The Origins of Happiness in Latin and Felix Pire are the winners of the 2001 National Latino Playwriting Award, given out by Arizona Theatre Company and Centro Cultural Mexicano de Phoenix. Runners up for the seventh annual award were Jose Cruz Gonzalez's Lessons of a Language Learned, Anne Garcia Romero's Juanita's Statue and Caridad Svich's Iphigenia Crash Land Falls on the Neon Shell that Once Was Her Heart.

The Origins of Happiness in Latin brings to life a hyperactive, joyous and funny Cuban-American family in Miami and the young man growing up in their midst. As the Latino Playwriting Award winner, Pire receives $1000 and The Origins of Happiness will be considered for ATC's new play reading series, GENESIS.

Pire starred in the world premiere of Men on the Verge of a His-Panic Breakdown at the Celebration Theatre in Los Angeles, garnering a Best Leading Actor in a Play Ovation nomination. A screenwriter as well as an actor, he is the author of "Uranians," "Swimming to Freedom," "Tres Bandidos" and the Sundance Feature Film Program's Screenplay Award finalist "Transients in Arcadia."

Entries for 2002's competition are being accepted through Dec. 28, 2001. Scripts may be in English, Spanish and English or in Spanish only (such plays must include an English translation).

To submit, mail a securely-bound script with a one-page cover letter, describing the play's developmental history and other relevant information about the play. Send the manuscript to Arizona Theatre Company/National Latino Playwriting Award/Attn: Elaine Romero, Playwright-in Residence/40 East 14th Street/Tuscon, AZ 85701. The winner will be notified Aug. 1, 2002. — By Christine Ehren