THE ARTS FOR EVERY VOICE

APPLY TODAY

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Photo: Django Boletus

World-class performing arts training for underserved high-school juniors and seniors in NYC

– completely free of cost.

Applications are now closed.

See below for a video overview of Ivy Summer 2025!

Join us in empowering the next generation of diverse artists.

Photo: Django Boletus

ABOUT US

As the flagship program of The Liminal Theatre Collective, The Ivy Initiative was created by veteran Broadway actor and college educator Azudi Onyejekwe to address critical gaps in theatre and higher education for emerging artists of color.

This fully subsidized pre-college conservatory program serves rising high school juniors and seniors from lower-income households in New York City who aspire to pursue acting at the college level.

The Ivy Initiative offers a holistic curriculum combining traditional performance training with entrepreneurial skills, mentorship, social activism, and professional opportunities. Students will learn from industry professionals and college professors.

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OUR MISSION

The Ivy Initiative is a social impact arts education program. We help under-resourced high school juniors and seniors in NYC who aspire to pursue acting in college and beyond by providing fully subsidized college-level conservatory training, mentorship, and a professional pipeline ecosystem that bridges students to industry opportunities—offering affordability, cultural contextualization, Broadway pedigree, advocacy, and real-world connections often lacking in traditional arts education programs.

Moreover, we empower our students to become not only exceptional performers, but also autonomous changemakers equipped with lifelong support networks.

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OUR AMBASSADOR

BROADWAY STAR, NICHELLE LEWIS

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We are proud to announce that our ambassador for The Ivy Initiative is the incredibly talented, award-winning actor, Nichelle Lewis, a shining star on Broadway! Nichelle’s journey exemplifies the transformative power of mentorship and the importance of fostering diverse voices in the arts. She recently captivated audiences as Dorothy in the Broadway revival of The Wiz, for which she was nominated for a Drama League Award for Distinguished Performance and a Grammy Award, and is currently starring as Sarah in Ragtime on Broadway.

As the ambassador to The Ivy Initiative, Nichelle will inspire participants through her story and lead masterclasses, Q&A sessions, and scholarship panels, showing our students what is possible with the right support.

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“The Ivy Initiative is going to open doors that have never been opened before and give more people a chance to be a part of something they didn’t think possible.”

Nichelle Lewis, Broadway’s The Wiz, The Ivy Initiative Ambassador

WHY THE IVY INITIATIVE NOW?

We address three critical issues:

1) Limited access to quality arts education in low-income communities.

2) The lack of reflective diversity within conservatory faculty and student bodies.

3) The poor college experience for many students of color in conservatories, marked by bias, microaggressions, cultural erasure, and underrepresentation, impacting both their on-stage and behind-the-scenes opportunities.

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THE LIMINAL THEATRE COLLECTIVE

The Ivy Initiative operates under the umbrella of The Liminal Theatre Collective (TLTC), a transformative 501(c)(3) nonprofit theatre company dedicated to amplifying marginalized voices and reimagining traditional theatre practices. TLTC creates a dynamic space for storytelling and community engagement, reflecting the values and vision that also drive The Ivy Initiative. As TLTC’s flagship education program, The Ivy Initiative extends this commitment to the next generation of artists, providing a bridge between high-quality training and meaningful professional opportunities.

www.liminaltheatre.org

SUPPORT US

While The Ivy Initiative operates under The Liminal Theatre Collective, we offer donors and sponsors the option to earmark their contributions specifically for The Ivy Initiative, as it is a distinct arts education, and social impact program. This ensures their support directly impacts the next generation of artists through fully subsidized training, mentorship, scholarships, and professional development opportunities.

ABOUT IVY ONYEJEKWE

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"This initiative is named after my greatest hero and the most remarkable person I’ve ever known, my mother, Ivy Onyejekwe. My mother was a 39-year educator who left her home in Nigeria and everything she knew as a teenager and came to the US in the 1970s. I could go on and on about my mother and her accomplishments, such as her stint as a Special Education Ambassador to China or being officially knighted by the Anglican Diocese of Okigwe North. Or I could talk about her resilience in navigating life as a young Igbo girl in the midst of the Biafran War and leaving home to start a new life in the US as a teenager. Or how she earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in short order, all while navigating a world predicated on the marginalization of her existence. Her faith and integrity serve as my North Star long after her transition to the heavenly realm. But the main thing I will mention about this most amazing woman is what she instilled in me from a young age: the mandate to always serve others, stand boldly in my transnational culture and unhesitatingly disrupt injustice. It is for this reason that “The Ivy Initiative” will exist.”

