Leading Theaters from Chicago, Los Angeles, NYC & More Receive 2014 National Theatre Company Grants

The American Theatre Wing has announced the recipients of its 2014 National Theatre Company Grants. This year's recipients are: Amphibian Stage Productions (Fort Worth, Texas), Ars Nova (New York, New York), Forum Theatre (Silver Spring, Maryland), Keen Company (New York, New York), PlayGround (San Francisco, California) , Red Bull Theater (New York, NY), Rogue Machine Theatre (Los Angeles, California), The House Theatre of Chicago (Chicago, Illinois), the TEAM (Brooklyn, New York), Theater Wit (Chicago, Illinois), Theatre B (Fargo, North Dakota), and Williamston Theatre (Williamston, Michigan).

Grants for the 2014 cycle in the amount of $12,000 each will be distributed for general operating support to these companies which, according to grant guidelines, have been in operation at least five, but not more than fifteen years, 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.

As was previously announced, the funding for these grants has been increased due to the success of this year's American Theatre Wing Gala, which took in more than $750,000 on Monday, September 15, besting all previous records.

"We are particularly proud to be able to benefit twelve theater companies this year, and with larger grants," Heather Hitchens, President of the American Theatre Wing, commented. "These companies have proven themselves vital to their respective communities, and we know they will put this funding to good use and continue to do great work."

The American Theatre Wing has long shown its dedication to not-for-profit theatres through its Theatre Company Grants Program. After many years during which eligibility was restricted to New York City companies, 2010 marked a significant change in the granting of The Wing, resulting from extensive review by the organization's Board of Trustees. The ATW Grants have distributed some $3 million dollars over the past 55 years. For more information on the ATW's National Theatre Company Grants, visit: americantheatrewing.org/grants/. The application period for 2015 grants will open in the spring of next year.

The American Theatre Wing (William Ivey Long, Chairman, Board of Trustees; Heather Hitchens, President) is dedicated to advancing artistic excellence and nurturing theatre's next generation: on stage, behind the scenes, and in the audience.

For nearly a century, the Wing has pursued this mission with programs that span the nation to invest in the growth and evolution of American Theatre. Traditionally, the Wing has encouraged members of the theatre community to share their off-stage time and talent directly with the theatre audience at large--whether it was singing for the troops in the Stage Door Canteen of the 1940's, or sharing their stories on a podcast today.

As the founders of The Tony Awards, the American Theatre Wing has developed the foremost national platform for the recognition of theatrical achievement on Broadway. The Wing recently became the new home of the OBIES, Off and Off-Off Broadway's highest honor, in a partnership with the Village Voice. Yet the Wing's reach extends beyond New York. The Wing develops the next generation of theatre professionals through the SpringboardNYC and Theatre Intern Network programs, incubates innovative theatre across the country through the National Theatre Company Grants, fosters the song of American theatre through the Jonathan Larson Grants, and illuminates the creative process through the "Working in the Theatre" program and media archive.

Visitors to americantheatrewing.org can get inspired and gain insight into the artistic process through the Wing's extensive media collection, and learn more about its programming for students, aspiring and working professionals, and audiences.