Beth Morrison Projects

Beth Morrison Projects opens 2026 Producer Academy applications

Applications are open for the 2026 cohort of the Producer Academy, the virtual training programme run by Beth Morrison Projects (BMP) for early-career producers in theatre, opera and dance. This year, for the first time since 2020, BMP is opening up the process with a free public preview event ahead of the
2 August deadline.

The Producer Academy was born out of a need to nurture, develop and support rising producers and arts administrators in the live performance industry, on the premise that the flexibility, agility and resourcefulness of this next generation will shape the field’s future. The 8.5-week programme gives participants direct access to leading artists, producers and industry professionals through interactive sessions on creative and tour producing, combining practical training, cohort-based learning and mentorship.

The 2026 cohort will comprise 30 participants, brought together from across music, opera, theatre, dance, film, interdisciplinary performance and beyond. The programme is aimed at artists looking to self-produce their own work, those wanting to strengthen their ability to pitch projects and collaborate with presenters and producers, aspiring creative or touring producers, and arts administrators seeking to expand their producing toolkit.

From 28 September to 23 November, participants will meet two to three times per week to work through the full production life cycle – budgeting, fundraising, touring, production design and pitching – with personal mentorship from Beth Morrison and her administrative and production team. They will also receive feedback on their own pitch materials from senior industry presenters alongside networking opportunities across the wider producing community.

“The Producer Academy was born in lockdown and has grown to a community of over 1,000 alumni,” said Morrison, BMP’s President and Creative Producer. “It’s exhilarating to meet the new cohort each year and add to the community of artists, administrators, and early career producers that want to produce new work and tour it around the world.” Morrison aims to expose the cohort to leading industry experts, helping them learn and make meaningful connections.

“There is simply no other space out there where multi-hyphenated artists gather to learn, grow and shape our hopes and dreams into viable artistic projects,” said Brenda Huggins, an alum of the 2024 cohort. “I have left this programme feeling inspired and hopeful for the future of multi-disciplinary art making.” 

Faculty for 2026 includes Morrison and senior members of BMP’s creative producing, administrative and production teams, led on the administrative side by Alexis Peart. Peart is the Producer Academy’s Director of Administration and a Chicago-based producer, arts administrator, opera singer and music educator who also serves as an Associate Producer at BMP. 

Guest speakers are drawn from across opera, theatre and live performance. Past faculty have included Christopher Koelsch (President & CEO, LA Opera), Khori Dastoor (General Director & CEO, Houston Grand Opera), Amy Cassello (Artistic Director, BAM), Naomi Grabel (Executive Director of Development and Planning, Lincoln Center), Mark Russell (Director, Under the Radar Festival), Sarah Williams (Director of New Works & Creative Producer, Opera Philadelphia) and composers David T. Little, Huang Ruo and Paola Prestini. 

Since its founding, the Producer Academy has welcomed more than 1,200 participants across 17 countries. It remains deeply committed to accessibility, and encourages applicants from people of all gender identities, racial and ethnic backgrounds, socio-economic backgrounds, and mental and physical abilities. Tuition is US$2,500, with a US$500 deposit on acceptance; payment plans and need-based financial aid are both available.

For further details,
visit bethmorrisonprojects.org/shows/bmp-producer-academy