A Millersville music degree can open doors in the arts. For Adam J. Rineer, it sparked a career in musical theatre writing and development. Rineer, who earned a BA in Music from Millersville University, recently received the 2026 Jonathan Larson Grant, a national honor that supports emerging musical theatre creators.

The grant recognizes composers, lyricists, and librettists whose work shows strong artistic promise. It is administered by the American Theatre Wing and honors the legacy of Jonathan Larson, the Pulitzer Prize–winning writer behind Rent. Each year, the grant supports artists whose work contributes to the future of musical theatre.

After completing a Millersville music degree, Rineer continued graduate study at Temple University, earning an MFA in Musical Theatre Collaboration as part of the inaugural George and Joy Abbott Musical Theatre cohort. Their work today focuses on composing, writing, and directing music for new musicals.

Rineer has developed projects with several theatre organizations, including Ars Nova, where they serve as an Artist-in-Residence. Their work has also been presented through Musical Theatre Factory, National Alliance for Musical Theatre, HERE Arts Center, and the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center. In addition, they are a member of the R&D Group at The Civilians.

In addition to creative work, Rineer co-founded the UNTITLED Musical Project. This initiative supports marginalized writers working in musical theatre, providing space and resources for artists whose voices have often been underrepresented in the field.

For Rineer, receiving the Jonathan Larson Grant holds special meaning because of Larson’s lasting influence on musical theatre writers. With the grant’s support, Rineer intends to keep developing new work and experimenting with contemporary musical storytelling.

From Millersville music studies to national recognition for musical theatre, Rineer’s career powerfully illustrates the doors strong musical training opens throughout the performing arts.