This week, ATG Chief Executive Mark Cornell and LAMDA Chair The Rt Hon Shaun Woodward launched the American Friends of LAMDA (AFLAMDA) East Coast Patrons Program for Americans to help fund drama students’ studies at LAMDA.

LAMDA is committed to selecting the most talented students, regardless of background or financial circumstance. Patrons will join the program for $1500 or $2500 a year, with their support contributing to the training of American students at LAMDA, where we have one in five of our students from the United States.      

Multi-Award winner John Lithgow (The Crown and currently on Broadway in Hillary and Clinton), who graduated from LAMDA in 1969 and is a Genesis LAMDA Network Mentor said, “This is a much needed opportunity for young American drama students who hope to come to London and study full time at one of the best drama schools in the world. I should know – it’s where I began life as a professional actor. LAMDA’s training still informs every acting job I do.”

The American Friends of LAMDA has supported the training of American students at LAMDA since 1994, providing scholarships and financial aid, and widening access to people from all backgrounds and economic circumstances. The East Coast Program will help increase the number of scholarships and bursaries offered specifically for American students.

Every year LAMDA auditions over 400 young people in seven major American cities for a place on its highly sought after full-time courses, with approximately one in five of its students coming from the USA. LAMDA alumni born or living in the USA include David Abeles, James Bundy, Brian Cox, Tony Goldwyn, Zeljko Ivanek, Stacey Keach, Dana Ivey, Swoozie Kurtz, John Lithgow, Benito Martinez, David Oyelowo, Rico Ross, Rita Wilson and the late Barbara Tarbuck.

The launch took place at ATG’s Hudson Theatre and was also attended by Michael Kors, Lance LaPere, Deborah Norville, John Benjamin Hickey, Francesca Amitheratrof, John Gore, Colin Callender, Bill Damaschke, Victoria Bailey, Lauren Reid, Heather Hitchens, Charlotte St. Martin, and other industry representatives.

Find out more information about the Genesis LAMDA Network 

If you would like to similar events in the US please join as a Patron.

To support US scholarships for students at LAMDA please click here.

Top photo: Over from London for the launch were LAMDA Director of Development Lyndel Harrison, Chairman Shaun Woodward and far right LAMDA alumnus Brian Nocella, with Scott Gordon from the US who studied at LAMDA for 3 years and was the LAMDA President for the graduating year of 2018. Scott lives in New York and is mentored by John Lithgow.

Published 18 April 2019