Theater News

American Theatre Wing Announces Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative Scholarships

Middle and high school students receive financial support for their artistic training.

The Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative has awarded 4-Year University Scholarships and Training Scholarships to young arts students.
The Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative has awarded four-year university and training scholarships to young arts students.
(© David Gordon)

The American Theatre Wing announced today the recipients of the Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative 4-Year University Scholarships and the Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative Training Scholarships. These scholarships represent the Wing’s most aggressive investment in direct support for underserved public school students demonstrating exceptional talent and economic need to continue their study of theater.

High school students in grade 12 who demonstrated talent and ability in the theater arts, but lack the resources to attend a four-year university program, were eligible to apply for the four-year university scholarships. These scholarships can be used at an accredited private or public university or college in the United States. Each of the scholars are provided with scholarships of up to $10,000 towards their course fees, renewable for four years as long as a minimum GPA of 3.0 is maintained.

The selected students include production designer and technician Natalia Avila of Houston, who will attend the University of Oklahoma; stage manager Carrli Cooper of Winter Garden, Florida, who will attend the University of Michigan; actor Kaisheem Fowler-Bryant of Bronx, New York, who will attend Howard University; actor Marcus Gladney of Huntsville, Alabama, who will attend Carnegie Mellon University; and actor Grace Pruitt of Ashland, Oregon, who will attend Azusa Pacific University.

Public middle and high school students who demonstrated talent and ability in the theater arts, but have a lack of resources to receive high level training prior to college were also eligible to apply for the training scholarships. These scholarships can be used for private or group voice, dance, or music lessons; theater training programs that stand alone or are housed in professional theater settings; theater training camps; or special training opportunities.

It was also announced that Village Voice owner and Obie Awards copresenter Peter Barbey and wife Pamela Barbey have donated $500,000 toward the American Theatre Wing’s Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative through the Edwin Barbey Charitable Trust. Additionally, they have pledged to match others’ donations for investment in the future of the initiative, dollar for dollar, up to $500,000 for the next two years. Funds raised by this matching challenge will be used to establish a new program reserve fund for the future stability and enhancement of the Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative.

For more information about the American Theatre Wing's Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative, click here.