Submissions for Actor Therapy’s #GreatBrightWay Scholarship are open on a rolling basis. This merit-based award grants a fully-funded 5-week session of our signature Actor Therapy Class to prospective or returning Actor Therapy students. The #GreatBrightWay Scholarship seeks to award Black, Indigenous, or other people of color; people with disabilities; and transgender & non-binary persons.
PLEASE NOTE: THE #GBW SCHOLARSHIP IS SEPARATE FROM THE MERIT-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS FOR OUR SUMMER/WINTER INTENSIVE PROGRAMS; FOR INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO APPLY FOR THE INTENSIVES/INTENSIVE SCHOLARSHIPS, CLICK HERE.
Who may apply?
Black, Indigenous, or other people of color; people with disabilities; and transgender & non-binary persons.
Returning Actor Therapy students who identify with one of those groups
A student may win the award only once, so prior recipients of the Scholarship are not eligible.
How do I apply?
Fill out the brief application form below.
Include up to three video links (or link to a page on your website) of you performing a cut in any musical style, any length.
What is the time frame to apply, and when are the scholarships given?
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year. We will regularly pull from the collected submissions before each session.
Students will be notified approximately 1-3 weeks before each new session begins if they are offered a scholarship.
We expect to grant 3-5 scholarships per session.
If you’ve submitted but not received a scholarship, you may submit again after one year.
ACCESS THE APPLICATION FORM HERE
Please email us at actortherapy@gmail.com with any questions.
"I was gifted #thegreatbrightway scholarship this past summer. It honestly came at a time where I was feeling so low about my talents/theatre. With this scholarship I was given the opportunity to work with some of the best industry professionals. Over the span of five weeks in this class I have learned more about myself than I had during my 4 years of college. I learned more about myself in regards to being a Latina in this industry, in regards to breaking barriers I believed that I had been stuck in, and in regards to performing. All of the teachers helped me believe in myself and my talents. It was the most enlightening experience and I will be forever grateful." -Cynthia R.
"AT really lives the words Lindsay Mendez spoke in her Tony speech--"be your true self, and the world will take note." I was diagnosed as autistic when I was 20, almost done with my musical theatre degree. It felt good to finally have some answers about why I always felt different, but I heard from many well-meaning people that disclosing my diagnosis would hurt my professional prospects and it was better to just try to "pass" for neurotypical. Over a decade later, Actor Therapy was the first professional environment I "came out" in. It was RSO's encouragement and support that gave me the courage to disclose to the creative team I was working with at the time, which made for a better work environment for everyone, and eventually disclose to everyone in my life. Embracing my autistic identity was not only life-changing for me personally, but it has in fact leveraged me as professional--I signed with an agent for the first time, during a pandemic, no less--and most importantly, it's helped me learn how to be a better ally to people who are marginalized in different ways. Our industry is evolving into a much more diverse and equitable place, and I'm proud of AT for empowering its students to lead by example and be the change." -Ashley W.
“The Great Bright Way scholarship came to me at just the right time. I'm so grateful to RSO for his guidance, help, and leadership. During my time at Actor Therapy, I was able to solidify my audition book, filling it with music that brought me joy and fulfillment and presented me in the most authentic way. I'm forever grateful to Actor Therapy for giving me the scholarship and I can't wait to get back to class!" -Rachel M.