"This grant in particular, it celebrates where we are right now as a culture and where we're going next." In lieu of a ceremony, 2020 Jonathan Larson Grant recipient Benjamin Velez shares what this grant means to him.

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.

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Benjamin Velez is a composer/lyricist and Columbia graduate (114th Varsity Show). Proud member of the BMI workshop (2012 Harrington Award). His work has been at MTF, Ars Nova, NAMT, NEO, the Civilians, 4@15, and Joe's Pub. He was a Sundance Artist at the UCROSS Foundation, and his musical "Afterland" was developed at YIMT and the York Theater. He developed “Starblasters” at Dixon Place and will workshop it at Manhattan School of Music in Spring 2020. His musical “Borderline” won the 2018 Weston Playhouse New Musical Award and was workshopped at the 2019 O’Neill Musical Theater Conference. He was a 2018-2019 DGF Fellow and the 2019 Fred Ebb Award Winner. His musical “Kiss My Aztec”, written with John Leguizamo, Tony Taccone, and David Kamp, had its world premiere at Berkeley Rep (2019), followed by a run at the La Jolla Playhouse (Fall 2019).

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.

Learn more about the Larson Grants: https://americantheatrewing.org/progr...