The Richard Rodgers Award is an annual award presented by the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and was created and endowed by Richard Rodgers in 1978 for the development of new works in musical theatre. These awards provide financial support for full productions, studio productions, and staged readings of new and developing works of musical theatre, and to nurture early-career composers, lyricists and playwrights by enabling their musicals to be produced by nonprofit theatres in New York City. The winners are selected by a jury of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. The Richard Rodgers Awards are the Academy's only awards for which applications are accepted.

Former award recipients include Maury Yeston, for Nine; Jonathan Larson, for Rent; Julie Taymor and Elliot Goldenthal, for Juan Darien; Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, for Lucky Stiff; Jeanine Tesori and Brian Crawley, for Violet; Scott Frankel, Michael Korie, and Doug Wright, for Grey Gardens; and Dave Malloy for Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812.

Recipients

YearRecipientAuthorsTypeRef.1980NineMario FrattiMaury Yeston —1981Child of the SunDamien LeakeProduction Award 1982Portrait of JennieEnid FuttermanHoward MarrenDennis Rosa — 1983— — — —1984BrownstoneAndrew CadiffPeter LarsonJosh Rubens — 1984PapushkoAndrew Teirstein — 1985— — — —1986Break, Agnes, Eulogy for Mr. Hamm, and Lucky NurseMichael John LaChiusa — 1986JubaWendy LambRussell Walden — 1987Henry and EllenMichael John LaChiusa —1987Lucky StiffLynn AhrensStephen Flaherty —1987No Way to Treat a LadyDouglas J. Cohen —1988Lucky StiffLynn AhrensStephen Flaherty — 1988Sheila Levine is Dead and Living in New YorkMichael DevonTodd Graff —1988SuperbiaJonathan Larson —1989Juan Darién: A Carnival MassElliot GoldenthalJulie Taymor — —1990Down the StreamMichael Goldenberg — 1990Swamp Gas and Shallow FeelingsRandy BuckShirlee StrotherJack E. Williams — 1990WhatnotHoward CrabtreeDick GallagherMark Waldrop —1991The TimesJoe KeenanBrad Ross —1991OpalRobert N. Lindsey —1992The Molly MaguiresSid CherryWilliam Strempek —1992Avenue XJohn JilerRay Leslee —1993Allos MakarScott FrankelMichael KorieValeria Vasilevsky —1993They Shoot Horses, Don't They?Nagle JacksonRobert Sprayberry —1993Avenue XJohn JilerRay Leslee —1993Christina Alberta's FatherPolly Pen —1994The Sweet Revenge of Louisa MaeMark CampbellBurton CohenStephen Hoffman —1994The GigDouglas Cohen —1994DollScott FrankelMichael Korie —1994RentJonathan Larson —1995SplendoraMark CampbellStephen HoffmanPeter Webb —1996BobosJames McBrideEd Shockley —1996The Hidden SkyKate ChisholmPeter Foley —1996The Princess and the Black-Eyed PeaAndy ChukermanKarole Foreman —1997Barrio BabiesFernando RivasLuis Santeiro —1997The Ballad of Little JoMike ReidSarah Schlesinger —1998Little WomenAlison HubbardAllan KneeKim Oler —1998SummerErik HaagensenPaul Schwartz —1999Bat Boy: The MusicalKeythe FarleyBrian FlemmingLaurence O'Keefe —1999Blood on the Dining Room FloorJonathan Sheffer —1999Dream True: My Life with Vernon DexterRicky Ian GordonTina Landau —1999The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon SkinKirsten Childs —1999The SingingLenora ChampagneDaniel Levy —2000Bat Boy: The MusicalKeythe FarleyBrian FlemmingLaurence O'Keefe —2000SuburbRobert S. CohenDavid Javerbaum —2000The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon SkinKirsten Childs —2001Heading EastLeon KoRobert LeeReading Award2001The Spitfire GrillFred AlleyJames ValcqProduction Award2002The FabulistDavid SpencerStephen WitkinReading Award2002The TutorAndrew GerleMaryrose WoodReading Award2003Once Upon a Time in New JerseySusan DiLalloStephen A. Weiner —2003The Devil in the FleshJeffrey LundenArthur Perlman —2003The TutorAndrew GerleMaryrose Wood —2004To Paint the EarthDaniel Frederick LevinJonathan PorteraReading Award2004Unlock'dSam CarnerDerek GregorReading Award2004The TutorAndrew GerleMaryrose WoodProduction Award2005Dust & Dreams: Celebrating SandburgDavid HudsonPaul LibmanReading Award2005BroadcastNathan ChristensenScott MurphyReading Award2005RedBrian LowdermilkMarcus StevensReading Award2006The Yellow WoodMichelle ElliottDanny LarsenReading Award2006True FansChris MillerBill RosenfieldNathan TysenReading Award2006Grey GardensScott FrankelMichael KorieDoug WrightProduction Award2007Calvin BergerBarry WynerReading Award2007Main-Travelled RoadsDave HudsonPaul LibmanReading Award2008Alive at TenKirsten A. GuentherRyan Scott OliverReading Award2008KingdomAaron JafferisIan WilliamsReading Award2008See Rock City & Other DestinationsBrad AlexanderAdam MathiasReading Award2009Cheer WarsKarlan JuddGordon LearyReading Award2009Rosa ParksScott EthierJeff HughesReading Award2010Buddy's TavernRaymond De FelittaAlison Louise HubbardKim OlerReading Award2010Rocket SciencePatricia CotterJason RhyneStephen WeinerReading Award2011GloryanaAndrew GerleReading Award2011DogfightPeter DuchanBenj PasekJustin PaulProduction Award2012Witness UgandaMatt GouldGriffin MatthewsReading Award2013Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812Dave MalloyProduction Award2013The Kid Who Would Be PopeTom MeganJack MeganProduction Award2014Witness UgandaMatt GouldGriffin MatthewsProduction Award2015StringAdam GwonSarah HammondProduction Award2016Cost of LivingTimothy HuangReading Award2016We Live in CairoPatrick LazourDaniel LazourReading Award2016HadestownAnaïs MitchellProduction Award2017What I Learned from PeopleWill AronsonHue ParkProduction Award2018Gun & PowderRoss BaumAngelica ChériStudio Production Award2018KPOPJason KimHelen ParkMax VernonWoodshed CollectiveStudio Production Award2019Bhangin’ ItMike LewRehana Lew MirzaSam WillmottStudio Production Award2019The Lucky OnesAbigail BengsonShaun BengsonSarah GancherStudio Production Award2020In the GreenGrace McLeanReading Award2020The LoopholeZeniba NowJay AdanaReading Award2021The MonsterChelsea MarcantelMichael MahlerAlan SchmucklerStudio Production Award2021Oratorio for Living ThingsHeather ChristianStudio Production Award2021TL;DR: Thelma Louise; Dyke RemixEllaRose CharyBrandon James GwinnStudio Production Award2022Driving in CirclesJay EddyReading Award2023Lewis Loves ClarkDylan MarcAureleMike RossReading Award2023Marie in Tomorrow LandMaggie-Kate ColemanErato A. KremmydaReading Award2024Far From The TreeRobert MaggioKristin MaloneyJustin WarnerStudio Production Award2024Lighthouseabs wilsonVeronica MansourReading Award2025Black Girl in ParisJacinth GreywoodeAriDy Nox-2025HelsinkiBarrett RigginsGraham Techler-2025The Dark LadySophie BoyceVeronica Mansour-

See also ASCAP Foundation Richard Rodgers New Horizons Award

References

General

Specific

External links American Academy of Arts and Letters' official site