Held at Independence Community College in in Independence, Kansas, the festival runs March 26-29, 2014.

Shanley is a playwright, screenwriter and director, Oscar, Tony, Writers' Guild and Pulitzer Prize winner. Shanley will present a writing workshop at the festival, and at the concluding multimedia tribute performance, he will accept the annual William Inge Theatre Festival's Distinguished Achievement in the American Theatre Award.

Shanley's stage work include Doubt, Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, The Dreamer Examines his Pillow, Italian American Reconciliation, Four Dogs and a Bone, Savage in Limbo, Beggar in the House of Plenty and Psychopathia Sexualis. His screen writing credits include "Moonstruck," and the screenplays for many films and television shows including: "Five Corners," "January Man" and "Alive." Shanley wrote and directed "Joe Versus the Volcano."

"John Patrick Shanley's writing is muscular, poetic, funny, inspiring, spiritual, intellectual and deeply human. He is a true prize of the American theatre," Peter Ellenstein, Inge Center artistic director, said in a statement. "Shanley's work examines the nuances of our belief systems; his characters often have to confront their own shortcomings and re-evaluate their values and what it means to be human. We are thrilled to have such a charming, versatile, multi-talented honoree joining us in Independence next year."

Previous honorees include Arthur Miller, Stephen Sondheim, Edward Albee, Wendy Wasserstein, David Henry Hwang, Tina Howe and Neil Simon. For further information, visit ingecenter.org or call (800) 842-6063 ext. 5491.