Snow crocuses are popping up in Brooklyn, and a high school musical is on my calendar for next weekend—it must be spring! As winter finally begins to thaw (hopefully for good), I want to highlight American Theatre’s Winter Issue, dedicated to arts education and now available online in full.
For the feature I contributed to this issue, I took a nostalgic journey back to my ramen days, reflecting on the early years after college when I was first finding my footing in New York City. By some grace, the city is still my home 15 years later, and I remain happily tangled up in this wonderful theatre community. In fact, my office has recently relocated just a stone’s throw from my old stomping grounds at Pace University, and I often take the long way down Fulton Street to pass the performing arts building—dancers stretching before rehearsal, actors rushing to class, musical theatre students singing as they walk. It feels both like yesterday and a lifetime ago that I was part of that swirl.
To catch a glimpse of recent graduates’ lives today, I spoke with five members of the class of 2024 from different disciplines and institutions about their first year out of school and what it’s been like to find their footing. I was struck by their fortitude: founding theatre companies, traveling abroad, juggling spreadsheets of monthly expenses, learning how to stay healthy on tour—all while keeping their creative dreams front and center. I can’t wait to see where these talented theatre makers are another year from now.
If you haven’t had a chance to read the issue yet, I encourage you to check it out. It includes a pulse check on MFA programs, a survey on season selection in colleges and universities, and a comprehensive list of opportunities for high school theatre students, among much more.
A few weeks ago, I also got to connect with a college student attending the American College Theatre Festival regional conference in Texas for theatre criticism and dramaturgy. During a break from the programming schedule, she called me to workshop a few pitches over the phone. Hearing the excitement in her voice and her genuine curiosity about pursuing arts journalism absolutely made my day.
May these young folks continue to receive the support, training, and encouragement they need as they find their paths.
✏️ Around the Web✏️
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Last night, Michael B. Jordan won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in Sinners. His high school drama teacher recognized his drive from an early age.
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Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company has added Howard University’s Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts to its Core Partner Program, an initiative to strengthen collaboration with other D.C. institutions.
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The Alliance/Kendeda National Graduate Playwriting Competition has named The Red Man by JuCoby Johnson of the Juilliard School the winner.
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The 2025 Jonathan Larson Grant Recipients include Fouad Dakwar, Dan Fishback, Adam J. Rineer, abs wilson, and writing pair Scott Gilmour and Claire McKenzie.
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The American Theatre Wing has named the 2025 Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative recipients, awarding $580,000 in scholarships and grants.
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Love this Playbill column “How Did I Get Here” that chronicles theatre artists’ journeys. The latest features Keri René Fuller, Elphaba in Wicked on Broadway, about her path and the tough college teacher who made a huge impact.
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The latest Master Class training video from the American Theatre Wing features creative directors Aaron Coleman and Jim Glaub on marketing for Broadway.
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What a sweet tradition! High school seniors perform to an audience of their childhood stuffed animals.
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The Dramatists Guild Foundation is accepting applications for the Hansberry-Lilly Fellowship through March 31. The fellowship offers a $25,000 annual stipend for each year of graduate school to support a female playwright of color.
💫 On Social Media 💫
Teachers, what opportunities outside the classroom have been most meaningful in preparing students to enter the professional theatre field?
AT Readers Respond:
Richard Frazier-Sostillio: Connecting with the Educational Theatre Association and our local chapters to be part of the greater connection among educators across the nation and throughout my state.
Timothy Akers: Volunteering in community theatre. Volunteers from many fields use their hobbies, education, talents, and career experience and let them work hands-on with them. They learn more than acting, and that makes a good actor or director. Too many go in to just act and can’t make anything happen (limited).
Gabe Lewin: Getting to talk to, meet, and work with professionals.
David Jenkins: Ensuring students actually attend theater, take advantage of tours and talks from nearby regional companies, and take advantage of shadowing/apprentice opportunities.
Jodi Papproth: Any chance a HS theatre student gets to share what they know with younger people. My advanced students present workshops at the JrH Drama Day Camp we run. They also lead improv workshops at the elementary schools during an Arts Festival Day, and they are assistant counselors during Summer Drama Camps.
Add your response here.
From the Archives
15 After 20, Part 2: Actors Move Onto New Stages, Some of Them Theatrical
Speaking with the 2024 graduates reminded me of this series featuring the class of 1995 from American Repertory Theatre’s Institute for Advanced Theatre Training at Harvard University.
