The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust has created two major new theater awards for American playwrights in different stages of their careers, it was announced today by the Trust's Board of Directors. "The Steinberg Distinguished Playwright Award" and "The Steinberg Emerging Playwrights Award" will honor mid-career and early-career playwrights respectively.
The Harold & Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust is continuing its tradition of honoring artistic excellence in the American theater by supporting the growth and development of outstanding playwrights. The goal in establishing these awards is to recognize these theater professionals and encourage them to remain in their chosen field.
Commencing later this year (and to be awarded on a biennial basis thereafter), the first award will honor a mid-career American playwright whose body of work has already been recognized. The Steinberg Distinguished Playwright Award will have a cash prize of $200,000, making this by far the largest award ever created to honor and encourage artistic achievement in the American theater.
Beginning in 2009 (and presented on a biennial basis thereafter), The Steinberg Emerging Playwrights Award will honor two early-career playwrights whose professional work shows great promise. The recipients of this honor will each receive a cash award of $50,000.
Additionally, a non-profit theater that produces a debut production by a recipient of one of these awards may be eligible for a production grant, at the discretion of the Committee and the Trust.
The Steinberg Trust has established an Advisory Committee of prominent theater professionals to determine the criteria for these awards, nominate the playwrights and select the recipients. The members of the initial Committee are André Bishop, Artistic Director, Lincoln Center Theater; David Emmes, Producing Artistic Director, South Coast Repertory;
Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director, The Public Theater; Polly K. Carl, Ph.D., Producing Artistic Director, Playwrights Center; Martha Lavey, Artistic Director, Steppenwolf Theatre Company; playwright Eduardo Machado, Artistic Director, INTAR Theatre; and Marc Masterson, Artistic Director, Actors Theatre of Louisville.
The Steinberg Board stated, "These awards have been years in the making. It is our desire to honor both the achievement and potential of these playwrights, and provide them with the financial freedom to devote their best efforts to writing for the theater. We are thrilled to celebrate them, while hoping at the same time to strengthen the vitality and appeal of the theater in our society."
The recipient of the first Distinguished Playwright Award will be announced at a ceremony in September 2008.
The members of the Board of Directors of The Harold & Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust are Carole A. Krumland, James D. Steinberg, Michael A. Steinberg, Seth M. Weingarten and William D. Zabel.
