The Abingdon Theatre Company has honored its colleague Christopher Brian Wolk by naming a new annual playwriting award after the writer. The first Wolk award has been bestowed upon another Christopher—Christopher Bailey—for his play Mandrake and the Marsh People. Bailey will received a staged reading of his comedy and a $1,000 cash prize.

Bailey is a playwright, screenwriter and short story author. His plays have been produced by the Word of Mouth Company. Among his titles are Cowboy, Bolt from the Blue and Sammy's Egg. Mandrake is described as a "funny take on middle-class complacency and selfishness" taking place over a Thanksgiving holiday.

Wolk often worked with the Abingdon Theatre Company, a collection of actors, directors, designers and playwrights dedicated to new work. Among their collaborations: Debating Society, The Weight of Breath and Zona. Wolk also worked in Wisconsin with Milwaukee Repertory Theatre and Theatre X.

The Abingdon also awarded a second prize, the Witter Bynner Fellowship. The recipient is Ryan Michael Teller. He will be playwright-in-residence at Abingdon during the 2001-02 season.

Both awards will be presented on Sept. 15 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre at 10:30 AM. —By Robert Simonson