Student Funding
Selected students receive direct funding for tuition, travel, auditions and the supplies their craft demands.
Theatre
FOT supports the arts
We believe a young artist should never be stopped by what they cannot afford. Friends of the Theatre funds, mentors and champions students across Montgomery so the next generation of performers can take the stage.
Meet our founder
Dr. Tonea Stewart
Founder & Creative Director, Friends of the Theatre
Nearly five decades in higher education, rooted in the Mississippi Delta Civil Rights Movement. Former Dean of the first fully accredited College of Visual and Performing Arts at an HBCU, and the creative force behind Montgomery's citywide MLK Celebration.
Read her storyWays we help students
MLK Celebration
Our annual celebration brings the community together around performance, legacy and the students carrying it forward.
See the programRelive the moment
The 12th Annual MLK Celebration
A night of performance, honor and community. Watch the highlights, then join us for the 13th Annual Celebration on Friday, January 15, 2027.
See the full galleryEvery gift becomes stage time for a student.
Donations go directly to student applicants, performance costs and the community programming that keeps theatre alive in Montgomery. Give through a secure donation, or mail a check — every amount is put to work.