C: Is for Contest anyone?

The American Theatre Wing announced that applications are being accepted for the 2010Jonathan Larson Grants. The 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.

Applications must be post marked by August 29, 2009. Recipients will be announced in January 2010. The grants will be presented and recipients’ work will be showcased for an invited industry audience in late winter 2010. For complete guidelines and application materials, visit www.americantheatrewing.org/larsongrants.

Originally administered by the Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation (from 1997-2008), the Jonathan Larson Grants became a part of The Wing last fall, adding to the organization’s storied history of programs designed to support theatre professionals at the beginning of their careers. Under the Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation and now the American Theatre Wing, more than 80 composers, lyricists and book writers were recognized at the start of their careers.

Past recipients of Jonathan Larson Grants include Nell Benjamin, John Bucchino, Kirsten Childs, Ricky Ian Gordon, Amanda Green, Joe Iconis and Michael Korie. Last year’s recipients were: Mark Allen, whose musical Tinyard Hill is currently in production at Theatreworks, Palo Alto in California; Dave Malloy, who continues his work with theatre collective Banana Bag and Bodice this August at the Ohio Theatre with Space//Space; songwriting team Thomas Mizer and Curtis Moore, who continue to collaborate on projects including The Legend of Stagecoach Mary; and Ryan Scott Oliver, whose musical, Mrs. Sharp, will have a workshop at Playwrights Horizons featuring Jane Krakowski with direction by Michael Greif later this month.

You too can join this prestigious group and that is a F.A.C.T.