Summer Stage receives $10,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts

Upper Darby Arts & Education Foundation (UDAEF) is pleased to announce that Upper Darby Summer Stage has been recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) with a Grants for Arts Projects award of $10,000.

This grant will support Upper Darby Summer Stage’s 50th anniversary season of its award-winning youth theatre program throughout 2025. The NEA will award 1,127 Grants for Arts Projects awards nationwide totaling more than $31.8 million as part of the recent announcement of fiscal year 2025 grants.

“The NEA is proud to continue our nearly 60 years of supporting the efforts of organizations and artists that help to shape our country’s vibrant arts sector and communities of all types across our nation,” said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson. “It is inspiring to see the wide range of creative projects taking place, including UDAEF’s Upper Darby Summer Stage.”

"We are deeply honored to receive this National Endowment for the Arts Grants for Arts Projects award as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Upper Darby Summer Stage," said Chris Luner, artistic and managing director of Upper Darby Summer Stage. "This recognition affirms the impact of Summer Stage in fostering creativity, creating community, and filling the world with love for young people across the Philadelphia region. We are grateful to the NEA for its support, which allows us to continue inspiring young people and delighting audiences as we embark on this milestone season and look ahead to the next 50 seasons."

Since 1976, Upper Darby Summer Stage has inspired thousands of young people to discover their talents and create magical theatrical experiences for audiences of all ages. Named one of America’s Top Five Performing Arts Summer Camps by Playbill, Summer Stage brings together over 800 participants each summer to produce eight professional-quality shows in just six weeks, entertaining nearly 27,000 audience members.

Celebrating its 50th season in 2025, Summer Stage offers opportunities for ages 9 to 35 to work alongside professional staff and peers to create outstanding theatrical performances that have become a gold standard for summer youth theater.

Since 1998, the Upper Darby Arts & Education Foundation has been dedicated to enriching the lives of young people and residents through educational programming, arts opportunities, and community service. While the Upper Darby Arts & Education Foundation has supported Summer Stage since 1998, it most recently took over operations for the award-winning program in 2022.