Ellen Schwartz Award
for Outstanding Literary Merit in Lyric Writing
The Ellen Schwartz Award for Outstanding Literary Merit in Lyric Writing is presented annually to a Second- or Third-Year participant of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop, a Tony-honored program for new writers of musical theatre. The award was established in 2015 to commemorate the life and career of the late songwriter and Workshop member Ellen Schwartz, and recognizes lyric writing of an exceptional literary standard.
The $1,000 award was presented for the very first time on June 15, 2015 to composer Ray Bokhour at the BMI Foundation’s annual Musical Theatre Awards ceremony in New York City.