The Cody Renard Richard Scholarship Program has announced its latest group of recipients. A partnership with Broadway Advocacy Coalition (BAC), the program cultivates a new generation of Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) interested in pursuing offstage careers in the theater industry.
This year’s program cohort includes Uchenna Agbu, Genevieve Bellavance, Shavante Brogley, Paul Molina, Meili Monk, Phanésia Pharel, Tia Smith, Natalia Jiménez Torres, Joshua Treviño and Mary (MK) Ware. All are current college students.
Each scholarship recipient will receive $10,000 and an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City where they will meet with mentors, many of whom are currently working in the Broadway industry. Scholarship recipients will also receive online mentorship through leadership, community building and social justice-focused seminars.
“Thrilled that we are now in our fourth year of the program,” said program founder Richard in a statement. “I’m looking forward to sharing space with this incredibly diverse group of young leaders.”
Former scholarship recipients have gone on to work in various capacities for the Broadway productions of “Hamilton,” “Sweeney Todd,” “Aladdin,” and the upcoming “Hell’s Kitchen” and “Lempicka.”
This year’s selection committee includes Richard, Lawrence Bennett, Jhanaë Bonnick, Dria Brown, Yang-Yang Chen, Ann James, Zhailon Levingston, Tina McCartney, Kenneth McGee and Nzinga Williams.
Richard created the scholarship program in 2020. His career as a Broadway stage manager began over ten years ago, during which time he has worked on “The Lion King,” “Hamilton,” “Ghost,” “Motown” and “Dear Evan Hansen,” among other shows. Richard is also a producer, having won a Best Musical Tony Award for co-producing “A Strange Loop.” He will serve as production stage manager on the upcoming Broadway premiere of “Lempicka.”
Additional information on the scholarship program can be found here.
