Applications Now Open for Theatre Producers of Color’s Tuition-Free “Producing 101” Program

Theatre Producers of Color (TPOC), an organization dedicated to empowering the next generation of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) producers, has announced that applications are now open for its annual tuition-free program, Producing 101.

Now entering its sixth year, the 11-week course offers aspiring producers the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of commercial producing—covering development, financing, budgeting, and more—from leading industry professionals. The program is tuition-free and designed to remove barriers for those seeking to enter and transform the commercial theater landscape.

Producer Sammy Lopez (Wanted, Call Me Izzy, Job, How to Dance in Ohio) will serve as the program’s mentor, creating what TPOC calls “a safe space for learning” and guiding participants to become future leaders in the theater industry.

Building the Next Generation of Producers

Since its founding in 2020, TPOC has been instrumental in reshaping Broadway by centering inclusion and access. In just five years, the organization has helped launch the careers of more than 100 producers who collectively hold 63 Broadway credits, 26 Tony Award nominations, and one Tony Award win. Their collective credits include Gypsy, Othello, BOOP!, Cabaret, Hell's Kitchen, Suffs, The Wiz, Water for Elephants, Days of Wine and Roses, How to Dance in Ohio, Appropriate, Here Lies Love, New York, New York, A Beautiful Noise, Grey House, Fat Ham, Life of Pi, The Piano Lesson, Dana H., and Is This A Room.

Participants in Producing 101 will study real Broadway case studies and engage directly with guest speakers from across the industry. Each cohort member will also choose either a personal project or an existing Broadway show to analyze, applying the lessons in real time—building pitch materials, understanding investor relations, and learning how to sustain a show in today’s challenging economic climate.

Redefining What It Means to Be a Producer

At its core, Producing 101 asks a timely question: What does it mean to be a producer today?

According to TPOC, producers are more than business leaders—they are cultural stewards whose decisions shape the stories audiences see on stage. The program explores how shifting cultural and financial realities influence which stories are told and the values that drive an equitable, sustainable future for theater.

By the end of the course, participants will emerge with practical producing skills, a deeper understanding of the producer’s creative role, and a new community of mentors and peers dedicated to transforming Broadway.

About Theatre Producers of Color

Founded in 2020, Theatre Producers of Color (TPOC) provides education, training, and mentorship for emerging BIPOC producers. Its mission is to diversify and expand access within a historically exclusive industry, empowering producers to champion inclusive storytelling and equitable opportunity in live entertainment.

Applications for the 2025–2026 Producing 101 cohort are now open. 

For more information or to apply, visit theatreproducersofcolor.org.