The Ziegfield Club, one of the first not-for-profit organizations in the Broadway community, is launching a new award for an emerging female composer-lyricist who “compellingly demonstrates financial need, professional initiative and outstanding artistic promise in musical theater songwriting.” Teams comprised of a composer and lyricist are also welcome to apply to The Billie Burke Ziegfield Award 2015, set to include $10,000 and professional mentorship by an experienced musical-theater composer or lyricist (who hasn’t been named yet).
The recipient(s) will be selected by a committee made up of industry professionals, and the award will be presented at a reception in New York City hosted by the Ziegfeld Club in October. The club, which helps women interested in pursuing musical theater, was described by The New York Times as one of “New York’s pioneering feminist institutions.”
“Fun Home” composer Jeanine Tesori and lyricist Lisa Kron made history earlier this year when they became the first all-female writing team to win a Tony for Best Original Score. The Billie Burke Ziegfield Award will help guide a female composer, or composers, who can follow in their footsteps.
The deadline to apply for the award, named in honor of the late American actress Billie Burke, is August 9. Submit your application here.
[via Playbill]
