DGF Announces National Fellows Class of 2024-2025
Top row, L-R: Alan Stewart, Beth Kander, Germaine Shames, Hope Villanueva, Joe Barsanti; Bottom row, L-R: Katie Winkler, Lachrisa Grandberry, Nabra Nelson, Nicolette Blount, Petron Brown, Orlando Morales
Top row, L-R: Alan Stewart, Beth Kander, Germaine Shames, Hope Villanueva, Joe Barsanti; Bottom row, L-R: Katie Winkler, Lachrisa Grandberry, Nabra Nelson, Nicolette Blount, Petron Brown, Orlando Morales

New York, NY –  The Dramatists Guild Foundation (DGF) has announced its inaugural class of National Fellows. The historic Fellows program has expanded to have a virtual offering for playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists located across the United States.

The Fellows program has traditionally only been offered to dramatists based in the tri-state area who could attend writing workshops and mentorship sessions in person, but in DGF’s continued work to expand accessibility and resources for writers at all stages of their careers, the program will now offer a virtual option. Designed to eliminate historical barriers of entry, the Fellows program is a completely free program, hosted and designed by the Dramatists Guild Foundation.

This program has been championed by numerous generous donors, including support from the Jeffrey Seller Family Foundation. The DGF National Fellows Program Chairs are Bernardo Cubría, Playwriting Chair, and Christine Toy Johnson*, Musical Theatre Chair.

[* denotes Dramatists Guild member]

DGF National Fellows 2024-2025

Alan Stewart* (he/him), Playwriting Fellow in Oakland, California 

Beth Kander(she/her), Playwriting Fellow in Skokie, Illinois 

Germaine Shames(she/her), Playwriting Fellow in Tucson, Arizona

Hope Villanueva*(she/her), Playwriting Fellow in Rockville, Maryland  

Joe Barsanti* (he/him), Musical Theatre Fellow in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 

Katie Winkler (she/her), Musical Theatre Fellow in Fletcher, North Carolina 

Lachrisa Grandberry*(she/her), Musical Theatre Fellow in Chicago, Illinois

Nabra Nelson(she/her), Playwriting Fellow in Topanga, California

Nicolette Blount(she/her), Musical Theatre Fellow in Amherst, Massachusetts

Petron Brown (he/him), Playwriting Fellow in Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Orlando Morales (he/him), Musical Theatre Fellow in Seattle, Washington

The Dramatists Guild Foundation is a non-profit organization supporting writers at all stages of their career by offering financial support, educational resources, writing space, and more. DGF strives to be a resource to writers nationwide and nurture the future of American theatre by fostering playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists at all stages of their careers. DGF sponsors educational programs; provides awards, grants, and stipends; offers free space to create new works; and gives emergency aid to writers in need of immediate support. By supporting and nurturing the creators of today, we protect the stories of tomorrow.