March 2010
ATW To Support Emerging National Theatre Companies
 "Redefining the purpose of these grants and attempting to extend the reach of the American Theatre Wing was an exhilarating, historic and very rewarding experience."
Grants Committee Chair Lucie Arnaz shared that sentiment as ATW announced new guidelines for its National Theatre Company Grants program. In a process which spanned nearly a year, a committee of board and advisory members assessed the goals of ATW's charitable giving, repositioning the 53 year old program which has distributed nearly $3 million dollars in its history.
For 2010, ATW plans to give 10 grants of $10,000 each, to young theatre companies across the nation. The grants are intended to assist growing theatre companies, in operation between five and fifteen years, with general operating support. Additionally the companies chosen must "have articulated a distinctive mission, cultivated an audience, and nurtured a community of artists in ways that strengthen and demonstrate the quality, diversity, and dynamism of American theatre."
ATW Board Chairman Theodore Chapin added, "The Wing has been working for several years both to recognize the word 'American' in our name, and to focus on those who aspire to or have begun working in the theatre. The Board of Directors believes ATW can have significant impact by identifying and supporting companies which are relatively new on the scene, offering seed money and recognition. We believe that even in risky times, new artistic voices and organizations must be encouraged."
Read the full 2010 National Theatre Company Grant Guidelines
and please take the time to share the guidelines with any emerging theatre companies with which you may be connected.
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5 Years On, Theatre Intern Group and Original Leaders Flourish
"One of these days," said ATW Executive Director Howard Sherman to Lesley-Anne Stone and Liz Jurist, founders and leaders of the then-named Broadway Intern Group in late 2004, "Your careers will make it impossible for you to continue to lead the group. And it's too valuable an idea to end when you move on."
Spoken as part of the conversations about bringing the independent group under the aegis of the Wing, those words proved particularly prescient, as their ascendant careers took both Stone and Jurist on to other pursuits within less than a year. But after five years with the Wing, the Theatre Intern Group
has provided well over 500 theatre interns, in both not-for-profit and commercial offices, with educational and networking opportunities in the New York theatre community.
 Lesley-Anne, who was at the theatrical ad agency SpotCo five years ago, is currently the West Coast Vice President of Marketing & Business Development at Allied Live, representing and managing the marketing, advertising and promotions for performing arts organizations, shows and attractions throughout the country. Prior to working at Allied Live, Lesley-Anne worked for Allied Integrated Marketing, focusing on the print advertising for Universal Pictures in select markets, as well as in the client management division of LaPlaca Cohen, coordinating advertising for Los Angeles based arts organizations.
"The Intern Group, for me, was a great way to get a snapshot of the workings of other offices in the industry," Stone said recently. "It was a great method of networking with other young professionals, many of whom I am still in touch with. They, too, have gone on to have their own careers in the theatre around the country. There's a budding network out there of Intern Group grads, and it is so rewarding to see."
 Liz, who in 2005 was Associate General Manager of the Helen Hayes Theatre and working towards a Masters in Performing Arts Administration from NYU, was hired full-time in the finance department at Disney Theatrical Group, a position that developed from an internship she completed while she was in grad school. Currently the senior financial analyst at Disney, Liz devises pricing strategies to optimize revenue, manages operating budgets, and analyzes the economic viability of future projects on and off Broadway. She is on the board of the League of Professional Theatre Women and is the Chairperson for their Networking Committee.
"Developing and working with the Theatre Intern Group has been the most rewarding aspect of my theatre career," says Liz (now Liz Schwarzwelder). "Many of the original interns are well respected theatre professionals and several TIG 'graduates' currently even work beside me at Disney."
Now led by ATW Management Associate Joanna Sheehan, the Theatre Intern Group
meets 15 times annually and is open to anyone with a current internship in a New York theatrical office. Recent meetings have focused on press and publicity, company management and general management. Find out more about the Theatre Intern Group's activities.
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More News From The Wing
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The Wing is perpetually producing new audio and video programs for students, audiences and members of the theatrical community, available on cable TV, personal media players, and online. There are new additions to our website every week; if you haven't checked out our new work, here are our most recent additions:
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The American Theatre Wing will be co-sponsoring the Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York Ninth Annual Internship Fair. It will be held on Saturday, March 13th from 10:00am to 1:30pm at the Westin New York. The fair is free and open to undergrads, grads and recent grads of all majors. Our participation complements the work of our own Theatre Intern Group (see above).
If you or a young person you know are interested in attending, call Taylor Gramps at (212) 244-6667 x222 or email no later than Monday, March 8. Please provide name, school, year of study, and include the words "Internship Fair 2010 RSVP" in the subject line. Please specify either the morning (10am - 12pm) or afternoon (12:30pm - 1:30pm) session.
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"Pretty small world, isn't it?" That was the observation of SpringboardNYC '08 alumnus Joel Perez, following on the heels of his performance in Bound for Broadway, a showcase for new writers at Manhattan's The Duplex in mid-February. The evening was comprised of songs by young composers, but the specific comment was prompted by Joel having the opportunity to perform songs by 2010 Jonathan Larson grant recipients Michael Kooman, Christopher Dimond, and Daniel Maté, demonstrating the growing network of artists linked by their affiliation with the American Theatre Wing.
Presentation of the 2010 Larson Grants to Dimond, Kooman, Maté and Peter Lerman is scheduled for March 9, 2010. SpringboardNYC applications are currently being accepted through April 1, 2010.
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Our new book The Play That Changed My Life, with the words of Lynn Nottage, David Henry Hwang and Doug Wright and more on the plays that influenced them is a wonderful addition to any theatre lover's library. For a new donation of $100 or a $100 increase over last year's gift, you will receive a copy of the book, while supporting The Wing as we continue our mission of supporting education and celebrating excellence in theatre. Donate Now or call Barbara Toy, Development Director at (212) 765-0606, x302.
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What They Said
Tina Howe, on ATW's Working In The Theatre, The Play That Changed My Life, December 2009 on writing plays for the drama club while teaching school.
"If you can hold a gymnasium of 1,000 hormonally wild teenagers, you can do pretty much anything. That's where I learned my craft."
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