MRT Receives National New Play Network Grant for Vichet Chum Play The NNPN created the Bridge Program this year to support new work from BIPOC artists.by BWW News Desk The National New Play Network announced last week that Merrimack Repertory Theatre will receive one of its first "Bridge Program" grants for Kween by Vichet Chum, a quick-witted, inspirational story of a 16-year-old, Cambodian-American Lowell High School student, who aspires to be a poet under the alias Khmer Kerouac. The $10,000 grant is one of only 18 nationwide. The Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association will partner on the production, which will premiere in a later season. MRT presented a reading of excerpts from Kween, directed by Pironne Yousefzadeh, as part of its FIRST LOOK series last November. A second reading will be presented May 16. For further information, visit www.mrt.org.