Applications Now Open: The 2025 Prince Fellowship for Creative Theatrical Producers

The Prince Fellowship, presented in association with Columbia University School of the Arts, is now accepting applications for its 2025 program. Designed to support and develop the next generation of visionary theatrical producers, the fellowship provides funding, mentorship, and academic access to empower early-career creatives looking to shape the future of theater.

Formerly known as The T. Fellowship, the program was renamed in 2021 to honor the late Harold Prince—legendary producer, director, and founder of the original fellowship. Prince’s commitment to nurturing new talent lives on through this unique opportunity, which blends real-world project development with mentorship and academic support.

Each selected fellow will receive a $10,000 stipend, a $20,000 budget to develop a new theatrical production, and access to curated courses within Columbia’s MFA Theatre Management & Producing Program. Fellows also receive hands-on guidance from high-level mentors and leading voices in the field.

Applications are open now and will be accepted through Wednesday, June 25th. An informational webinar for prospective applicants will be held on Thursday, June 12th, at 6:00 PM EST. 

Details and the application portal are available at princefellowship.com/apply.

The Prince Fellowship is generously supported by The Broadway League and The John Gore Organization. Past mentors have included producers such as Kristin Caskey, Sue Frost, Tom Schumacher, Jeffrey Seller, and David Stone. The program is co-directed by Orin Wolf, Steven Chaikelson, Aaron Glick, and Rachel Sussman—all of whom are established producers and former fellows themselves.

Fellows are also supported by an advisory committee of industry experts who contribute their time and knowledge. Advisors include Victoria Bailey, Christopher Burney, Lisa Dawn Cave, Nina Essman, Kamilah Forbes, Robert Fried, Colleen Jennings-Roggensack, Brian Moreland, Julio Peterson, Natasha Sinha, Donna Walker-Kuhne, Schele Williams, and Kumiko Yoshii.

Since its founding in 2005, the fellowship has supported a growing network of creative producers, including Orin Wolf, John Pinckard, Aaron Glick, Jen Hoguet, Christopher Maring, Allison Bressi, Rachel Sussman, Ben Holtzman, Osh Ghanimah, Lawryn Lacroix, Jamila Ponton Bragg, Cynthia Dorsey, Amy Marie Haven, Maxwell Beer, George Strus, and Eric Emauni.

The 2025 fellowship will run from September 2025 through August 2026.

A Fellowship Rooted in Artistic Integrity

The Prince Fellowship operates on a simple but powerful philosophy: what’s good for the art form is good for business. The program is not about returning to past theatrical models—it’s about giving creative producers the tools and confidence to redefine what comes next.

Fellows are treated as artists in their own right. Over the course of the year, they develop a specific theatrical project while taking courses at Columbia University and receiving consistent mentorship. The structure allows producers to gain practical knowledge in areas like budgeting, fundraising, collaboration, and development—all while cultivating their unique artistic voice.

Honoring Two Theater Giants: Harold Prince and T. Edward Hambleton

The fellowship was born from a vision shared by Harold Prince and T. Edward Hambleton. Prince’s impact on American theater is legendary, with credits including Cabaret, Sweeney Todd, Evita, and The Phantom of the Opera. Hambleton, co-founder of the Phoenix Theatre, was a pioneer of Off-Broadway and a lifelong supporter of emerging playwrights and new works.

Together, these two men understood that creative producing is not about chasing trends—it’s about building something lasting. Their legacy is embedded in the fabric of this fellowship.

Columbia’s Role in the Future of Producing

The Prince Fellowship is housed within the Oscar Hammerstein II Center for Theatre Studies at Columbia University School of the Arts. Students in the program benefit from one of the most comprehensive theater training environments in the country. Columbia's Theatre MFA programs foster cross-disciplinary collaboration and emphasize both classical rigor and forward-thinking innovation.

As Columbia celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2025, the Prince Fellowship continues to grow as a vital pipeline for new producing talent in American theater.

For more information or to apply, visit https://princefellowship.com/apply.