BAC'S Cody Renard Richard Scholarship Program Announces Scholars

The Broadway Advocacy Coalition and Broadway stage manager Cody Renard Richard announced the 10 recipients of The Cody Renard Richard Scholarship Program, dedicated to honoring, uplifting and supporting the next generation of Black, Asian, Latinx, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) theatre-makers working behind the scenes.

The recipients include Tauheedah Abdullah (Carnegie Mellon University), Maaz Ahmed (Marquette University), Graham Callahan (Kent State University), Natalia Dubon (University of Florida), Zaryah Forde (University of Oklahoma), Sarah Grace Goldman (Northwestern University), Annie Nguyen (Carnegie Mellon University), Daniel Ocanto (Carnegie Mellon University), Valentine Pesola (The Pennsylvania State University) & Nina Schatell (SUNY Purchase College).

Each student will receive a financial grant of $8,000 (increased from last year's $4,000 grant), mentorship through five online seminars focusing on community building, leadership, and social justice, networking opportunities and an all-expenses paid trip to New York City to meet with mentors and experience Broadway and New York's theater scene in person.

"Selecting this year's cohort was extremely difficult, as we had an abundance of incredible applicants" says Richard. "I'm eager to welcome these remarkable individuals to our community and to give them support that will help them honor their truest selves."

"We are surrounded by emerging leaders for our industry and it takes all of us to ensure that we nurture them in ways that affirm that. I am excited by the opportunity to work alongside Cody and pour into this cohort," said Broadway Advocacy Coalition's Program and Partnership Producer Dria Brown.

The Seller-Lehrer Family Foundation, The Theatre Leadership Project, and the Hispanic Federation serve as lead sponsors for the program. This year's selection committee featured prominent BIPOC theatrical professionals including Richard, Saheem Ali, Lawrence Bennett, Jocelyn Bioh, Jhanaë Bonnick, Dria Brown, Yang-Yang Chen, Zhailon Levingston, Tina McCartney, Laurie Woolery, and Nzinga Williams.

For additional information, please visit CodyRenard.com/Scholarship.

ABOUT CRR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

The Cody Renard Richard Scholarship Program strives to:

• Encourage more Black, Asian, Latinx, Indigenous, and other students of Color to pursue degrees in the theatrical management and artistic fields, such as Stage Management, Technical Theatre, Theatre Design, Playwriting, Directing or Theatre Management.
• Cultivate and provide a space for the next generation of BIPOC artists, while honoring, recognizing and welcoming their future contributions to the theatrical world.
• Connect our scholars with theatrical and community leaders of color, to help cultivate their leadership and advocacy skills to encourage them to be change agents in their own communities and within the industry.
• Create a community of scholars who will learn and grow together throughout their various educational journeys.
• Remind BIPOC individuals that their voices and talents are needed and will be supported.

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