Rona Siddiqui Acceptance Speech | 2020 Jonathan Larson Grant Recipient

“It is not awards and accolades that define us, or even our work. It is simply our humanity.” In lieu of a ceremony, 2020 Jonathan Larson Grant recipient Rona Siddiqui shares what this grant means to her.

In a time when the the word “yes” is rarely heard by artists, the American Theatre Wing continues to provide support in this time of need. But as a nonprofit organization, we rely on people like you to help sustain our theatre community, especially now. #SayYEStoArtists by donating to the American Theatre Wing.

Rona Siddiqui is composer/lyricist based in NYC. She recently won the prestigious Billie Burke Ziegfeld award. Her show Salaam Medina: Tales of a Halfghan, an autobiographical comedy about growing up bi-ethnic in America,had a reading at Playwrights Horizons Nov 2019 (dir. by Raja Feather Kelly). Other musicals include One Good Day,The Tin, and Treasure in NYC. She is the recipient of the ASCAP Foundation Mary Rodgers/Lorenz Hart Award, and the ASCAP Foundation/Max Dreyfus Scholarship. She has written pieces for Wicked’s 16th anniversary commemoration Flying Free, 24 Hour Musicals, Prospect Theater Company, The Civilians, the NYC Gay Men’s Chorus, and 52nd St Project, and has performed concerts of her work at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and 54 Below. Original scores she has written include The Vagina Monologues,Middletown andThe Good Person of Szechuan. www.ronasiddiqui.com

To continue Tony Award winner Jonathan Larson’s dream of infusing musical theatre with a contemporary, joyful, urban vitality, the grants honor emerging composers, lyricists and book writers. 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 their creative endeavors.

Share