The Working Theatre, whose production of Tabletop, is enjoying an extended run at Dance Theater Workshop, is one of 22 theatres that received a total of $65,000 in grants from The Fund for Small Theatres, a program of the Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York (A.R.T./New York).

The grants range in size from $2,000 to $5,000 and provide general operating support for theatre companies with annual budgets between $100,000 and $300,000.

The recipients of the 2000 Fund for Small Theatres grants are: 3-Legged Dog; Abingdon Theatre Company; adobe theatre company; AMAS Musical Theatre; The Belmont Italian American Playhouse; Blue Heron Theatre; Chekhov Theatre Ensemble; Dixon Place; The Foundry Theatre; Freestyle Repertory Theatre; Ma-Yi Theatre Ensemble; Mint Theater Company; Pick-up Performance Company; Ping Chong & Company; Roots and Branches Theatre; Soho Repertory Theatre; Target Margin Theater; Teatro Circulo; The Actors' Company Theatre (tact); Theater by the Blind; The Working Theatre Company, and Yara Arts Group.

Unlike many grants which must be used for specific projects, the monies from The Fund for Small Theatres represent an investment in the companies themselves, according to an A.R.T./New York statement. The unrestricted grant "allows them the flexibility to support either specific projects or their day-to-day administrative and artistic functions."

The Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York is a service organization for more than 375 not-for-profit theatres in New York City. -- By Kenneth Jones