Composer, writer, performer and director Eckert – whose play Orpheus X was a finalist for the 2007 Pulitzer – will be presented with the honor (which includes a $75,000 cash prize) at a private ceremony at the Vibrato Jazz & Grill in Bel Air, California. Administered by California Institute of the Arts, the Alpert Award recognizes the work of independent artists in the fields of dance, film/video, music, theatre, and the visual arts. Also honored will be Reggie Wilson for dance, Paul Chan for film/video, violist John King for music and Paul Pfeiffer for visual arts.
On June 12 Eckert will present his new theatre piece Slide, a collaboration with composer and guitarist Steven Mackey, at California's Ojai Music Festival. Eckert's plays also include And God Created Great Whales, Highway Ulysses, An Idiot Divine.
