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Successor | American Theatre Wing's Jonathan Larson Grant |
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Formation | 1996 |
Founder | Allan S. Larson |
Dissolved | September 17, 2008 |
Type | Nonprofit |
Focus | Musical Theatre |
Location | |
Executive Director | Nancy Kassak Diekmann |
Key people |
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Website | jlpaf |
The Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation was a foundation started in 1996 [1] by the family and friends of Jonathan Larson, composer of the musical Rent . From 1997 to 2008, the foundation awarded grants to musical theatre composers, lyricists and book writers. Following the 2008 grants, the program was shifted to the American Theatre Wing, where it continues as the Jonathan Larson Grants. [2]
On March 3, 1997, the Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation presented a benefit concert titled "Today 4 U". The event featured performers who had been involved in Jonathan Larson's various projects throughout his career. The concert showcased a selection of songs from Larson's wider catalogue, including material from his musicals tick, tick...BOOM! , early versions of Rent , Sacred Cows, Away We Go!, and his unproduced musical Superbia .
The following songs were performed at the concert: [3]
From 1997 to 2008, the Foundation held annual events, often luncheons, to award its grants. These presentations consistently featured musical performances, often showcasing the work of past and current grant recipients. Over the years, established Broadway performers also participated in these ceremonies, performing works by grantees or paying tribute to Larson. For example, the 2002 ceremony included guest artists Raul Espárza, Molly Ringwald, and Daphne Rubin-Vega , and the 2003 event featured performances by Esparza, Herndon Lackey, and Alice Ripley. The 2005 luncheon was emceed by Jason Biggs and included performances by Jen Chapin, Julia Murney, Molly Ringwald, and Michael Winther, among others.
A significant feature of the first several annual presentations was the performance of Jonathan Larson's own compositions, sometimes drawing from his extensive archive of unpublished songs or material from his earlier, unproduced, or lesser-known musicals. These performances frequently involved artists who had a personal or professional history with Larson.
Known songs by Jonathan Larson performed at these events include:
This list is incomplete and requires further sourced additions.
On April 24, 2006, a significant benefit concert, "Rent 10", was held at the Nederlander Theatre to mark the 10th anniversary of Rent on Broadway. The event featured a reunion of the original Broadway cast, including Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp, Taye Diggs, Idina Menzel, and Jesse L. Martin, among others. Proceeds from this one-night-only concert benefited the Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation, Friends In Deed, and New York Theatre Workshop.
The following is a list of composers, lyricists, book writers, and nonprofit theatre companies that received funding through the Jonathan Larson grant while the Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation was active. [5]