Frankel Wins Weissberger Playwriting Award

Williamstown Theatre Festival has announced that the winner of the 2006 Weissberger Playwrighting Award is Etan Frankel, for his script Truth and Reconciliation.  

Frankel will receive a $10,000 prize, publication of his script by Samuel French, Inc., and a reading of his play by the Festival during the 2007 season. 

Truth and Reconciliation "tells of Ben Montgomery, an idealistic young doctor, who renders his services to help the poor in a fictional Central American country awash in civil strife, guerilla warfare and military executions.  He enters into a personal relationship with a native female patient which ultimately leads to his disappearance.  Several years later, Ben's parents travel to the Central American country to take part in a so-called 'Truth and Reconciliation Commission' to investigate Ben's disappearance.  The play takes place in shifting time periods," according to Williamstown notes.

Suzanne Agins, Artistic Associate, New Plays of the Festival, said of the play, "I believe Etan's work rose to the top due to the compelling story, and the tension surrounding the mystery of Ben's disappearance.  This is such a well-crafted play, it's hard not to fall in love with it."

The Weissberger Award, given annually since 1988 to an unpublished, unproduced play, honors legendary theatrical attorney L. Arnold Weissberger, who passed away in 1981.   Jay Harris, Weissberger's former law partner, head of the Anna L. Weissberger Foundation which sponsors the award, and a Trustee of the Festival said, "Etan's play is fresh and wonderful and I couldn't be more pleased it won." 

Over 300 theatre professionals from around the country were invited to nominate plays.  The nominated scripts were narrowed to five finalists and the winner was chosen by a panel of renowned theatre professionals: writer Rick Elice (Jersey Boys), director Maria Mileaf (Off-Broadway: Going to St. Ives at Primary Stages, and Sakharam Binder… at The Play Company), and actor Kristine Nielsen (Off-Broadway Obie awards for Betty's Summer Vacation and Dog Opera). Truth and Reconciliation was nominated by Manhattan Theatre Club in New York City.

Frankel's Create Fate was produced at Williamstown in 2005, directed by Christopher Ashley. His most recent play, The Fearless, was produced in New York at the 2006 Summer Play Festival, with Scott Schwartz directing.

The other finalists were for this year's award were:

1001 by Jason Grote, nominated by Bret Adams, Ltd. and The Denver Center for Performing Arts
Amazons and Their Men by Jordan Harrison, nominated by Actor's Theatre of Louisville
After a Hundred Years by Naomi Iizuka, nominated by the Guthrie Theater
These Shining Lives by Melanie Marnich, nominated by CenterStage in Baltimore

Past winners include Benjie Arensen, Neena Beber, Paula Blue Spruce, Deborah Bailey Brevoort, Michael Chepiga, Julia Cho, Constance Congdon, Elizabeth Egloff, Mary Gail, Sherry Kramer, Carter L. Lewis, Kenneth Lin, Victor Lodato, Doug Post, Catherine Treischmann, Ken Weitzman and Mac Wellman.  For more information about the 2007 L. Arnold Weissberger Award, call the Williamstown Theatre Festival at (212) 395-9090, or visit www.wtfestival.org click on "Training/Jobs" and "For Playwrights."