USA Scholarships
Cody Renard Richard Scholarship 2027
The Cody Renard Richard Scholarship 2027 is a spring-semester award for students of color working toward offstage theatre careers. Applications came online on 8 October 2026 and close on 22 November 2026 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Ten recipients share a $100,000 pool, and earlier scholars were awarded $5,000 to $8,000 each. You also join mandatory Zoom sessions that start in February 2027 and a New York summit from 27 to 30 May. The program is run with the Black Theatre Coalition. U.S. citizenship is required. Performance majors, online programs, trade schools, and colleges in U.S. territories are out.
What is the Cody Renard Richard Scholarship?
The Cody Renard Richard Scholarship 2027 puts money and a cohort behind students of color who want to run the show from offstage. Cody Renard Richard is a Broadway stage manager and Tony-winning producer. He started the program, and it now runs with the Black Theatre Coalition, the nonprofit T. Oliver Reid, Warren Adams, and Reggie Van Lee built to get more Black professionals into offstage theatre jobs. On 8 October 2026 the seventh cycle opened. Ten people will share $100,000, then meet online and in New York.
You apply at crrscholarship.com if you are a U.S. citizen and a full-time student heading into spring 2027 at an accredited college in the 50 states. Hawaii and Alaska count. Territories, online programs, and trade schools do not. Your degree has to be stage management, technical theatre, theatre design, playwriting, directing, or theatre management. Acting is a no. You also have to identify as Black, Asian, Latinx, Indigenous, or a person of color. The file is a transcript, two recommendation letters, proof of acceptance or enrollment for 2026/27, and a 75-second video. The press release said one minute. The form says 75 seconds. Record the form.
Past scholars have worked on Hamilton, Sweeney Todd, Buena Vista Social Club, and regional houses from Lincoln Center Theater to La Jolla Playhouse. The FAQ is honest that this year's check size is announced with the January 2027 selection, and that earlier scholars received $5,000 to $8,000. Sessions start around February 2027 and are mandatory. The apply page lists a New York summit for 27-30 May, which lands on a Thursday-to-Sunday in 2027. Skip the sessions and the grant itself can be at risk.
Over six earlier years the program has taken 65 students and put more than $550,000 into that group. The 2027 selection committee named on the about page includes Jhanaë Bonnick, Yang-Yang Chen, Ann James, Zhailon Levingston, Tina McCartney, Kenneth McGee, Timothy Oliver Reid, Cody Renard Richard, and Nzinga Williams. If your path is advanced theatre study on a different fund, look at the Wilder Dimension scholarships and keep the rules separate. Questions go to [email protected].
Eligibility
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✓BIPOC theatre studentYou must identify as Black, Asian, Latinx, Indigenous, or a person of color. The Cody Renard Richard Scholarship 2027 is only for that group. The FAQ says the program supports other young professionals in general, and this scholarship is not open to them.
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✓Offstage degree, not performanceYour degree or concentration must be stage management, technical theatre, theatre design, playwriting, directing, or theatre management. Performance majors are not eligible. If your major is close but not on the list, email [email protected] before you apply.
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✓U.S. citizen, full-time, spring 2027You must be a U.S. citizen and a full-time student for the academic year, enrolled or planning to enroll at an accredited college or university in the United States, including Hawaii and Alaska, in spring 2027. Online programs, trade schools, and colleges in U.S. territories are not eligible. International students cannot apply.
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✓3.0 GPA on the checklistThe eligibility list asks for a minimum GPA of 3.0. The FAQ on the same page says an application is still reviewed if your GPA is lower. If you are under 3.0, do not assume the FAQ overrides the checklist. Email [email protected] first.
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✓Leadership, craft, and financial needYou need to show leadership potential, commitment to your craft, academic responsibility, and a need for financial assistance. You can receive this scholarship only once. You may apply again in a later year if you are not selected.
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✓File by 22 November 2026The timeline says applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on 22 November 2026, online only. A line further down the apply page still mentions 23 November 2025. Use the 2026 timeline. Late applications are not accepted.
