Three O'Neill Playwrights Alum Recieve Coveted ACTA/Steinberg New Play Awards

April 4, 2006

The 2006 Steinberg New Play Award was bestowed upon O'Neill alumnus Lee Blessing (NPC '05, and earlier) for A BODY OF WATER. Additional citations went to finalists Adam Rapp (NPC '01 and earlier) for RED LIGHT WINTER, which he began while a Writer-in-Residence at the O'Neill in 2003; and to the late August Wilson (NPC '94 and earlier), a Writer-in-Residence during 2002, for RADIO GOLF.

Since shortly after its formation in 1974, The American Theatre Critics Association has annually cited outstanding new plays produced around the United States, outside of New York City. ATCA's New Play Award has been given since 1977, honoring playwrights such as Lanford Wilson, Marsha Norman, Michael Weller, Jane Martin, Arthur Miller, Adrienne Kennedy, Jon Robin Baitz, and Donald Margulies. In 2000, the ATCA announced that its annual New Play Award would become the American Theatre Critics/Steinberg New Play Award to honor a grant from the Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust. The 2006 cash award is the highest of any playwrighting award, providing $25,000 to the author receiving the principle citation, and $7500 to the authors of the two additional citations. Any play receiving its professional premiere, outside of New York City, as a finished work is eligible for nomination. There were 25 nominations for the 2006. The awards were announced on April 1, 2006 during the Actors' Theatre of Louisville's annual Humana Festival of New American Plays. For more information, visit the ACTA website: www.americantheatrecritics.org