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. |
at 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 15th Annual Thomas Barbour Playwrights Award is Playwrights Gallery! Playwrights Gallery (Deborah Savadge, Literary Manager) was founded in 1991 to nourish the work of emerging New York City playwrights. "Some of us had the honor of knowing Mr. Barbour," notes Savadge. "We are looking forward to working with the lovely, supportive members of the EAG." In June 2022, they'll be at Guild Hall presenting three new works developed during Covid that have never had live, in-person, on-stage readings before a theatre-savvy audience. |
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) 2020 - the award was split between all three finalists (Leviathan Lab) 2021 - Garrett David Kim, Are You There Truman? (Leviathan Lab) |
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 NYC theatre company is chosen to receive six (6) weeks, eight (8) hours per week of free time in our historic theatre space at Guild Hall (1 East 29th Street, NYC 10016). With this time, the recipient will be able to develop, devise, and rehearse a work of their choosing. The grant period ends with 4-8 ticketed public performances, with proceeds being split evenly between the grant recipient and the charitable programs of EAG. Through Open Stage, EAG is also able to provide grantees with limited funding for some specific line items in their production budgets. |
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 Winter 2020 - Resolve Productions, Marrow Spring 2022 (Summer 2020) - Katharine Pettit Creative, Untitled Girl Narrative |