Benefits
- Cody Renard Richard Scholarship 2027 cash grant $5,000 to $8,000 in recent years
- Share of the $100,000 pool 10 recipients, exact split announced with selection
- Mandatory online mentorship Included, starts February 2027
- New York summit, 27-30 May Included
- Full tuition Not covered
- Award for performance majors Not offered
Document checklist
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✓Latest transcriptA current transcript. The apply page lists it as a required gather-your-info item and does not say it must be a sealed official copy.
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✓Two letters of recommendationTwo letters. The page does not name who must write them. Pick people who can speak to your theatre work and your reliability, and ask early enough to hit 22 November.
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✓Proof of acceptance or enrollmentProof of acceptance or enrollment for the 2026/27 academic year, consistent with spring 2027 study at an accredited U.S. college.
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✓75-second video essayA video of 75 seconds explaining why you are the ideal candidate. The 8 October press release said a one-minute video. The apply page says 75 seconds. Record to the apply-page length.
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✓Online applicationSubmit only through the form on crrscholarship.com. Email is for questions, not for the file itself. The press contact for the announcement is separate from [email protected].
How to apply
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1
Match every eligibility line
Confirm citizenship, full-time spring 2027 enrollment at a U.S. campus that is not online and not in a territory, an offstage major on the list, and that you identify as Black, Asian, Latinx, Indigenous, or a person of color.
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2
Collect transcript, letters, and proof
Get your latest transcript, two recommendation letters, and proof of acceptance or enrollment for 2026/27. Order letters with the 22 November deadline in view.
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3
Record a 75-second video
Explain why you are the right candidate. Keep it to 75 seconds, which is the length on the apply page. The press release's one-minute wording is shorter than the form.
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4
Submit on crrscholarship.com by 22 November 2026
Online only, by 11:59 p.m. EST. Ignore the leftover 23 November 2025 sentence on the same page. Late files are refused.
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5
Plan for January selection and required sessions
Applicants are selected and informed in January 2027. Zoom dates are set after that and are expected to start in February 2027. Sessions are mandatory. Skipping them can affect the grant. The New York summit is listed as 27-30 May.
Deadline and timeline
FAQ
Who can apply for the Cody Renard Richard Scholarship?
U.S. citizens who are full-time students, identify as Black, Asian, Latinx, Indigenous, or a person of color, and are pursuing stage management, technical theatre, theatre design, playwriting, directing, or theatre management at an accredited college in the United States, including Hawaii and Alaska, in spring 2027. You also need leadership potential, commitment to the craft, academic responsibility, and financial need. You can win only once.
When is the Cody Renard Richard Scholarship deadline?
22 November 2026 at 11:59 p.m. EST, online only. Applications opened 8 October 2026. The apply page still contains a sentence about 23 November 2025. Follow the 2026 timeline at the top of that page. Late applications are not accepted.
How much is the Cody Renard Richard Scholarship?
The program distributes $100,000 among 10 recipients. The FAQ says the exact amount for this year is announced when scholars are selected, and previous scholars received between $5,000 and $8,000 toward tuition. Do not assume an even $10,000 split.
Can performance majors apply for the Cody Renard Richard Scholarship?
No. The program is for offstage theatrical degrees only. Acting and other performance concentrations are outside the list. If your concentration is adjacent to stage management, design, playwriting, directing, or theatre management, email [email protected] before you submit.
Do I need a 3.0 GPA for the Cody Renard Richard Scholarship?
The eligibility checklist says yes, a minimum GPA of 3.0. The FAQ says an application will still be reviewed if your GPA is lower and encourages eligible candidates to apply. Those two lines disagree. If you are under 3.0, write to [email protected] before you count on the FAQ.
Can international students apply for the Cody Renard Richard Scholarship?
No. The FAQ says the program can provide financial support only to U.S. citizens. Students at colleges in U.S. territories are also ineligible, as are students in online programs and trade schools.
Is the New York trip part of the Cody Renard Richard Scholarship?
Yes. The apply page lists a summit from Thursday 27 May through Sunday 30 May, weekdays that fall in 2027, plus mandatory online sessions expected to start in February 2027. Skipping the sessions can affect whether you keep the grant. The 8 October announcement also describes an all-expenses-paid New York trip with mentors and Broadway conversations.
Can I reapply for the Cody Renard Richard Scholarship if I am not picked?
Yes. The FAQ tells you to apply again. You can be awarded the scholarship and enter the program only once. Everyone who applies is notified by email, and recipients are also announced online.
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