David Henry Hwang to Receive the Steinberg Distinguished Playwright Award

The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust today announced that David Henry Hwang will receive the Steinberg Distinguished Playwright Award at the 5th Annual Steinberg Playwright "Mimi" Awards. The Mimi Awards promote theater as a vital part of our culture by nurturing American Playwrights and encouraging the development and production of new American plays.

The Steinberg Distinguished Playwright Award will be presented on Monday, October 29th, at the Lincoln Center Theater in New York City. The Steinberg Distinguished Playwright Awards take place biennially, to honor and encourage the artistic excellence and achievement of an American playwright whose body of work has made significant contributions to the American theater.

"I've been very fortunate to have found something I wanted to do with my life, and a place in the American Theater. Receiving the Mimi Award is an extravagant blessing, which overwhelms me with gratitude," said David Henry Hwang. "Since learning the news, I've been able to turn down some commercial media work to focus on my theater projects. My deep thanks to the Steinberg Trust and Board for its visionary support of American Playwrights, and to the Advisory Committee, who saw fit to include me among the extraordinary dramatists who have received this life-changing gift."

"The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust is extremely proud of the selection of David Henry Hwang as the recipient of this year's Distinguished Playwright Award," said Jim Steinberg, a member of the Board of Directors of The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust. "For 32 years Mr. Hwang has written thoughtful, provocative plays that have engaged and challenged audiences throughout the world. The breadth of his canon encompassing not only dramatic works, but also musical theatre, children's theatre and opera have placed him at the apogee of a career in the theatre. We look forward to seeing many new works by Mr. Hwang in the years to come."

The members of the Board of Directors of The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust are Carole A. Krumland, James D. Steinberg, Michael A. Steinberg, Seth M. Weingarten and William D. Zabel.

In 2008, the Board of Directors established an Advisory Committee of prominent theater professionals responsible for establishing the criteria for the Steinberg Playwright Awards, as well as the nomination and selection processes. The 2012 Advisory Committee is comprised of continuing members; Susan Booth, Artistic Director of the Alliance Theater; Jeremy Cohen, Producing Artistic Director, The Playwrights' Center; Todd London, Artistic Director of New Dramatists; and Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director, Manhattan Theater Club. Additionally, this year there are three new members; Kwame Kwei-Armah, Artistic Director, CENTERSTAGE; Bill Rauch, Artistic Director, Oregon Shakespeare Festival; and Neil Pepe, Artistic Director, Atlantic Theater Company.

The Committee has elected to honor playwright David Henry Hwang for his extraordinary artistic achievement. Mr. Hwang will be presented with a cash award of $200,000 along with "The Mimi," a statuette designed by Tony Award-nominated scenic designer and architect David Rockwell.

"I have been dazzled by David Henry Hwang's work ever since I saw M. BUTTERFLY in 1988. Mr. Hwang's work has chronicled the Asian American experience with depth and insight and humor in a body of work that finds a common humanity in the status of all of us," said Advisory Committee member, Lynne Meadow. "As he has wrestled with questions of identity - cultural, sexual and racial - he has given us memorable and thrilling and challenging evenings in the theatre. I am thrilled that the Steinberg Playwright Award has been awarded to him in recognition of his past accomplishments and in anticipation of more major works to come."

"David Henry Hwang's extraordinary body of work and his unrelentingly honest voice as a playwright make us particularly proud to honor him with this year's Steinberg Distinguished Playwriting Award," said Advisory Committee member, Neil Pepe. "He is an artist who enriches and challenges the American theatrical landscape in ways that are both innovative and revelatory. Finally, he has shown himself to be a generous and forward-thinking person who continues to have a major impact on the field. We are thrilled to bestow this major award to such an outstanding artist."

David Henry Hwang's work includes the plays M. BUTTERFLY, CHINGLISH, YELLOW FACE, GOLDEN CHILD, THE DANCE AND THE RAILROAD, and FOB, as well as the Broadway musicals AIDA (co-author), FLOWER DRUM SONG (2002 revival) and TARZAN. As America's most-produced living opera librettist, his works include four pieces with composer Philip Glass and Osvaldo Golijov's AINADAMAR (two 2007 Grammy Awards). Hwang is a Tony Award winner and three-time nominee, a three-time Obie Award winner and a two-time Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. He received the 2011 PEN/Laura Pels and 2012 William Inge Awards, and is currently the Residency One Playwright at NYC's Signature Theatre, which will produce three of his plays, including his newest work, KUNG FU. Hwang serves on the boards of the Dramatists Guild, Lark Play Development Center, American Theatre Wing, and Actors Fund, and recently became President of Young Playwrights Inc. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife, actress Kathryn Layng, and their two children.

The Steinberg Playwright Awards and the Steinberg Distinguished Playwright Awards are presented in alternate years. The Steinberg Distinguished Playwright Award honors the artistic achievement of a playwright whose work has made a significant impact on American theater. The Steinberg Playwright Award is awarded to playwrights who exhibit exceptional talent and tremendous promise in earlier stages of their careers. Past recipients are:

Steinberg Distinguished Playwright Award
· Tony Kushner, 2008
· Lynn Nottage, 2010

Steinberg Playwright Award
· David Adjmi, 2009
· Tarell Alvin McCraney, 2009
· Bruce Norris, 2009
· Lisa D'Amour, 2011
· Melissa James Gibson, 2011