Azudi Onyejekwe, Founder of The Ivy Initiative

Photo: Django Boletus

OUR TEAM

AZUDI ONYEJEKWE - FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Broadway: Violet, Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812
Artistic Director: The Liminal Theatre Collective
Regional: The Guthrie Theater, American Repertory Theater, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Carnegie Hall, LA Philharmonic, NJPAC
Faculty: Long Island University - Brooklyn (current), The New Group Acting Studio (current), New York University (2022-2024), Molloy University (2016-2022)
Education: New York University, University of Pennsylvania

“I founded The Ivy Initiative to address the critical gaps I witnessed firsthand in both my work as a Broadway actor and teaching in higher education. My journey—from completing a double major in Africana Studies and Theatre at NYU to originating shows on Broadway to teaching, directing, and advising at institutions like NYU, LIU, and Molloy University—revealed the persistent systemic barriers and disparate treatment facing young artists of color. Currently pursuing my Master's in Education Entrepreneurship at UPenn, I am combining rigorous academic research with nearly a decade of proven success in helping diverse young artists access high-level training and opportunities. The Ivy Initiative builds on the methodologies I've refined over nine years, showcasing success stories of students who transitioned from fraught conservatory training experiences to thriving in their professional careers. This isn't just theoretical; my methodology is grounded in real outcomes and informed by lived experience. I am now scaling this proven approach to create systemic change in how we develop and empower the next generation of artists of color."

- Azudi Onyejekwe, Founder of The Ivy Initiative and Founding Artistic Director of The Liminal Theatre Collective

FOUNDER’S STATEMENT

BACK TO THE TOP

THE LIMINAL THEATRE COLLECTIVE HOME

MASTERCLASS LEADERS

We are honored to collaborate with an extraordinary roster of instructors, masterclass leaders, teaching artists, and mentors for our summer faculty and masterclasses. This accomplished group includes Broadway and TV/Film stars, Emmy Award-winning actors, and faculty from the Yale School of Drama, all of whom bring unparalleled expertise, artistry, wisdom, and passion to inspire and elevate our students.

OUR INSTRUCTORS

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Nichelle Lewis is the ambassador for The Ivy Initiative. She recently starred as Dorothy in the Broadway revival of The Wiz, for which she won a Theatre World Award, and was nominated for a Drama League Award for Distinguished Performance and a Grammy.

Erin Cherry is an Emmy Award winner for the role of Brenda (Best Supporting Actress) on the hit Emmy Award winning show After Forever (Amazon Prime). Cherry has appeared on stages across the country, NYC, and the world. She is a founding member of The Uptown Collective and is a private acting coach & the senior acting teacher at Maggie Flanigan Studio in New York City.
www.erincherry.com/

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Erica Dorfler is an accomplished Broadway performer and educator with an extensive career spanning celebrated productions and stages across North America. She made her Broadway debut in the Tony Award-winning hit Memphis and has since been featured in iconic productions, including The Book of Mormon,Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, and A Christmas Carol.
A versatile artist, Erica’s talents extend to screen work, with roles in the Max Original series The Other Two, the Hallmark original movie A Holiday Spectacular, and short films such as Maya and The Book of Living and Dying.
www.ericadorfler.com

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Lulu Fall is a dynamic artist whose work spans Broadway, music, vocal coaching, and visual art. She has appeared in celebrated productions, including HAIR, Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812, and Hadestown, as well as television projects like HBO's Random Acts of Flyness and TBS's The Last O.G.
A graduate of Michigan State University with a degree in Jazz Studies, Lulu’s musical journey includes six albums, blending jazz, soul, and experimental sounds. Her 2019 concept album Between Two Worlds was released under Ropeadope Records, with her latest independent album Transform debuting in 2022.
In addition to her vibrant performing career, Lulu is a sought-after vocal coach through the Lulu Fall Vocal Studio, specializing in storytelling, vocal technique, and performance readiness. She is also an accomplished abstract artist, showcasing her work in solo and group exhibitions in Detroit and beyond.
Lulu is the Executive Director for Cabaret 313.
www.lulufall.com

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Midori Nakamura is a versatile actor and educator whose career spans film, television, Broadway, and Off-Broadway. She has worked with luminaries such as Philip Seymour Hoffman, Angela Bassett, and Patrick Stewart, under the direction of visionaries like Morgan Freeman and George C. Wolfe. Her theater credits extend to the Kennedy Center, Shakespeare in the Park, and the Royal Shakespeare Company.
A Designated Linklater Teacher since 2019, Midori teaches voice at the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University, The Linklater Center in New York, and the Maggie Flanigan Studio. Her diverse teaching background includes roles with LAByrinth Theater’s Intensive Ensemble, Molloy/CAP21, NYU Tisch, and private coaching in voice and acting.
Committed to lifelong learning, Midori has studied with legends like Kristin Linklater, Bill Esper, and Jerzy Grotowski. Beyond teaching, she co-directed T’an Bakhtale, an award-winning documentary about the Russian Roma, and assisted Karen Allen in her directorial debut.

