along with workshop administrator, Frederick Freyer. All applicants' personal information will be kept strictly confidential.

"We are extremely thankful for the donor's generosity in helping our musical theater writers," said Cook. "Seeing firsthand the amazing work that has come out of the workshop, I know this fund will provide our lyricists and composers with the financial support needed to foster creativity and enrich the stage for generations to come."

"We have been committed to this kind of outreach and support for the past 55 years, and we are so pleased to be able to join with BMI to offer these important grants," notes Rachel Routh, Executive Director of DGF. "For aspiring writers early in their career, these unexpected financial challenges can completely derail their plans and stall their progress. These grants will help prevent that and get them back on their feet."

Following this announcement, the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop Showcase will be taking place on Monday, May 1st at The Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater in New York City. This showcase will feature performances of the newly developed pieces from the workshop's top members. All works are currently in development for on and off-Broadway and demonstrate the vast talent that springs from this prestigious workshop. The show is FREE and open to the public with doors at 4 PM and show begins at 4:30 PM.

BMI's Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop has helped develop top talent for half a century. Lyricists and composers behind award-winning productions such as A Chorus Line, Little Shop of Horrors, Nine, Once on This Island, Ragtime, Avenue Q, Next to Normal, and The Book of Mormon are past members of the workshop as well as steering committee members like legendary talents Alan Menken, Frederick Freyer, Nancy Golladay, Adam Mathias, Jane Smulyan, Sarah Wordsworth, Maury Yeston and David Spencer.

For more information on the workshop and its history, visit www.bmi.com/theatre_workshop.

Celebrating over 76 years of service to songwriters, composers, music publishers and businesses, Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) is a global leader in music rights management, serving as an advocate for the value of music. BMI represents the public performance rights in nearly 12 million musical works created and owned by more than 750,000 songwriters, composers, and music publishers. The Company negotiates music license agreements and distributes the fees it generates as royalties to its affiliated writers and publishers when their songs are performed in public. In 1939, BMI created a groundbreaking open-door policy becoming the only performing rights organization to welcome and represent the creators of blues, jazz, country, and American roots music. Today, the musical compositions in BMI's repertoire, from chart toppers to perennial favorites, span all genres of music and are consistently among the most-performed hits of the year. For additional information and the latest BMI news, visit www.bmi.com, follow us on Twitter @BMI or stay connected through Broadcast Music, Inc.'s Facebook page. Sign up for BMI's The Weekly and receive our e-newsletter every Monday to stay up to date on all things music.

The Dramatists Guild Fund (DGF) fuels the future of the American Theater by supporting those who create it. DGF supports writers at all stages of their careers through educational programming, development opportunities, space to create new works, and emergency aid to writers in need. www.dgfund.org