Since 1990, the Tony Awards have administered Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre, awarded to institutions, individuals and organizations that have “demonstrated extraordinary achievement in theater, but are not eligible in any of the established Tony Award categories.”
One of the five 2024 recipients is the Dramatists Guild Foundation (DGF). Established in 1962 by Tony-winning librettist and lyricist Alan Jay Lerner, DGF provides educational programs, grants, free rehearsal space, emergency aid and more to playwrights, composers, lyricists and librettists at all stages of their careers.
Since Rachel Routh became executive director of DGF in 2012, she has built upon the organization’s existing programs to expand them throughout New York City and nationwide. In 2015, Tony-nominated composer-lyricist Andrew Lippa became president of DGF’s board of directors, helping to launch new programs and partnerships. Here, Routh and Lippa talk about the connection between DGF and Broadway and recommend upcoming artists to watch for.
