Boston Court Receives NEA Art Works Grant

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Acting Chairman Joan Shigekawa announced today that The Theatre @ Boston Court is one of 895 nonprofit organizations nationwide to receive an NEA Art Works grant. Boston Court is recommended for a $10,000 grant to support the first phase of a multifaceted new play development program.

Project components will include the PLAY/ground Reading Series, a series of rehearsed readings that is open to the public, and provides playwrights with stipends for participation and the opportunity for re-writes throughout the process. In addition, the theater will formalize its process for scheduling in-house readings of new works under consideration, and begin to offer commissions with an almost exclusive focus on Southern California writers.

Acting Chairman Shigekawa said, "The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support these exciting and diverse arts projects that will take place throughout the United States. Whether it is through a focus on education, engagement, or innovation, these projects all contribute to vibrant communities and memorable experiences for the public to engage with the arts."

The Theatre @ Boston Court Co-Artistic Director Michael Michetti said, "New plays and new play development have been a key part of our mission and focus since the inception of Boston Court over ten years ago. This grant from the NEA represents not only valuable funding for the first phase of our ambitious New Works Development Program which we hope to roll out over the next several years, but an encouraging stamp of approval from our nation's most important arts funding institution."

Art Works grants support the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence: public engagement with diverse and excellent art, lifelong learning in the arts, and enhancing the livability of communities through the arts. The NEA received 1,528 eligible Art Works applications, requesting more than $75 million in funding. Of those applications, 895 are recommended for grants for a total of $ 23.4 million.

For a complete listing of projects recommended for Art Works grant support, please visit the NEA website at arts.gov.

The Theatre @ Boston Court is the non-profit company that programs the state-of-the-art 99-seat Main Stage theater in Boston Court Performing Arts Center at 70 North Mentor Avenue at Boston Court. Z. Clark Branson is the developer of the center and founding director of The Theatre @ Boston Court. Michael Seel is the executive director of Boston Court Performing Arts Center. Eileen T'Kaye is the Founding Producing Director.

The Theatre @ Boston Court is supported in part by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, The Edgerton Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, The Biller Family Foundation, The American Theatre Wing, Founding Director Z. Clark Branson, and the generous contributions of Boston Court supporters.

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