Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
The OBIE Award winning 1/52 Project provides financial support to encourage early career designers from historically excluded groups with the aim of strengthening the theater community by diversifying the stories we tell. The 1/52 Project considers all women of all ethnicities as part of a historically excluded group. Tony Award-winning scenic designer, Beowulf Boritt, had the idea that if every designer with a show running on Broadway was willing to donate one week’s additional weekly compensation (1/52 of their yearly AWC), what was a small sacrifice for each donor would add up to a significant amount of money to support early career designers. Since its founding by Boritt in January 2022, 401 individual donations (largely from designers, but also from producers, directors, managers, educators, and significant donations from many shops) have added up to over half a million dollars in grants provided to thirty five early career scenic, costume, lighting, sound, projections, hair, and makeup designers.
The grant decisions are made by a volunteer committee of eighteen world-class designers from historically excluded groups. Twenty six individual designers have served on the committee over the Project’s life. The administration is handled by Bethany Weinstein Stewert & Beowulf Boritt, with help from a volunteer advisory committee.
Among the 1/52 Project’s past recipients is the projection designer, Stefania Bulbarella, who made her Broadway debut with Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, was nominated for a 2024 Tony Award for her work, designed Jeff Ross: Take A Banana For The Ride this season and will design Wanted on Broadway next season. Other recipients have included the lighting designer, Mextly Couzin, who made her Broadway debut with JOB in the summer of 2024 and designed the off-Broadway hit Mexodous; the costume designer, Willberth Gonzales, who made his Broadway co-design debut last season with Real Women Have Curves and will make his Metropolitan Opera co-design debut with Frida Y Diego; the set designer, Teresa L. Williams, who made her Broadway co-design debut with John Proctor Is The Villain, and designed Proof this season; and the projection designer, Brittany Bland, who made her Broadway debut with Cats: The Jellicle Ball -- and who we believe to be the first Black woman to design projections on Broadway.
About Tony Honors The Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre were established in 1990 and are awarded annually to institutions, individuals and/or organizations that have demonstrated extraordinary achievement in theatre, but are not eligible in any of the established Tony Award categories.
-- Watch the 79th Annual Tony Awards on Sunday, June 7, 2026 --
The 78th Annual Tony Awards, hosted by P!NK, will air live from Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Sunday, June 7, 2026 (8:00-11:00 PM, LIVE ET/5:00-8:00 PM, LIVE PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ in the U.S, preceded by Act One on Pluto TV.
(live and on-demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the special airs).*
The OBIE Award winning 1/52 Project provides financial support to encourage early career designers from historically excluded groups with the aim of strengthening the theater community by diversifying the stories we tell. The 1/52 Project considers all women of all ethnicities as part of a historically excluded group. Tony Award-winning scenic designer, Beowulf Boritt, had the idea that if every designer with a show running on Broadway was willing to donate one week’s additional weekly compensation (1/52 of their yearly AWC), what was a small sacrifice for each donor would add up to a significant amount of money to support early career designers. Since its founding by Boritt in January 2022, 401 individual donations (largely from designers, but also from producers, directors, managers, educators, and significant donations from many shops) have added up to over half a million dollars in grants provided to thirty five early career scenic, costume, lighting, sound, projections, hair, and makeup designers.
The grant decisions are made by a volunteer committee of eighteen world-class designers from historically excluded groups. Twenty six individual designers have served on the committee over the Project’s life. The administration is handled by Bethany Weinstein Stewert & Beowulf Boritt, with help from a volunteer advisory committee.
Among the 1/52 Project’s past recipients is the projection designer, Stefania Bulbarella, who made her Broadway debut with Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, was nominated for a 2024 Tony Award for her work, designed Jeff Ross: Take A Banana For The Ride this season and will design Wanted on Broadway next season. Other recipients have included the lighting designer, Mextly Couzin, who made her Broadway debut with JOB in the summer of 2024 and designed the off-Broadway hit Mexodous; the costume designer, Willberth Gonzales, who made his Broadway co-design debut last season with Real Women Have Curves and will make his Metropolitan Opera co-design debut with Frida Y Diego; the set designer, Teresa L. Williams, who made her Broadway co-design debut with John Proctor Is The Villain, and designed Proof this season; and the projection designer, Brittany Bland, who made her Broadway debut with Cats: The Jellicle Ball -- and who we believe to be the first Black woman to design projections on Broadway.
About Tony Honors The Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre were established in 1990 and are awarded annually to institutions, individuals and/or organizations that have demonstrated extraordinary achievement in theatre, but are not eligible in any of the established Tony Award categories.
-- Watch the 79th Annual Tony Awards on Sunday, June 7, 2026 --
The 78th Annual Tony Awards, hosted by P!NK, will air live from Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Sunday, June 7, 2026 (8:00-11:00 PM, LIVE ET/5:00-8:00 PM, LIVE PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ in the U.S, preceded by Act One on Pluto TV.
(live and on-demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the special airs).*
