The American Theatre Wing has announced the recipients of its 2017 National Theatre Company Grants. This year’s nine Initial Support recipients are: Blackout Theatre Company (Albuquerque, NM), Chicago Children's Theatre (Chicago, IL), Forward Theater Company (Madison, WI), Jewel Theatre Company (Santa Cruz, CA), Road Less Traveled Productions (Buffalo, NY), Short North Stage (Columbus, OH), The Millibo Art Theatre (Colorado Springs, CO), The Playwrights Realm (New York, NY), and Theatre Horizon (Norristown, PA). The Second-Time Support grant recipients are the following three companies: Ars Nova (New York, NY), Congo Square Theatre Company (Chicago, IL), and The NOLA Project (New Orleans, LA). The grants totaling $120,000 will be presented on Mon Oct 30 at a private event. Initial Support grants for the 2017 cycle in the amount of $10,000 each will be distributed for general operating support to these companies which, according to grant guidelines, have been in operation at least five, but not more than fifteen years, have articulated a distinctive mission, cultivated an audience, and nurtured a community of artists in ways that strengthen and demonstrate the quality, diversity, and dynamism of American theatre.  This year marked the second cycle of the Second-Time Support grants. These grants for the 2017 cycle in the amount of $10,000 each will be distributed for general operating support to companies who have already received the National Theatre Company Grant in grant cycles occurring between 2010 and 2015. It is the American Theatre Wing’s hope to provide additional support for companies who plan to advance their work in a significant way and have a strategic goal to build the organization’s capacity to continue to innovate and create a more dynamic American theatre and have described an actionable plan to achieve that goal. For more information on the ATW’s National Theatre Company Grants, visit: americantheatrewing.org. The application period for 2018 grants will open in the spring of next year. Press contact: DKC/O&M Co (212/695-7400)...