Azudi Onyejekwe: Artistic Director
Zevity Lopez: Producing Director
Ava Jones: Head of Outreach
Gabi Chun: Artistic Associate

THE LIMINAL THEATRE COLLECTIVE SUPPORT STAFF

OUR PROGRAMS

SUMMER CONSERVATORY 2026: APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED!

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SUMMER CONSERVATORY 2026: APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED! 〰️

WHAT DOES THE IVY INITIATIVE INCLUDE?

Fully Subsidized Summer Conservatory Program: Free intensive college-level training in the performing arts with college faculty and established theatre professionals. Summer Program Packet
Year-Round Workshops and Talkbacks: Educational sessions with industry professionals and post-show talkbacks.
Professional Fellowships and Internships: Hands-on experience on stage and behind the scenes in the arts.
Continued Network of Support and Advocacy: The Ivy Initiative is for life, providing mentorship, resources, professional opportunities, and advocacy to support Ivy Artist-Scholars throughout their college journey and beyond.

SUMMER CONSERVATORY

2026

February 2, 2026 – Applications Open
April 28, 2026 – Priority Application Deadline
End of April through May, 2026 - Interviews
May 2026 – Rolling Participant Selection Notifications Begin
July 6, 2026 – Summer Conservatory Begins
August 26, 2026 – Conclusion with an Invited Performance

CURRICULUM

This summer will consist of an Acting Technique course (designed and taught by veteran Broadway actor and college professor Azudi Onyejekwe), as well as regular masterclasses with Broadway and Industry professionals. Last summer’s masterclasses included Broadway’s Nichelle Lewis (Sarah in Ragtime) and Erica Dorfler (6-time Broadway Veteran actor).

Potential learning experiences for this summer may also include Voice and Movement.

Who is Eligible: Rising high school sophomores, juniors and seniors from NYC who come from historically excluded backgrounds, including students of color and those from lower-income households, with a passion for theatre.
Application Process: Applicants submit a brief audition video of a monologue, personal statement, and one recommendation. Finalists may be invited for an interview.

ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION DETAILS

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Two people sitting across from each other in a room, engaging in a conversation. A woman with dreadlocks and casual clothing sits on the left, and a man in a white t-shirt and black pants sits on the right. There are empty chairs along the wall, a piano against the back wall, and a person entering from the left side in the background.

Skill Development
- Foundational Mastery: Students will have foundational skills in acting, storytelling, and performance, including the ability to connect with text, embody character, and engage an audience with confidence and authenticity.
- Collaborative Craft: Emphasis on ensemble work will help students understand the shared responsibility of storytelling, cultivating respect and synergy in the creative process.
Personal Growth
- Confidence in Individuality: Students will leave with an affirmed understanding that their unique identities and stories are central to their artistry, fostering a strong sense of self in their craft.
- Critical and Cultural Thinking: By engaging with diverse narratives, students will develop the ability to interrogate themes, contextualize stories, and bring nuance to their interpretations.
- Resilience and Adaptability: Students will grow through the iterative process of scene work and feedback, building emotional stamina and flexibility.
Performance Culmination
- Scene Study Presentation: The program culminates in a live or recorded showcase of culturally contextualized scenes, providing students with a platform to demonstrate their growth and share their voices with an audience.

OUTCOMES

Lifelong Network - Graduates gain access to the Ivy Initiative network, which includes:
- Circular Mentorship: A commitment to fostering a supportive community where alumni and future participants inspire and uplift one another.
- Professional Pathways: Advocacy and resources to navigate further training, auditions, college applications, and career opportunities.
- Continued Growth: Priority access to advanced Ivy Initiative programming as they become available.
The Bigger Picture
- Grounded Storytellers: Graduates will be equipped with the foundational tools to create deeply personal, culturally resonant work that defies reductive, universalist approaches to acting.
- Agents of Transformation: They will emerge as artists and leaders committed to using theatre as a means of representation, healing, and societal impact, embodying the Ivy Initiative’s values of equity and authenticity.