Epic Theatre Ensemble to Expand Epic NEXT Program with $175K Grant

Epic Theatre Ensemble has been awarded a $175,000 grant for program development with an emphasis on diversity and expanding its workforce.

This recognition by the Theater Subdistrict Council is a breaking point on Epic's mission to create a more diverse community of Committed Artists and citizens working side by side for a more equal society. This grant will allow Epic to expand the scope of one of its core programs, Epic NEXT.

Epic NEXT is an Arts Leadership Initiative with a proven record of improving the personal and professional development of low-income youth communities. The rigorous mentorship program identifies and develops future community leaders from traditionally underrepresented groups in New York City. Led by Epic co-founders Ron Russell, Melissa Friedman and Jim Wallert, Epic NEXT is a comprehensive approach to youth development through theater, pairing participants with professional mentors, providing opportunities for participants to become future artistic and managerial leaders in the cultural community.

"If the face of the American theatre is really going to change, it will be when the face of its leadership changes and diversifies. This grant will allow us to turn our mentorship and training into a paid job pipeline, offering these incredible young people the chance to learn, through apprenticeship, how to be mentors, teaching artists, and producing and managerial leaders." - Ron Russell, Executive Director, Epic Theatre Ensemble

Epic NEXT was created with extraordinary support from the Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation. Then, with the help of long-time partners like the Meringoff Family Foundation, and Bloomberg; and newer alliances with the Pinkerton Foundation, the Heckscher Foundation for Children and others, Epic has been able to make steady and systematic program improvements to create a more robust impact.

"After five years of incremental growth, Epic NEXT has come to a moment of innovation-a moment where going to the next place requires a substantial investment. Theater Subdistrict Council is giving us the change capital to make this moment of innovation possible." - Robert Chelimsky, Manager Director, Epic Theatre Ensemble

Epic Theatre Ensemble is proud to be part of an elite group of grantees that includes: The Brooklyn Academy Of Music (BAM), Downtown Brooklyn, Harlem Stage, Manhattan Theatre Club, New 42nd Street, New York Theatre Workshop, Roundabout Theatre Company, Teatro SEA, Theatre Breaking Through Barriers (TBTB), and the Theatre Development Fund.

"Epic congratulates its fellow grantees and appreciates the opportunity to be part of a distinguished group of socially-minded artists working for an inclusive and diverse theatre community. We were already excited for this award, but after seeing the cohort of organizations awarded, we felt proud and encouraged to invest even more in our community." - Mark Kollar, Chair, Board of Directors, Epic Theatre Ensemble

Epic's mission is to create bold work with and for diverse communities that promotes vital discourse and social change. We accomplish this mission by inspiring students to be creative and engaged citizens, presenting compelling topics that transform the way people think, and collaborating with artists, students and thought leaders to produce plays about key issues.

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