Eugene O’Neill Theater Center announces
The Miranda Family Fund Scholarships
Supporting the National Theater Institute
to further the inclusion of artists of color
Waterford, CT — The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center announces new support from The Miranda Family Fund to provide scholarships for National Theater Institute (NTI) students. With a singular schedule and an unmatched breadth of training, NTI’s six semester-long programs offer students a springboard to the professional world. The Miranda Family Fund is supporting scholarships to further the inclusion of artists of color across all disciplines of theater.
Founded in 1970, NTI’s credit-earning theater intensives—taught by industry professionals and master teachers—train actors, singers, directors, dancers, designers, playwrights and composers in comprehensive training. Graduates leave NTI with the skillsets to produce, write, direct, and act in their own work, as well as create their own path in the industry.
Multi-discipline creative artist Lin-Manuel Miranda‘s first professional production was at the O’Neill’s National Music Theater Conference with In The Heights in 2005. He shares: “My time at the O’Neill was challenging and formative. The work we did there was instrumental in the development of In The Heights. The long days and nights immersed in the musical, alongside the cast and creative team, was a thrilling first for me in that kind of environment. I want as many emerging artists as possible to enjoy that experience. My family and I are excited to be able to partner with the O’Neill to help make that happen for more talented artists of color who are creating new work.”
Lin-Manuel Miranda is the recipient of three Tony Awards, two Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and the MacArthur Foundation Award, He is currently represented on Broadway with the musical Hamilton for which he wrote the music, lyrics, and book.
“Lin-Manuel Miranda’s contribution to theater’s artistry, relevance, and excellence inspires all of us. We see the influence of his artistry everyday in our classrooms.” shares NTI Artistic Director Rachel Jett. “The Miranda Family Fund’s belief in the future of theater with this gift helps us ensure that NTI’s unique multi-disciplinary training is available to everyone and that our ensembles represent the diverse voices that make this art form and this country so unique and wonderful.”
The O’Neill endeavors to ensure access and opportunity for those seeking the intensive, transformative experience of the National Theater Institute, regardless of race, gender, or economic circumstance. Varying levels of tuition assistance are awarded each semester through the generosity of individuals and foundations.
> Learn more: www.NationalTheaterInstitute.org
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About the National Theater Institute: With a singular schedule and an unmatched breadth of training, the National Theater Institute’s six semester-long programs offer students a springboard to the professional world at the two-time Tony Award-winning Eugene O’Neill Theater Center. Founded in 1970, NTI’s credit-earning theater intensives—taught by industry professionals and master teachers—train actors, singers, directors, dancers, designers, playwrights and composers. www.NationalTheaterInstitute.org Watch: NTI- At A Glance
About the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center: Founded in 1964, the O’Neill is the country’s preeminent organization dedicated to the development of new works and new voices for the American theater, and been home to more than 1,000 new works for the stage and thousands more emerging artists. Scores of projects developed at the O’Neill have gone on to full production at theaters around the world. The O’Neill is the recipient of two Tony Awards and the National Medal of Arts for its contributions to American culture, and named in honor of Eugene O’Neill, four-time Pulitzer Prize-winner and America’s only playwright to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. The O’Neill has. O’Neill programs include the National Playwrights Conference, National Music Theater Conference, National Critics Institute, National Puppetry Conference, Cabaret & Performance Conference, and National Theater Institute – which offers six credit-earning undergraduate training programs. In addition, the O’Neill owns and operates Monte Cristo Cottage as a museum open to the public. www.theoneill.org.
