A new biennial program, the fellowships will provide "greatly needed funding for theatre artists and continues the legacy of Miss Lortel's commitment to playwrights and the development of new plays," according to an announcement.
Each scribe — who will receive $50,000 — are being recognized "for the excellence of their work, their potential for continued artistic achievement as playwrights, and their strong commitment to working in the theatre."
"The Foundation congratulates a most deserving group of recipients," said foundation president James J. Ross in a statement. "We trust that this substantial cash award will lessen their need to earn money from other activities and will provide considerable time for creative endeavors including reflection, research, experimentation, and the creation of new theatre work. We hope that the recognition and stipend offered by the fellowship will encourage recipients to continue writing for the American Theater long after the one-year grant period."
Playwrights David Henry Hwang and Paula Vogel were part of an independent panel to review the applications. Also on the panel were former artistic director of the Sundance Theatre Labs Robert Blacker, Lincoln Center Theater dramaturg and Directors Lab head Anne Cattaneo, The Play Company co-founder and producer Kate Loewald, Atlantic Theater Company artistic director Neil Pepe and Westport Country Playhouse artistic director Tazewell Thompson.
Among the works by the playwrights include [sic], Suitcase or, those that resemble flies from a distance and Current Nobody (Gibson), Jack, 2 Samuel 11, and She Stoops to Comedy (Greenspan), Stairway To Heaven, Most Wanted and Dogeaters (Hagedorn), Dark Yellow, St. Scarlet, Boy and Tatjana In Color (Jordan), Well and 2.5 Minute Ride (Kron), Intimate Apparel, Fabulation and Crumbs from the Table of Joy (Nottage), Beauty's Daughter, Monster, The Gimmick and Yellowman (Orlandersmith) Blackbird, Nocturne, Stone Cold Dead Serious, Finer Noble Gases and Red Light Winter (Rapp). For more information about the Lucille Lortel Foundation and its programs, visit lortel.org.
