Photo Flash: Kristoffer Diaz Awarded New York Times' Playwright Award

Yesterday, July 12, The New York Times awarded Kristoffer Diaz the 2011 New York Times Outstanding Playwright Award for his play "The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity," produced in New York by Second Stage Theatre.

"The play appropriates both the comedy and cruelty of professional wrestling in order to explore the complex dance America does with its minorities," said Sylviane Gold, selection committee chair. "We were floored by its swaggering language, vivid theatricality and sheer energy."

In addition to Ms. Gold, the members of the selection committee are Pulitzer Prize-winning playwrights, Richard Greenberg, James Lapine and Lynn Nottage and, from The New York Times, writers and editors Scott Heller, Sam Sifton and Andrea Stevens. The playwright Edward Albee, who is also a committee member, was unable to participate in this year's judging.

The award, created in 2009, was established to encourage and support an American playwright whose work recently received its professional debut in New York. The past winners are Tarell Alvin McCraney for "The Brothers Size" and Dan LeFranc for "Sixty Miles to Silver Lake."

"It's an incredible honor to receive this year's New York Times Outstanding Playwright Award. I'm joining some awfully good company in Tarell McCraney and Dan LeFranc," said Mr. Diaz. "I've been blessed with great good fortune and support throughout the "Chad Deity" process, and being recognized by The Times is a humbling continuation of a wild ride."

The New York Times Company, a leading media company with 2010 revenues of $2.4 billion, includes The New York Times, the International Herald Tribune, The Boston Globe, 15 other daily newspapers and more than 50 Web sites, including NYTimes.com, Boston.com and About.com. The Company's core purpose is to enhance society by creating, collecting and distributing high-quality news, information and entertainment.

Photo Credit: H.E. Yhoman