2016 Jonathan Larson Grants recipients announced

The American Theatre Wing is pleased to announce that the 2016 Jonathan Larson^® Grants recipients are César Alvarez (book, music and lyrics), Nikko Benson (music and lyrics), Carson Kreitzer (book and lyrics), and Sam Salmond (book, music, and lyrics). Four prestigious grants of $10,000 each, totaling $40,000, will be presented on Monday, March 21, 2016 at a private event at the WNYC Greene Space. The event will feature special performances of the recipients’ work.

This year’s recipients were selected by an expert panel consisting of composer/lyricist and past Larson Grant recipient Dave Malloy (Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812), producer Kristin Caskey (President of Fox Theatricals and producer of Fun Home), and director Kristin Marting (Artistic Director of HERE Arts Center).

“The Jonathan Larson Grants give us the opportunity each year to support exciting new theater makers and invest in the changing landscape of the American musical, one writer at a time.” said Heather Hitchens, President of the American Theatre Wing. The Jonathan Larson Grants, given annually to honor emerging composers, lyricists and book writers, help to continue Tony Award^®-winning composer Jonathan Larson’s dream of infusing musical theatre with a contemporary, joyful, urban vitality. Dedicated to celebrating excellence and supporting theatre, the American Theatre Wing awards the Larson Grants to artists to recognize and showcase their work with no strings attached – except to put it to the best use possible to help further the artists’ creative endeavors.