Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Announces $1 Million Commitment from the Miranda Family Fund

The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center announces a $1 million dollar commitment from the Miranda Family Fund to provide scholarships for National Theater Institute (NTI) students. With a singular schedule and an unmatched breadth of training, NTI’s six semester-long programs offer students a springboard to the professional world. The Miranda Family Fund supports scholarships to further the inclusion of artists of color across all disciplines of theater. 

This 10-year commitment will ensure that NTI is able to advance access, opportunity, and representation in American culture. The Miranda Family Fund is helping to actively and permanently transform and diversify the American cultural landscape through investment in young artists and with the shared belief that the stories told and the artists who tell them – should represent the diversity of the nation.

Since the fund was established in 2017, 40 students—all young artists of color—have trained at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center’s National Theater Institute through the support of the Miranda Family Fund. In addition to supporting the training while at NTI, the Miranda Family’s commitment is ongoing for each recipient supported by their gift, and includes curated  professional development and networking opportunities and workshops for alumni. Remarkably, Luis and Lin-Manuel Miranda have also helped to raise an additional $1,000,000 for NTI scholarships and scholarship endowment.                                 

Founded in 1970, NTI’s credit-earning theater intensives—taught by industry professionals and master teachers—train actors, singers, directors, dancers, designers, playwrights and composers in comprehensive training. Graduates leave NTI with the skillsets to produce, write, direct, and act in their own work, as well as create their own path in the industry.  

At the O'Neill's 2005 National Music Theater Conference, multi-discipline creative artist Lin-Manuel Miranda held an intensive workshop of In The Heights. “Access is an obstacle for many people looking to pursue a career in the arts, particularly those of color,” said Lin-Manuel Miranda. “My time at the O’Neill was integral to me learning how to tell my story. My family and I hope that this financial commitment will help the O’Neill to continue incorporating an increasingly diverse pool of creators and performers to their unique and impactful programming for years to come.“

Lin-Manuel Miranda is the recipient of three Tony Awards, three Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and the MacArthur Foundation Award. He is currently represented on Broadway with the musical Hamilton for which he wrote the music, lyrics, and book.

“We see Lin-Manuel Miranda’s influence, inspiration, and artistry everyday in our classrooms.” shares NTI Artistic Director Rachel Jett. “The Miranda family’s decade-long commitment ensures that NTI’s unique multi-disciplinary training is available to everyone. And that our ensembles—and the audiences that support their work—represent the multitude of voices that will keep this ever-evolving art form vibrant, relevant, and revolutionary.” 

The O’Neill endeavors to ensure access and opportunity for everyone seeking the intensive, transformative experience of the National Theater Institute, regardless of race, gender, or economic circumstance. Varying levels of tuition assistance are awarded each semester through the generosity of individuals and foundations. 

> Learn more: www.NationalTheaterInstitute.org

About the National Theater Institute
With a singular schedule and an unmatched breadth of training, the National Theater Institute’s six semester-long programs offer students a springboard to the professional world at the two-time Tony Award-winning Eugene O’Neill Theater Center. Founded in 1970, NTI’s credit-earning theater intensives—taught by industry professionals and master teachers—train actors, singers, directors, dancers, designers, playwrights and composers. www.NationalTheaterInstitute.org Watch: NTI- At A Glance 

About the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center
The Launchpad of the American theater, the O’Neill is the country’s preeminent organization dedicated to the development of new works and new voices for the American theater. Founded in 1964,  and named in honor of Eugene O’Neill, four-time Pulitzer Prize-winner and America’s only playwright to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, the O’Neill has been home to more than 1,000 new works for the stage and thousands more emerging artists. Scores of projects developed at the O’Neill have gone on to full production at theaters around the world. O’Neill programs include the National Playwrights Conference, National Music Theater Conference, National Critics Institute, National Puppetry Conference, Cabaret & Performance Conference, and National Theater Institute – which offers six credit-earning undergraduate training programs. In addition, the O’Neill owns and operates the Monte Cristo Cottage as a museum open to the public. The O’Neill is the recipient of two Tony Awards and the National Medal of Arts. www.theoneill.org. @ONeill_Center

About the Miranda Family Fund
For over 40 years, the Miranda Family has championed community activism. They have created and supported institutions that have served both underserved populations in Upper Manhattan and communities throughout New York City, across the country, and in Puerto Rico. Luis A. Miranda, Jr. and Dr. Luz Towns-Miranda are proud parents to Luz Miranda-Crespo and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Now as adults, Luz and Lin-Manuel are married to Luis Crespo and Vanessa Nadal, respectively, with children of their own. They continue to foster the family’s commitment to advocacy for education, the arts, and social justice - along with a sustained focus on relief and rebuilding efforts in Puerto Rico post-Hurricane Maria.