Inspiring the Next Generation of Theatre-Makers
Richard Winkler shares his industry experience with young actors
When Interlochen Arts Camp alumnus Richard Winkler took home a Tony Award as a producer of Sunset Boulevard in June 2024, it became the eleventh Tony Award on his mantle, along with his nine Olivier Awards. Prior to becoming a producer, he enjoyed a national and international career as a lighting designer for theatre, opera, ballet, and spectacle. His love for theatre emerged early on when he saw My Fair Lady on tour and, a few years later, A Raisin in the Sun. That love found direction and momentum when he experienced seven impactful summers at the then named National Music Camp, now Interlochen Arts Camp.
In the summer of 2023, Winkler returned as a visiting artist to Interlochen. Now, through both a current gift and an estate commitment, Winkler has created the endowed Richard Winkler Camp Scholarship in Musical Theatre. The scholarship both celebrates his rich connections to Interlochen and paves the way for the next generation of young artists at Camp as theatre-makers.
Winkler first came to Interlochen in 1958 as a junior camper on the recommendation of his aunt, Deborah Sims. Richard returned to Camp each summer until 1965 (with the exception of 1964 when his family traveled to Europe). While his first summer got off to a rocky start, he quickly learned that he had found his people and his favorite place.
“I was homesick for the first three weeks, and I got sick at the end of the third week,” he remembers. “I begged my parents to let me go home, but they left me in the hospital—wisely so. By the end of the fourth week, I didn’t want to leave.”
While his endowment will support musical theatre students, Winkler himself did not begin studying theatre until his third summer at Camp, spending his first two years in the Piano and Visual Art programs. Like his years at Camp, his professional career has been varied, ranging from topical plays like Giant, Oedipus, The Lehman Trilogy, and Disgraced to musicals like Come from Away, La Cage Aux Folles, 42nd Street, and Paddington. “I have become that intersection between big, fabulous, glorious, first-class musicals and important, intelligent, articulate pieces of drama,” he says.
Most recently, Winkler marked a significant milestone in his producing career by stepping into the role of Lead Producer as he develops his new musical, 3 Summers of Lincoln. This project represents a new chapter in his creative life, allowing Winkler to shape a production from its earliest stages through close collaboration with writers, directors, and designers. Rooted in themes of leadership, democracy, national identity, and freedom, 3 Summers of Lincoln correlates powerfully to the complexities of today’s America, making the experience both timely and resonant. For Winkler, the work has been both challenging and deeply rewarding—bringing together his decades of artistic insight with a renewed sense of curiosity and hands-on leadership as the piece continues to take shape.
He speaks enthusiastically of the ways young actors, directors, and producers are innovating on and off-Broadway, including creating more interactive theatre experiences and reimagining older works. His gift is designed to nurture the talent of the next generation of young theatre artists at Interlochen, helping to keep theatre vibrant and relevant. Richard believes that young artists should follow their passion, knowing that this is key to leading a successful and fulfilling life.
“I’m so lucky because I have been privileged to have seen so much and to have become part of so much,” he says. “It’s what I love to do and who I am. I wanted to give something back to Interlochen because Interlochen has given me so much.”
If you would like to give back to Interlochen or explore more ways to support young artists please visit our giving page.
