About the Program
Ashley Monet, Cody Renard Richard, Clint Ramos, and Britton Smith at the 2022 Scholar Summit.
Uplifting & Supporting the Next Generation of Theatrical Leadership of Color
Over the last four years, the program has awarded $340,00 to 45 students from 31 different universities!
The mission.
The Cody Renard Richard Scholarship Program strives to:
Encourage more Black, Asian, Latinx, Indigenous, and other students of color to pursue degrees in the theatrical management and non-performance artistic fields, such as Stage Management, Technical Theatre, Theatre Design, Playwriting, Directing or Theatre Management.
Cultivate and provide a space for this next generation of leaders, while welcoming their unique and necessary future contributions to the theatrical world.
Connect our scholars with other emerging and established community leaders of color to ensure they have the support and mentorship to thrive in the industry.
Create a community of scholars who will learn and grow together throughout their various educational journeys and understand how they can play a role in building a more vibrant and equitable industry.
The Scholarship.
This scholarship program helps students reach their full artistic, academic and leadership potential by providing them: (1) a direct financial contribution to help ease the burden of the many costs of attending higher educational learning institutions, such as tuition, housing, textbooks and class fees; (2) a community of other young leaders to learn from and connect with; and (3) a series of workshops to build the knowledge, relationships and confidence to chart their own path in the industry.
In the 5th year of the program, selected recipients will receive a scholarship for the Spring 2025 semester. Students will also receive an all expenses paid trip to New York City to meet with mentors and experience and learn about Broadway and New York’s theater scene in person during the summer of 2025.
The Program.
As a scholarship recipient, you will be required to attend various online work sessions with founder, Cody Renard Richard and the Black Theatre Coalition team. Through these sessions you will have the unique opportunity to connect, learn from and engage with various leaders in the theatrical industry. These sessions will also allow you to create relationships with the other scholarship recipients across the US, while learning about community building, leadership, mentorship, social justice and racial equity.
who we are.
Cody Renard Richard, Founder
Nzinga Williams, Program Manager
Ashani Smith, Program Assistant
2025 Selection Committee: Tom Andre Bardwell, Jhanaë Bonnick, Lani Fu, Ann James, Zhailon Levingston, Tina McCartney, Kenneth McGee, Timothy Oliver Reid, Cody Renard Richard and Nzinga Williams.
"Absolutely Career Altering! Cody using his platform to introduce and educate young BIPOC creatives into the industry is simply amazing. There is much to be gained from this Scholarship including Networking with established and early career professionals and educating yourself one how to be an effective change and difference maker in this Industry."
— Avery Evans, 2021 Scholar
Our Supporters.
This scholarship program is run in partnership with Black Theatre Coalition.
Jeffrey Seller Family Foundation serves as our lead sponsor this year alongside
The Miranda Family Fund, Broadway Cares / Equity Fights Aids, Tiger Baron Foundation, Kevin McCollum, Tommy Kail, Junkyard Dogs, Jenny Steingart, and Jill Furman
