National Endowment for the Arts FY 2017 Fall Grant Announcement

$15,000 New York, NY
To support the commission and development of "The Chinese Lady" by Lloyd Suh. The playwright will mine the
long and mainly forgotten histories of Asians in America, particularly those of Chinese heritage. Afong Moy was
the first Chinese female immigrant brought to America in 1834. The U.S. importers, the Carne Brothers,
transported Moy and put her on display in a museum exhibition before paying audiences. During the creation
and workshop process, members of the Asian American communities in New York and the Tri-State area will be
invited to attend symposia, talkbacks, and panel discussions surrounding issues of immigration, representation,
and diversity.
Magic Theatre, Inc. (aka Magic Theatre)
$10,000 San Francisco, CA
To support the premiere of "Grandeur" by Han Ong. The play is inspired by the life of Gil Scott-Heron, frequently
referred to as the "father" of hip-hop by the new generation of rappers. In 2010, a year before his death, Scott-
Heron was profiled in "The New Yorker" magazine. He emerged from the article as an enigmatic subject, both
astute and tragic, having succumbed to an addiction to crack cocaine in the 1990s. Ong portrays a young
reporter who ruminates on his idol Scott-Heron, his pattern of self-destruction, Black masculinity, and the
cultural legacy of Scott-Heron's life and music.
Marin Theatre Company (aka MTC)
$20,000 Mill Valley, CA
To support the production of "Native Son" by Nambi E. Kelley. Adapted from the 1940 novel by Richard Wright,
the play portrays an impoverished African-American youth in 1930s Chicago. He dares to want more in his life
and a new job leads to an accident that sends him down a violent path and prison. The 80-year-old story about
race and class will resonate with challenges facing contemporary America. High school students will experience
special matinee performances and the theater will host symposia on race, class, and history.
McCarter Theater Company (aka McCarter Theatre Center)
$35,000 Princeton, NJ
To support The McCarter Lab. The Lab provides tailored development support to a diverse group of artists
annually and makes the new play development process accessible to community members each year. New play
and artistic development activities will include play readings and workshops, an annual Lab Festival of new work,
an artist retreat, playwright commissions, and the production of a new play. The theater anticipates awarding
new commissions to two playwrights and will continue development on four in-process commissions to
Christopher Durang, Lisa Peterson and Denis O'Hare, Rachel Bonds, and Heather Raffo.
Metro Theater Company
$10,000 Saint Louis, MO
To support the production and tour of "Out Of The Box." The multi-sensory play incorporates movement,live
original music,color and sound into an emmersive, interactive exploration of the transformation of everyday
objects into a heightened, magical realisty.The theater will include children and families in the immigrant
community for whom English is a second language.
Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Inc. (aka Milwaukee Repertory Theater)
$20,000 Milwaukee, WI
To support the production of "Jane Eyre" adapted by Polly Teale, artistic director of Shared Experience. The UKbased
theater is dedicated to exploring text through physical movement. Teale's adaptation explores the novel's
theme of repression versus expression and employs physicality to personify Jane's inner self and her conflict
Some details of the projects listed are subject to change, contingent upon prior Arts Endowment approval. Information is current as of
December 7, 2016.