FOR BIPOC APPLICANTS

In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute, we are establishing several new scholarships named in honor of prominent alumni whose work exemplifies Lee Strasberg’s Method Acting and inspires us all.

We are thrilled to announce a scholarship in honor of multi-talented actor, director and alumna, Chandra Wilson. This scholarship for 1 year of full-time study at the LSTFI in New York will be awarded to a talented BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Person of Color) actor who demonstrates great potential and passion for a career in the performing arts.

Chandra Wilson studied at The Institute for 4 years in NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts program. Prior to this, she had extensive training and performance experience in musical theatre.

“I chose Strasberg because, with all my years of being a musical theatre actor, I felt I lacked knowledge of the internal journey of creating a character when song and dance were not an option. And, as difficult and painful as that journey was sometimes in class, leaving me full of doubt about what I was doing, I was made to understand that my talent is what got me in the room. Now it was my job to ground it in Lee’s instruction. I would love the scholarship to be a vessel to support an actor like me who has the talent, but is seeking to be more grounded in the work.”

Chandra Wilson

In her theatre career, Wilson has performed in Broadway productions, “On the Town,” “Avenue Q,” “Caroline, or Change” and “Chicago,” as well as in Off-Broadway plays. Best known on television for creating the role of Dr. Miranda Bailey on “Grey’s Anatomy,” she has also worked on “Law and Order, SVU,” “The Sopranos,” “Sex and the City,” “Third Watch” and other shows. Among her many awards, she has won a Theatre World Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, 4 NAACP Image Awards, a People’s Choice Award, 2 PRISM Awards, and been nominated for 5 Emmy Awards.

Applications open October 1, 2023 and the deadline to apply for the Chandra Wilson Scholarship is May 15th, 2024. The scholarship includes 3 terms, commencing Fall 2024.

Scholarship information and due dates can be found below. Questions can be sent to [email protected].

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IMPORTANT DATES

• October 1, 2023: Opening date for accepting applications
• May 15, 2024: Application deadline for Fall 2024 scholarship

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS

• 18 years or older by the start of the Fall semester of the current year
• US or International student
• Be a New York applicant for the Fall 2024
• Have completed high school or the equivalent with a 2.5 GPA (75/100) or higher

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Please submit:

• One completed scholarship application
• Copy of your latest academic transcript
• Two letters of recommendation, no more than six months old from a professional or teacher who can speak about your work
• One passport-size photo, for identification purposes only
• Resume/Headshot
• Copy of valid passport (for non-US Citizens)

Non-native English speakers must submit:

• TOEFL exam results with a score of 85 or higher (taken within two years of application deadline)

SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION

• Any incomplete applications will be disqualified.
• Applications must be submitted by clicking the button above.
• The application deadlines are strict – do not apply earlier or later or the application will not be considered. 
• If you do not meet the minimum requirements, you will not be considered.
• Application materials will not be returned.
• Housing and books/materials are not included with the scholarship. The winning candidate will need to make their own housing arrangements.
• There is no audition. If you are selected as a finalist, there is an interview that can be completed via Zoom or in-person.
• The scholarship application is the only application you need to complete to be considered for the scholarship; you do not need to submit the standard application for admission to the school in order to apply for a scholarship.