Through the generosity of the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation, the American Theatre Wing has invested a three-year grant of $1.3 Million to pilot and establish the Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative, which helps under-served, diverse students overcome barriers to pursuing a career in theatre. The Initiative provides public school drama teachers with the resources they need to nurture young talent in their schools, and gives training and university scholarships to underserved students, especially those from groups that are underrepresented in the theatre industry.
In 2017, the Wing received a generous gift from Peter and Pamela Barbey through the Edwin Barbey Charitable Trust to support and enhance the Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative. As part of their contribution, they extended a $500,000 matching challenge to invest in the future of the program. We are so close to meeting our matching goal and hope you consider contributing today. Your gift to the Legacy Fund is a sign of support and solidarity to both Andrew and to young people across the nation, helping to bring theatre education into the lives of students who would otherwise not have access to it. Please help us ensure that Andrew Lloyd Webber’s legacy at the Wing will endure forever.
At the gala this year, the American Theatre Wing will be featuring Text to Donate through MobileCause. If you choose to support Andrew’s Legacy Fund this is a quick and easy way to do so! Simply open a new text message on your mobile device and enter the number 41444 in the recipient field. Type our custom “ ALW70 “ and hit send. After a brief pause you will be sent a link to donate which will allow you to customize your level of support. Any amount is appreciated and gets us one step closer to meeting the Legacy Fund Match!
The American Theatre Wing (Heather Hitchens, President & CEO) is pleased to announce that it will celebrate the iconic composer, producer, and ardent philanthropist Andrew Lloyd Webber at its annual Gala, which will be held on Monday, September 24, 2018 at Cipriani 42nd Street (110 East 42nd Street). The evening will be both a celebration of the Wing’s 101 Years of supporting strong and fearless voices in the American Theatre, as well as a star-studded musical tribute to Lord Lloyd Webber’s unrivaled body of work amassed over five decades at the very top of his profession.
The funds raised at the Gala will provide vital support for the Wing’s programs, which champion theatrical excellence at every stage and ensure that American Theatre has a dynamic and diverse future.
“There was only one way we could follow up last year’s centennial blow-out, and that was by paying tribute to one of the great, unstoppable forces shaping both the theatrical landscape and popular culture over the past half-century: Andrew Lloyd Webber,” said Heather Hitchens, President and CEO of the American Theatre Wing. “We are honoring Andrew for his immeasurable artistic contributions, and also for his unwavering commitment to arts education. The work he is doing on behalf of underserved young people is absolutely vital to the future health of both our industry and our society. We all feel incredibly lucky to count him as one of our most valuable partners on this front, and the work that we’ve accomplished together is some of the most meaningful, personally satisfying work we’ve ever done.”
In 2016, Lord Lloyd Webber gave the American Theatre Wing a $1.3 million, three-year grant to support theatre education opportunities for diverse and underserved young people and public schools across the U.S. Since then, the Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative has provided more than $1 million in grants and scholarships for schools wishing to enhance their theater programs and students wishing to further their theater training, reaching over twenty-two thousand students nationwide.
The evening includes cocktails, dinner, and performances. For tickets and more information, please contact Katie Hayes by calling 212.765.0606 or emailing gala@thewing.org.
