2023 Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative Recipients Announced!

About the Wing

2016 Tony Awards hosted by James Corden
2016 Tony Awards hosted by James Corden
2016 Annual Gala Honoring Cicely Tyson
2016 Annual Gala Honoring Cicely Tyson
The trained imagination of the theatre can be used for serving humanity in more ways than entertaining.
Rachel Crothers, Founder of The American Theatre Wing
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Who We Are

American Theatre Wing invests in brave work, supports creative growth, and celebrates excellence to bring inclusive stories to our national culture through theatre. Founded in 1917 on the eve of America’s entry into World War I by seven suffragists, American Theatre Wing has spent a century using theatre to advance human experience, empathy and cultural growth like never before.

About The Wing

What We Do

We invest financial and educational support in creatives destined to make theatre. We connect broad audiences to theatre by capturing insight into important work. We honor theatre that impacts the American experience.

We provide grants and scholarships, connect talent at all stages with educational and professional opportunities, and create content that illuminates and preserves theatre. We award excellence and foster artistry by providing a platform for strong and fearless voices in the American theatre.

Achievements from 2022 and 2023

  • 7.4M

    views of our educational and entertaining video content

  • 707

    grants and scholarships awarded to artists, students, schools, and theatre companies across America.

  • 38+

    artists and companies recognized at the 74th Annual Tony Awards®

  • 63

    artists and companies recognized at the 2020 Obie Awards®

  • 325+

    emerging artists and companies served, including Larson Grants, Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative, and Songwriting recipients.

  • 1,400

    total live attendees to our virtual panels for the Network for Emerging Leaders in the Theatre (an increase of 400% from in person meetings).

  • $200,000

    students will receive over the next 4 years as a recipient of the Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative University Scholarships.

  • 2.2 million

    yearly spend on programs and services that strengthen theatre

Our Values

Champion Creative Expression

We recognize that pursuing a successful career in the performing arts is not easy. We shape challenges into opportunities, championing theatre creatives throughout the industry. We are an institutional voice advocating for artists fated to use theatre as a mode for self-expression.

Support Growth

We provide lifelong mentorship to stimulate growth in the performing arts at every stage. Our comprehensive theatre network provides resources and support throughout a life cycle—we are a conduit for activating creative potential.

Realize Brave Vision

Brave work is born out of stories that must be told. We help realize courageous creative vision to bring important artistic work to our world, using theatre as a tool for cultural progression.

Make Excellence Known

We make theatre an essential part of the zeitgeist by demanding attention for excellent work. We safeguard the performing arts as an immediate cultural necessity, and ensure that great work’s legacy endures.

Validate Diversity

Founded by seven suffragettes, advancing diversity is part of our DNA. By realizing and celebrating brave vision we validate stories that are as diverse as the American people. We are steadfast in our commitment to diversity as a means to advance the richness of American theatre in any cultural climate.

Create Connections

For creatives, we create an inclusive community that bridges the gap between novice and master to build organic personal connections. These relationships ensure that young talent is heard, guided, and given an opening for success, privileging them to reciprocate this mentorship for the next generation. For our audience, we foster, honor and illuminate theatre that inspires human connection, provokes emotional experiences, and contributes to a more empathic world.

Inspire Artistic Greatness

We pull back the curtain on our industry to educate our audience about how theatre comes to life, illuminating compelling stories in the performing arts. We inspire artistic greatness on a micro and macro level, from showcasing industry technique to sharing motivational stories about overcoming adversity through artistic production.

Press Releases

The American Theatre Wing Announces Revamped Network for Emerging Leaders in the Theatre Meetings

2022 Gala Features Work of Legendary Roster of Women Theatre Artists Such As Jeanine Tesori, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Kristen Childs, and More

Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge Winning Songs to Premiere on iHeartRadio Broadway April 23

American Theatre Wing Honored with Three Inaugural Anthem Awards Celebrating Social Good

Two Wing Projects Named Finalists for First Annual Anthem Awards

The American Theatre Wing Announces Details for the 66th Annual Obie Awards

Emilio Sosa Elected Next Chair of American Theatre Wing

Counting Together: New Online Resource Provides Critical Data on Industrywide Participation Levels in Order to Identify and Forge Pathways to Greater Equity and Inclusion

American Theatre Wing and BroadwayHD Summer Celebration

ATW Secures $1M Donation & Matching Challenge Granted by the Edwin Barbey Charitable Trust to Support its Andrew Lloyd Webber Iniative

65th Annual Obie Awards Announces Obies Chairs, Venue, and Date

American Theatre Wing Celebrates Legacy of Jonathan Larson & The Larson Family At Its Annual Gala

Over Half a Million Dollars Awarded in Scholarships and Grants

The Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative – 4-Year Partial University Scholarship Launches

Training Scholarships - First Grant Cycle Launched for American Theatre Wing's Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative

David Henry Hwang to Succeed William Ivey Long as Chair of the American Theatre Wing

American Theatre Wing Announces The Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative

* Emeritus

ATW Staff

  • Ann Marie Gong (she/her)

    Executive Support Manager and Board Liaison
  • Leslie Papa (she/her) & Whitney Holden Gore (she/her)

    ATW Press Rep, Vivacity
  • Heather A. Hitchens (she/her)

    President & CEO
    212-765-0606 x100
  • Melissa Cabrero (she/her)

    Director of Programs
    212-765-0606 x300
  • Luis Castro (he/him)

    Equity and Inclusion Consultant
  • Grace Chon (she/her)

    Grant Administrator
    212-765-0606
  • Emily Elliott (she/her)

    Development Manager
  • Bryony Romer (she/her)

    Development and Strategic Planning Consultant
  • Laura Michele Talbot (she/her)

    Director of Development
    212-765-0606 x201
  • Tracy Thompson (she/her)

    Director of Business and Operations
  • Erik Kearney (he/him)

    Manager of New Donor Development
  • Ian Weiss (he/him)

    Senior Director of Digital Content Marketing & Strategy
    212-765-0606 x400
  • Yoanna Nikolova (she/her)

    Community Engagement and Marketing Manager

Tony Awards Productions

  • Carl Levin

    Tony Awards® Business Manager
    212-703-0207
  • Jean Kroeper Murphy
    The Broadway League

    Director of Tony Awards® Administration
    212-703-0204
  • Jaspre Guest
    Noise784

    Sponsorship
  • Ian Weiss
    American Theatre Wing

    Digital Strategy
    212-765-0606

Theatre Needs You

Foster the progressive, pluralistic nature of artistic expression in American theatre. Invest in young people’s access to theatre education to foster an industry of artists as diverse as the American people.

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