Jonathan Larson Foundation Award Winners Are Announced

The winners of the 2007 Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation Awards were announced today at a private luncheon at 21. The foundation, named after the late composer of Rent, presented individual awards to writers Gaby Alter, Susan DiLallo, Joel New, Jason Rhyne, Jeff Thomson, and Jordan Mann, which include an unrestricted cash gift ranging from $5,000 to $10,000.

In addition, City Theatre in Pittsburgh is the recipient of an organization award in support of a musical theater project in development, An Infinite Ache, written by previous individual winners Brendan Milburn and Valerie Vigoda.

The awards presentation was scheduled to includes performance of songs written by 2007 award recipients Matt Gould, Melissa Li and Abe Rybeck, Robert Maddock, J. Oconer Navarro, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, and Mike Pettry. Performers scheduled to take part in the presentation include Neil Patrick Harris, Norm Lewis, Michael McElroy, Megan McGinnis, Anthony Rapp, Ann Sanders, Amy Spanger, and Mary Testa.

This year’s recipients were selected from over 200 applicants by a panel comprised of distinguished theatre professionals Joe Calarco, Michael John LaChiusa, David Loud, and Stephen Schwartz.