Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program Alum Ty Defoe (Cycle 22)
Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program alum Ty Defoe (Cycle 22) was one of six recipients of the the 2021 Helen Merrill Award for Playwriting. Each recipient received cash prizes of $25,000. William S. Yellow Robe Jr. was awarded $40,000 in recognition of his playwriting career and contributions to building the field, in particular among Native American theatres.
Each year, the Helen Merrill Fund awards talented playwrights, and supports those in need of financial assistance. Theatrical agent Helen Merrill established the fund as part of The New York Community Trust to help playwrights pursue their talents with less financial pressure. Since 1999, the fund has made 98 awards totaling $2.14 million.
Ty Defoe is a writer and interdisciplinary artist from the Oneida and Ojibwe Nations currently living in New York City. The two-spirit/Indigi-queer writer’s theatrical work has been presented at Guthrie Theater, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, La MaMa Experimental Theater, Noor Theatre, UtahPresents, First Stage Milwaukee, Native Voices at the Autry, Under the Radar at the Public Theater, New Victory Theater, and Chicago International Puppet Festival. Defoe is a co-founder of Indigenous Direction and All My Relations Collective. Defoe has also received a Johnathan Larson Award and Grammy Award for his work on Come to Me Great Mystery.