Three faculty members from Pace University’s Sands College of Performing Arts have received national recognition for their work in musical theatre writing. Eric Price and Phillip Christian Smith were named recipients of the 2026 Kleban Prize, while Adam J. Rineer was selected for the 2026 Jonathan Larson Grant.
Jennifer Holmes, PhD, dean of Sands College of Performing Arts, commented on the achievement: “To have three faculty members recognized in the same year with two of the most distinguished honors in musical theatre writing is extraordinary. These awards reflect the creative leadership and artistic rigor of our faculty and affirm Sands College as a center for innovation in musical theatre.”
The Kleban Prize, established by A Chorus Line lyricist Edward Kleban’s will in 1988, supports promising writers in musical theatre. Price received the award for Most Promising Lyricist and Smith for Most Promising Librettist, with each recipient to receive $100,000 over two years from The Kleban Foundation. The prize is administered by New Dramatists.
Smith teaches verse and heightened language at Sands College and has been recognized by organizations such as the O’Neill National Playwrights Conference and The Dramatists Guild Fellowship. His play The Chechens had its fourth production at Pace in 2022. Smith holds an MFA from Yale School of Drama, an MFA from Hunter College (’23), and a BFA from the University of New Mexico. He has performed at several theaters across the United States and is currently developing a Sloan Commission.
“I like to start out by thanking the great Edward Kleban for thinking about the future of the American Theatre in creating this award knowing that lyricists and book writers would probably be working in cafés, and coffee shops, restaurants and bars, office jobs, and also in this case adjuncts,” said Smith.
Price is a lyricist, librettist, director, and educator who previously received the Fred Ebb Award for Musical Theatre Writing with collaborator Will Reynolds. His works include musicals such as The Violet Hour—which released a studio cast album named Best Cast Album of the Year by Broadway Radio Show—Presto Change-o, Radioactive, Hello Out There, Around the World, The Sixth Borough, as well as contributions to stage adaptations including Clue. Price worked closely with Tony Award–winning director Hal Prince on new musicals’ development. He holds an MFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and has taught at Pace for nine years.
“The work of Edward Kleban has always been an incredible source of inspiration for me,” said Price. “It’s a privilege to be part of his amazing legacy, as well as share this experience with the truly wonderful writers who have received this award before. I’m profoundly grateful.”
Rineer received a Jonathan Larson Grant administered by the American Theatre Wing through support from the Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation. This grant provides unconditional annual support to emerging composers, lyricists, and librettists showing promise to shape contemporary culture.
Rineer is a composer and music director focused on new musical theatre development. They are currently Artist in Residence at Ars Nova and member of The Civilians’ R&D Group; their work has been presented at venues such as HERE Arts Center and National Alliance for Musical Theatre. Rineer co-founded UNTITLED Musical Project supporting marginalized writers in musical theatre. They hold an MFA from Temple University’s George and Joy Abbott Musical Theatre cohort and a BA from Millersville University.
“It’s an incredible honor to receive this award in the name of one of my musical theatre hero’s [sic], Jonathan Larson — an artist who pushed boundaries in genre and form,” said Rineer. “His legacy continues to inspire writers, including myself, to take creative risks and tell urgent stories. With the help of this grant, I look forward to continuing to explore how I can live up to his legacy.”
Amanda Flynn, Ed.D., head of musical theatre program at Sands College stated: “Our students are learning directly from artists who are shaping the future of the American musical. Having faculty recognized with the Kleban Prize and the Jonathan Larson Grant reinforces the depth of mentorship and artistic excellence embedded in our program.”
Both awards highlight Pace University’s role within national conversations on contemporary musical theatre writing.
