National Theater Project 2025 Advisor Cohort Honors History of Program

Since the program’s first grants in 2010, the National Theater Project Advisors have been key to how the NTP Creation + Touring Grant serves the field, including recommending regular refinement of guidelines. While the program has evolved over these 14 years, one thing that has not changed is our commitment to funding ensembles as an ensemble - in this case, an ensemble composed of NEFA staff and National Theater Project Advisors. NTP Advisors review all eligible applications, providing written feedback at the preliminary review stage; guide project selection throughout the grantmaking process, including multiple panel meetings; provide critical guidance to finalists; serve as consultant to and ambassadors for the National Theater Project; and continue to support grantees through cohort meetings and beyond.

Clearly, this process could not take place without their collective expertise, labor, time, care, and commitment. It is with a spirit of deep gratitude we introduce the FY25 NTP Advisor panel and welcome them to the NTP grantmaking ensemble.

Advisors 

Advisors represent presenters, producing theaters, festivals, and theater artists. Selection of NTP Advisors considers geography, gender, areas of expertise, cultural and racial equity, age, theater disciplines, and includes new and established leaders in the field. This year’s cohort includes:

Returning advisors:

• Claudia Alick, performer, producer, designer, writer, and inclusion expert (who returns to the program after previously serving six years on the panel)
• Leslie Ishii, artistic director, Perseverance Theatre
• Vijay Matthews, cultural strategist, co-founder, HowlRound Theatre Commons
• Linda Parris-Bailey, president and CEO, Parris-Bailey Arts, Inc. 
• Steve Raider-Ginsburg, executive and artistic director, Field Arts and Events Hall (who returns to the program after previously serving three years on the panel)
• DeLanna Studi, artistic director, Native Voices

Previous grantees:

• Ova Saopeng, co-artistic director, producer, and theatermaker, TeAda Productions
• Beatrice L. Thomas aka Black Benatar, multi-disciplinary artist, producer, consultant, and storyteller
• Linda Parris-Bailey, Emeritus Executive/Artistic Director of The Carpetbag Theater, Inc (you're not seeing double, she's in multiple categories with multiple titles!)

Our former senior program manager, who served the program for ten years:

• Meena Malik, arts consultant, mediator, coach, and musician

And new-to-us advisors bringing fresh perspectives from the field:

• Tracy Cameron Francis, executive artist director, Boom Arts
• Tara Moses, co-founder, Groundwater Arts

As we welcome our new and returning advisors, we extend our gratitude and bid adieu to eight equally wonderful Advisors who now rotate off our panel: Jarvis Antonio Green, Daniel Banks, Nathalie Nia Faulk, Tammy Hailiʻōpua Baker, Mildred Ruiz-Sapp, Karthik Subramanian, Carlton Turner, and Torange Yeghiazarian.

This final round of National Theater Project support saw record-setting applications. This month, Advisors score eligible applications and narrow the pool to the semi-finalists who will be reviewed in early December. From that pool, the finalists will be selected and announced in Winter 2025. Creation & Touring Grantees will be announced in early summer 2025.

It is with deep sadness that NTP acknowledges the sudden passing of one of its first advisors, Morgan Jenness. Morgan was a force in the American theater, a personal and dramaturgical champion who changed the lives and careers of many artists. Morgan was endlessly curious and supported BIPoC and Queer artists long before equity, diversity and inclusion became buzz words. She loved theater, theater artists, and vastness of humanity. Many National Theater Project advisors and grantees benefitted from her knowledge, humor, and endless support. We will miss her.