Theodore S. Chapin News

Matthew Grills, tenor, of Rochester, N.Y, won the $15,000 First Prize in the finals of the 2012 Lotte Lenya Competition, held on April 21, 2012, at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester. In a close contest, Justin Hopkins, bass-baritone of Philadelphia, and Jacob Keith Watson, tenor of Wynne, Ark., tied for Second Prizes of $10,000, and Megan Marino, mezzo-soprano of Malvern, Penn., was awarded the Third Prize of $7,500.

The 2012 Commemorative Tony Program will be distributed to the guests at the Beacon Theatre and for the first time, more than 25,000 copies will be made available to Broadway fans outside of the theatre.

The Tony Awards® Administration Committee has announced this year's recipient for the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre. This year's award will be presented to producer Emanuel "Manny" Azenberg. The Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre will be presented at the 2012 Tony Awards on Sunday, June 10th. The Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.

The American Theatre Wing (Theodore S. Chapin, Chairman, Board of Trustees; Heather Hitchens, Executive Director) is now accepting applications for the 2012 SpringboardNYC summer program, being held June 5 - 16 in New York City. Limited to 35 participants, SpringboardNYC provides financial aid and multiple scholarship programs to students who qualify.

Twelve exceptionally talented young singer-actors have made it through two rounds of auditions for the 2012 Lotte Lenya Competition and will compete for top prizes of $15,000, $10,000 and $7,500 in the finals, to be held on April 21, 2012, at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. Three-time Tony Award nominee Rebecca Luker, Broadway and Encores! music director Rob Berman, and Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization President and American Theater Wing Chairman of the Board Theodore S. Chapin will serve as judges.

The American Theatre Wing announced today that the recipients of the 2012 Jonathan Larson® Grant are Julianne Wick Davis (Composer) and Dan Collins (Book, Lyrics) for their work on Southern Comfort. The prestigious grant, totaling $10,000, will be presented on Tuesday, March 27 at a private event in New York City. The event will feature special performances from Southern Comfort.

James William Productions and Stephenie Skyllas will present Kurt Peterson and Victoria Mallory in When Everything Was Possible, A Concert (with comments), for one night only, Sunday April 29th (7:30pm) at New York City Center (131 West 55th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues), as a benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. They will be joined by a thirteen-piece band (Michael Rafter, Music Director), playing new orchestrations by Tony Award winner Jonathan Tunick. Larry Moss directs, with musical staging by Joshua Bergasse ("Smash"). Carolyn Wong will provide lighting design, with sound design by Leon Rothenberg and projection design by Telegraphicmedia.

Glenn Weiss and the directing team of the 65th Annual Tony Awards, have been honored with a Directors Guild award in the category of Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety. This is Mr. Weiss' eighth DGA nomination and third win. He won the Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety in 2010 for the 64th Annual Tony Awards and in 2007 for The 61st Annual Tony Awards; and was previously nominated in this category in, 2008, 2006, 2005, 2002 and 2001 for the 62nd, 60th, 59th, 56th and 55th Annual Tony Awards.

James William Productions and Stephenie Skyllas will present Kurt Peterson and Victoria Mallory in When Everything Was Possible, A Concert (with comments), for one night only, Sunday April 29th (7:30pm) at New York City Center (131 West 55th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues), as a benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. They will be joined by a thirteen-piece band (Michael Rafter, Music Director), playing new orchestrations by Tony Award winner Jonathan Tunick. Larry Moss directs, with musical staging by Joshua Bergasse ("Smash"). Carolyn Wong will provide lighting design, with sound design by Leon Rothenberg and projection design by Telegraphicmedia.

The American Theatre Wing (Theodore S. Chapin, Chairman, Board of Trustees; Heather Hitchens, Executive Director) has relaunched its popular podcast series, Downstage Center, with an all new format.

The American Theatre Wing (Theodore S. Chapin, Chairman, Board of Trustees; Heather Hitchens, Executive Director) has relaunched its popular podcast series, Downstage Center, with an all new format.

The American Theatre Wing (Theodore S. Chapin, Chairman, Board of Trustees; Heather Hitchens, Executive Director) continues the 2011 season of its legendary, long running, and newly revamped television show, 'Working in the Theatre,' with an all new episode on 'The State of Theatre: Institutions and Producers.'

The American Theatre Wing (Theodore S. Chapin, Chairman, Board of Trustees; Heather Hitchens, Executive Director) launched a revamped version of its legendary and long running television show, 'Working in the Theatre,' reflecting exciting changes to its look, feel, and format.

The American Theatre Wing has announced the recipients of its 2011 National Theatre Company Grants. This year's recipients are: Buntport Theater Company (Denver, CO), FUSION (Albuquerque, NM), Mo'olelo Performing Arts Company (San Diego, CA), Pig Iron Theatre Company (Philadephia, PA), Rude Mechanicals (Austin, TX), Synchronicity Theatre (Atlanta, GA), TheatreSquared (Fayetteville, AR), TimeLine Theatre (Chicago, IL), Transport Group (New York, NY), Watts Village Theater Company (Los Angeles, CA). The companies will be celebrated at a private luncheon on October 24th, 2011 in Manhattan.

The American Theatre Wing raised more than $550,000 at their annual Gala last night. All of the proceeds will go towards The Wing's education and outreach programs. The event was held at New York's legendary Plaza Hotel in honor of Sir Howard Stringer (Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Sony Corporation and longtime American Theatre Wing Board Member), and included a special tribute to Douglas B. Leeds (Former President and dear friend of The Wing).

The American Theatre Wing (Theodore S. Chapin, Chairman of the Board of Directors; Heather Hitchens, Executive Director) raised more than $550,000 at their annual Gala last night. All of the proceeds will go towards The Wing's education and outreach programs. The event was held at New York's legendary Plaza Hotel in honor of Sir Howard Stringer (Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Sony Corporation and longtime American Theatre Wing Board Member), and included a special tribute to Douglas B. Leeds (Former President and dear friend of The Wing).

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and an all-star line-up of performers, including Angela Lansbury, James Naughton, Kelli O'Hara, Elaine Paige, Colin Donnell, Marilu Henner, Gala Co-Chairmen Theodore S. Chapin & Marva A. Smalls and more honored Sir Howard Stringer with the American Theatre Wing last night, September 26. Celebrity guests included Samuel L. Jackson & LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Judith Light, Lucie Arnaz, Nora Ephron & Nick Pileggi, Jane & Morley Safer, Jim Dale, William Ivey Long, Susan Fales-Hill, Mario Buatta, Ted Hartley & Dina Merrill, Melissa & Chappy Morris and Susan Patricoff. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the event and brings you photo coverage below!

The American Theatre Wing (Theodore S. Chapin, Chairman, Board of Trustees; Heather Hitchens, Executive Director) has announced that its annual Gala will be held on Monday, September 26 at 6:30 PM at The Plaza Hotel (Fifth Avenue at Central Park South) and will honor Sir Howard Stringer, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Sony Corporation and longtime American Theatre Wing Board Member.