The Flu Season was produced by Rude Mechanicals at the Blue Heron Arts Center last season. Ostensibly about two doctors and two patients in a mental institution, the play was moreover a piece of meta-theatre, about the creative process of writing such a play, about altered authorial intentions, defeated expectations, waning inspiration, the relationship between the playwright and the audience and the difficulty of communicating with one another, artistically or otherwise. The work is narrated by two disagreeing characters called Prologue and Epilogue.

Eno will be honored at a Nov. 16 luncheon at the American Airlines Theatre. The award carries a $5,000 cash prize.

The award was bestowed by a committee of four playwrights—Edward Albee, James Lapine, Wendy Wasserstein and Richard Greenberg—and four journalists—Newsday critic Linda Winer, Newsday features editor Phyllis Singer, former Newsday entertainment editor Sylviane Gold; and former Newsday critic Allan Wallach.

Eno is an Albee protégé whose style has often been compared to that of the elder playwright.

Past Oppy winners include Greenberg and Lapine, as well as Margaret Edson and Warren Leight.