Deadline: October 30, 2026
The Richard Rodgers Awards were created and endowed in 1978 by composer and member Richard Rodgers (1902–1979) for the development of new works of musical theater. These awards support readings and productions of musicals by emerging composers and writers at nonprofit theaters in New York City. The winners are selected by a jury of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Previous recipients include Jonathan Larson for Rent; Jeanine Tesori and Brian Crawley for Violet; Anaïs Mitchell for Hadestown; Jason Kim, Helen Park, Max Vernon, and Woodshed Collective for KPOP; and Will Aronson and Hue Park for Maybe Happy Ending.
Application requirements and procedures are explained in the form below. Please download, read, and sign the form before beginning the online application.
Click here to download the form (required).
Click here to begin the 2027 Richard Rodgers application.
1. The term "musical theater" is understood to include musicals, plays with songs, thematic revues, or any comparable work. The submission of innovative and experimental work is encouraged. The work submitted must be of significant length to fill an evening; it may consist of a group of smaller, related pieces.
2. The jury will consider only completed works. Care should be taken to submit the work in its best possible form as it may not be submitted again, in another year, even if substantially revised.
3. Only one submission by a collaborative group or a sole creator will be accepted per year. A work is not eligible if one of the collaborators is deceased. No exceptions will be granted.
4. All applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States.
5. Works by members of Arts and Letters and previous winners of the full production awards are not eligible for consideration. Former winners of Richard Rodgers awards for staged readings or studio productions may submit new works.
6. An applicant whose works in the musical theater have received professional or amateur productions in New York City or out of town is eligible unless, in the judgment of the jury, the applicant has already achieved significant recognition in the field of musical theater through the work submitted or through any previous work. Under special circumstances and at the discretion of the jury, applicants who have achieved recognition in fields outside the musical theater may be eligible.
Works which have been produced by professional theater companies before a paying audience are eligible only if such productions received no more than 21 performances by a for-profit company or 50 performances by a nonprofit company.