Striving Artist Project
Opening Doors for Emerging Artists
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The Striving Artist Project is a fund intended to honor the legacy of Louise ImMasche and the art they created by fostering a space and providing resources to small artists with big shows. This project aims to provide an opportunity to kinder those like Louise - unyielding in their dreams, a need to tell their stories, and looking to go big with the chances they are provided.
Funding for this project is possible thanks to contributions made in Louise's memory.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
The purpose of this program is to provide an opportunity for artists to debut an original theatrical work. This work can be a musical or play (preference given to musicals). The selected show will receive a small production budget and technical support from Theatre Lawrence – including limited scenic, prop, and costume access. The selected artist will be partnered with a paid director who will assist in producing the show.
Funding for this project is possible thanks to generous contributions made in Louise's memory.
Click here if you would like to support the fund.
(Note this link will take you to the Douglas County Community Foundation website, where the fund now resides.)
Now accepting application for inaugural project
The Striving Artist Project is designed for small artists with big shows — artists who, like Louise, are unyielding in their dreams, driven to tell their stories, and ready to make the most of a meaningful opportunity. Through this project, Theatre Lawrence will provide support, space, resources, and encouragement to help an original theatrical work take its next step from page to stage.
Theatre Lawrence will provide roughly 5 weeks of rehearsal space beginning in late August, 2026 with the performances taking place on the main stage on Oct. 2 and 3, 2026.
The production will be filmed and a separate audio recording will be created. These will be given to the artist with the intention for use as demo recordings to showcase their work.
Applications will be blind reviewed by a panel in an effort to allow the works to speak for themselves before finalists are invited to interview with the panel to allow them to speak on behalf of their project.
Eligibility:
- Original work that has not been previously produced.
- Artist who has not had their work published before (self-published is okay).
- Artist should reside in the Lawrence, Topeka, Kansas City area.
Timeline:
- May 31 – application deadline
- 2nd week of June – finalists invited for interviews
- June 29 - applicant notified
- July 6 – selected show announced
- Late August - rehearsals
- Sept. 27 – tech week
- Oct. 2, 3 - performances