THE  THOMAS  BARBOUR  MEMORIAL  ​SCHOLARSHIPS  &  AWARDS  PROGRAM

The Thomas Barbour Scholarships Program

The Episcopal Actors' Guild's Scholarships Program was established in 1968 to recognize excellence in those studying the performing arts. In 2004, the program was named in honor of EAG member, benefactor and actor Mr. Thomas Barbour.

Currently, EAG awards six annual scholarships. Five of these are given to students at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. The sixth, The George C. Scott Memorial Scholarship, is presented to a student studying Theatre Arts at the University of Missouri. Additionally, The Claire Strakosch Scholarship, currently endowed by the Margaret G. Plumb Irrevocable Trust, is given periodically to students in theatre programs. 

Jennifer Fouché, AADA Scholarship Recipient

Congratulations to our 2019 Scholarship Winners from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts:
​Paulina Lalanne, Gabriela Malan, Coral Mizrachi, Chloe Noble, and Gabrielle Scott.

Congratulations to the 2018 Winner of The George C.Scott Memorial Scholarship: Samuel Demuria.  

Secure donations can be made to any of these scholarships by clicking here or by calling 212-685-2927.

The Thomas Barbour Playwrights Award

The Barbour Award was created in 2007 to celebrate new work for the theatre. Each year, EAG partners with a local theatre company, collective, or playwriting program to present staged readings of three new plays, with one writer being awarded a prize of $500.

EAG's partner for the 12th Annual Thomas Barbour Playwrights Award was Quick Silver Theater Company! This year's award featured three new plays by innovative emerging playwrights of color: BLACK DOVES by Reynaldo Piniella, A Boy & His Bow by Kareem M. Lucas, and BURNBABYBURN: AN AMERICAN DREAM by a.k. payne. 

Congratulations to our 2019 Thomas Barbour Playwrights Award-winning playwright: Reynaldo Piniella.  ​

Past Barbour Playwrights Award Winners
2008 - Jack Frankel, Human Voices (Polaris North)
2009 - Alisha Silver, Golden (Hunter College)
2010 - (tie) Lynn Rosen, Apple Cove, and 
Laura Eason, 40 Days (Women’s Project)
2011 - Ian August, Donna Orbits the Moon (NJ Rep)
2012 - Aaron Jafferis, How to Break (HERE)
2013 - Bill Cosgriff, Rio Rita (ARTC)
2014 - Mark Karafin, Man in the Moon (Oberon Theatre Ensemble)
2015 - Dara O’Brien, Early Sunday Morning (Resonance Ensemble)
2016 - Perry Guzzi, Across the Way (HB Studios)
2017 - Andrea J. Fulton, A Punk or A Gentleman (Theater for a  New City)
2018 - Alexis Roblan, The Andrew Play (New Perspectives Theatre Company)
2019 - Reynaldo Piniella, Black Doves (Quick Silver Theater Company) 

If you represent a local theatre company that fosters new work or a playwriting program/collective and you are interesting in the possibility of partnering with EAG for The Barbour Award, please contact EAG's Assistant Director Rebecca Lovett (rebecca@actorsguild.org). At this time, we cannot partner with individual playwrights or accept direct submissions of plays for consideration for The Barbour Award.

The Barbour Award was established and endowed by Janet Barbour Carhart, Alison Barbour Fox, and from a portion of the gift left to EAG by Mr. Thomas Barbour’s estate.

Open Stage Grant

EAG takes pride in our ongoing effort to find new ways to support New York’s performing arts community. Understanding how challenging it is for emerging theatre companies to find affordable space for creating work, we are proud to offer the Open Stage Grant.

Through this program, an active and emerging theatre company is chosen to receive six weeks (eight hours per week) of free time in our historic theatre space. With this time, the recipient will be able to rehearse and present a work of their choosing. The grant will end with 4-8 performances, all of which will be ticketed and open to the public, with proceeds being split evenly between the grant recipient and the charitable programs of EAG.

Past Open Stage Recipients
Winter 2017 - Project Y Theatre Company, Landmarks & TRANSformations
Winter 2018 - Athena Theatre Company, Tragic Greek Sitcom
Summer 2018 -  Quick Silver Theater Company, Albino Deer
Winter 2019 - Theater in Asylum, Totally Wholesome Foods
Summer 2019 - Ripple Effect Artists, 2071: The World We'll Leave Our Grandchildren

We are pleased to announce the two recipients of our 2020 Open Stage Grants: Resolve Productions, Marrow
(January-February 2020) and Katharine Pettit Creative, Untitled Girl Narrative (July-August 2020).

Check back in September 2020 for instructions on applying for our 2021 Open Stage Grants.

Scholarships & Awards ELIGIBILITY

Our scholarships are decided by the faculty of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and the University of Missouri.  If you are a student enrolled in one of these schools, please contact the administrative offices for further information.

If your theatre company would like to be considered as a partner in a future Barbour Playwrights Award or Open Stage Grant, contact Rebecca Lovett at 212-685-2927 or rebecca@actorsguild.org.