National Endowment for the Arts Announces Grant to TheatreWorks

Rocco Landesman, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, today announced that TheatreWorks has been approved for a grant of $25,000 to support the New Works Initiative, a unique program that fosters the development of new plays and musicals and incorporates all stages of the development process from readings and workshops to full productions of world premieres. TheatreWorks is one of 1,057 not-for-profit organizations recommended for a grant as part of the federal agency's first round of fiscal year 2011 grants. In total, the Arts Endowment will distribute $26.68 million to support projects nationwide.

An independent agency of the federal government, the National Endowment for the Arts advances artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities. NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman said, "I continue to be impressed with the creative, innovative, and excellent projects brought forward by arts organizations across the country. Our grantees are not only furthering their art forms but also enhancing their neighborhoods by making them more vibrant, livable, and fun."

TheatreWorks Director of New Works Meredith McDonough is thrilled by the award. "We are honored that the NEA counts TheatreWorks among the best professional theatre companies in the country. Their long-time support has allowed our New Works Initiative to really flourish, giving us the freedom to develop new work at every stage, and because of that support, a project like the musical Memphis starts in our New Works Festival and ends up winning four Tony Awards on Broadway."

TheatreWorks embraced the entrepreneurial values of its home in Silicon Valley and codified its commitment to new works by launching the New Works Initiative in 2000. The program incorporates all stages of the development process from readings and workshops to an annual Writer's Retreat, annual New Works Festival, and full productions of world premieres. Through the New Works Initiative, TheatreWorks has grown from a theatre with an idea for a unique developmental program to a major player on the national scene in developing and producing world premieres. To date the New Works Initiative has introduced over 85 new works to the American theatre repertoire, and helped TheatreWorks establish long-term relationships with over 90 playwrights, lyricists, and composers both locally and nationwide. New Works Initiative activities for the 2010/11 season include three World Premiere productions, two Writers Retreats, and a New Works Festival in August 2011.

Founded in 1970 by current artistic director Robert Kelley, TheatreWorks has distinguished itself both locally and nationally. TheatreWorks is the largest professional theatre company in the Silicon Valley region and the third largest in the San Francisco Bay Area. TheatreWorks presents 230 performances of eight shows each season in two venues, the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts and the Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto. Our productions-both plays and musicals-include a mix of reinvigorated classics, contemporary hits, and exceptional new works, including 55 world premieres and 134 regional premieres in our 41-year history. www.theatreworks.org

The National Endowment for the Arts was established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government that has awarded more than $4 billion on projects of artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities. The NEA extends its work through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector. To join the discussion on how art works, visit the National Endowment for the Arts at arts.gov.

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