<b>Alumnus Ted Chapin '68 Named American Theatre Wing Board Chairman</b>
"Dedicated to celebrating excellence and supporting education in
theatre", the American Theatre Wing has been a celebrated institution
in the theatrical community for more than 70 years. Proudly, we share
the news that alumnus Theodore (Ted) S. Chapin '68, President of the Rodgers &
Hammerstein Organization, was recently elected chairman of the American
Theatre Wing.
Ted is the son of Millbrook alumnus Schuyler Chapin '40, brother of Millbrook alumnus Hank Chapin '66, and father of Millbrook alumna Zoe Chapin '03. The arts are in the Chapin blood - father Schuyler is former General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera and retired Commissioner of Cultural Affairs for the City of New York, and brother Hank is a musician and music teacher.
Ted Chapin has been involved in the theatre since his days at Millbrook and immediately following his graduation in the late 1960's. During college, he began as a production assistant on Broadway plays such as The Unknown Soldier and His Wife, The Rothschilds, and The Follies before working as an assistant to Alan Arkin on the original Broadway production of Neil Simon's The Sunshine Boys. Over many years with the Rogers and Hammerstein Organization, Ted has been involved in the production of musicals, specials, and concerts including The King and I, Something Good, Something Wonderful, The Sound of Music, Oklahoma!, and Flower Drum Song. Making his foray into the art of writing, Ted used his past experience as a production assistant as the basis for his book, Everything Was Possible: The Birth of the Musical "Follies," which was published in 2003.
Ted's many years of service within the theatre community certainly make him an ideal Chairman of the Board for the American Theatre Wing. Formed as the Stage Women's War Relief in 1917 by seven women in theatre who wanted to contribute to the first world war efforts, many women (and later, men) in theatre provided clothing and food, established canteens, and entertained servicemen. By 1939 the American Theatre Wing was formed, and their efforts continued throughout World War II as their Stage Door Canteens, Victory Players, and Lunchtime Follies (to name just a few of their 54 programs) provided a joyful escape for servicemen. After the war, the group's efforts turned to supporting war veterans as they began performance tours to veterans hospitals. In 1946 the American Theatre Wing Professional School was built as a theatre school for returning vets, and the Wing's programs expanded as they provided volunteer work for many organizations such as the American Red Cross, the National Association of Mental Health, and the Veteran's Administration. As a non-profit organization, their focus today remains on furthering the welfare of the theatre itself while giving back to the community at large through grant, scholarship, and intern programs.
Today, the American Theatre Wing is well known as the founder of the Tony Awards® which debuted on Easter Sunday in 1947 at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York City. They were established to recognize excellence in theatre and were named for Antoinette Perry, former leader of the American Theatre Wing who had been active as an actor, director, and producer. The next time you watch the Tony Awards, remember that one of the leaders behind the scenes got his start right here at Millbrook...
Back
Ted is the son of Millbrook alumnus Schuyler Chapin '40, brother of Millbrook alumnus Hank Chapin '66, and father of Millbrook alumna Zoe Chapin '03. The arts are in the Chapin blood - father Schuyler is former General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera and retired Commissioner of Cultural Affairs for the City of New York, and brother Hank is a musician and music teacher.
Ted Chapin has been involved in the theatre since his days at Millbrook and immediately following his graduation in the late 1960's. During college, he began as a production assistant on Broadway plays such as The Unknown Soldier and His Wife, The Rothschilds, and The Follies before working as an assistant to Alan Arkin on the original Broadway production of Neil Simon's The Sunshine Boys. Over many years with the Rogers and Hammerstein Organization, Ted has been involved in the production of musicals, specials, and concerts including The King and I, Something Good, Something Wonderful, The Sound of Music, Oklahoma!, and Flower Drum Song. Making his foray into the art of writing, Ted used his past experience as a production assistant as the basis for his book, Everything Was Possible: The Birth of the Musical "Follies," which was published in 2003.
Ted's many years of service within the theatre community certainly make him an ideal Chairman of the Board for the American Theatre Wing. Formed as the Stage Women's War Relief in 1917 by seven women in theatre who wanted to contribute to the first world war efforts, many women (and later, men) in theatre provided clothing and food, established canteens, and entertained servicemen. By 1939 the American Theatre Wing was formed, and their efforts continued throughout World War II as their Stage Door Canteens, Victory Players, and Lunchtime Follies (to name just a few of their 54 programs) provided a joyful escape for servicemen. After the war, the group's efforts turned to supporting war veterans as they began performance tours to veterans hospitals. In 1946 the American Theatre Wing Professional School was built as a theatre school for returning vets, and the Wing's programs expanded as they provided volunteer work for many organizations such as the American Red Cross, the National Association of Mental Health, and the Veteran's Administration. As a non-profit organization, their focus today remains on furthering the welfare of the theatre itself while giving back to the community at large through grant, scholarship, and intern programs.
Today, the American Theatre Wing is well known as the founder of the Tony Awards® which debuted on Easter Sunday in 1947 at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York City. They were established to recognize excellence in theatre and were named for Antoinette Perry, former leader of the American Theatre Wing who had been active as an actor, director, and producer. The next time you watch the Tony Awards, remember that one of the leaders behind the scenes got his start right here at Millbrook...
