Springboard to Design (SB2D), the tuition-free theatre design program built for students from underrepresented communities, just pulled back the curtain on its 2026 Summer Program — and the guest artist roster reads like a Tony Awards after-party invite list.

Presented by Design Action and led by Tony Award-winning designers Clint Ramos and David Zinn, the weeklong New York City intensive drops high school students directly into the working world of Broadway design. Think workshops, backstage passes, post-show conversations, and hands-on time with the artists actually shaping the stage right now.

A Master Class Lineup

Leading this year’s cohort of mentors is Tony Award-winning scenic designer Donyale Werle, who returns to teach her fan-favorite model box workshop — the kind of hands-on session students talk about for years after. Projection designer Caite Hevner, founder of a studio dedicated to hiring women and nonbinary artists, will walk students through the storytelling firepower of projection design. Sound designer Justin Ellington and lighting designers Clifton Taylor and Amara McNeil round out the technical mentorship with hands-on sessions in their respective disciplines.

The program also features career-focused conversations with Brown University professor Sophia Skiles and Lincoln Center Line Producer Frankie Charles, plus additional workshops led by a diverse roster of working scenic, lighting, and production designers.

Broadway Access, Not Just Broadway Talk

Students won’t just be talking about theatre — they’ll be in the seats. This year’s slate includes Ragtime at Lincoln Center, fresh off 11 Tony Award nominations, along with additional productions and post-show Q&As with the artists behind them.

The behind-the-scenes access goes even deeper with a Costume Shop Tour at Tricorne Inc, led by Kathy Marshall, whose credits span Wicked, CATS: The Jellicle Ball, and costumes for a recent Chappell Roan performance — proof that the line between Broadway design and pop culture’s biggest moments is thinner than ever. (Catch Chappell Roan’s breakout album on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/0EiI8ylL0FmWWpgHVTsZjZ)

“Teaching the next generation of artists requires humility, authenticity, and expertise. These distinguished guest artists are the ideal mentors to champion the SB2D program and mission,” say Clint Ramos and David Zinn.

Why It Matters

For many SB2D participants, this program is their first real shot at studying theatre design in a professional environment — especially for students from communities where arts education funding is thin or nonexistent. Every workshop, ticket, and mentorship session is offered tuition-free, and the organization is actively fundraising to keep it that way.

Donations directly cover Broadway tickets, housing, meals, workshop materials, transportation, and mentorship access. Supporters can contribute at https://givebutter.com/Cs4A3U or mail a check to Producer Hub, 315 West 39th Street, Suite 103, New York, NY 10018 (memo line: “Design Action: SB2D”).

Additional collaborations, workshops, and guest artist announcements for the 2026 program will be revealed in the coming weeks. If you care about who’s designing the next decade of American theatre, this is the pipeline to watch.