ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery Wins American Theatre Wing 2012 National Theatre Company Grant

ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery has announced that the American Theatre Wing, best known as the creator of the Antoinette Perry "Tony" Awards, is awarding the Company with one of the 2012 National Theatre Company grants. The award includes a $10,000 grant given to only 10 theaters in the country. ArtsWest is the first theater in Washington State to win this award.

This grant will have a significant impact on ArtsWest, providing resources needed to realize its full artistic vision and assisting in our ability to provide even broader access to the arts. The grant is given to emerging regional theaters that have articulated a distinctive mission, cultivated an audience, and nurtured a community of artists in ways that strengthen and demonstrate the quality, diversity, and dynamism of American theatre. More information about the National Theatre Company grants can be found at http://americantheatrewing.org/grants/.

With premiere shows such as Exit, Pursued by a Bear, and Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, and its outstanding theater education programs, ArtsWest has captured national attention. As the mission states, ArtsWest strives to enrich the cultural vibrancy of the community, both by engaging audience members and by supporting local artists. ArtsWest plays a particularly important role in the theater landscape: it is a home for professional actors, directors, choreographers, musicians, stage managers, and designers to showcase their talent with new, progressive, high-quality productions. ArtsWest also supports local playwrights with its Seattle Playwrights Studio program.

Artistic Director Christopher Zinovitch says, "We're a theater that produces plays of the highest quality, with incredible casts and crews, located in one of the fastest-growing, most dynamic communities in Seattle. We want to thank the board, staff, actors, volunteers, and founders, and all who have contributed to ArtsWest. Because of all of you, we were able to move forward and get to this level."

The award will also bring increased awareness of ArtsWest's work, positioning the company as a leader in its field.

ArtsWest produces artistic events so fiercely compelling that they require conversation, improve the imagination, and promote cultural vibrancy as a core value for the communities of Seattle. Utilizing a 149-seat, 3/4 thrust theater and visual art gallery, ArtsWest has presented over 400 different performing arts productions and gallery exhibitions to over 200,000 visitors since 1999. ArtsWest is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Best known for creating The Antoinette Perry "Tony" Awards, the American Theatre Wing's reach extends beyond Broadway and beyond New York, with educational and media work that offers the best in theatre to people around the world. Dedicated to celebrating excellence and supporting education in the theatre, ATW has been an integral and influential part of the theatrical community for 95 years. For more information about all of the American Theatre Wing programs, go to americantheatrewing.org.

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