Kitt, Ives, Wilson and Pen Named Dramatists Guild of America Award Winners

The Dramatists Guild of America have announced the winners of their annual awards, which will be distributed at an awards ceremony Monday, November 2, 2009, at The Players Club in New York.

This year's winners are David Ives, recipient of the 2008 Hull-Warriner Award, for his play New Jerusalem; Tom Kitt, recipient of the Frederick Loewe Award for Dramatic Composition, for his score to Next to Normal; Polly Pen, recipient of the Flora Roberts Award; and Lanford Wilson, recipient of the Dramatists Guild Award for Lifetime Achievement.

The Hull-Warriner Award is the only award given by dramatists to dramatists; it is presented annually by the Dramatists Guild Council to an author or team of authors in recognition of their play dealing with controversial subjects involving the fields of political, religious or social mores of the times. Previous winners include Tracy Letts, Steven Sater & Duncan Sheik, John Patrick Shanley, and Dael Orlandersmith.

The Frederick Loewe Award, given by the Frederick Loewe Foundation and presented annually by the Dramatists Guild Council to a composer recognizing achievement in a theatrical score presented on Broadway in the previous theatrical season. Previous winners include Lin-Manuel Miranda and Scott Frankel.

The Flora Roberts Award, administered by the Dramatists Guild Fund, is presented to a theater professional in recognition of distinguished work in the theater and to encourage the continuation of that work. Previous recipients include Craig Lucas, Ed Bullins, Michael John LaChiusa and Tina Howe.

The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented by the Dramatists Guild Council in recognition of lifetime achievement in theatrical writing. Previous recipients include Joe Stein, Horton Foote, August Wilson, Edward Albee and Arthur Miller.

Plans for the awards ceremony on Monday, November 2, are still being finalized.

For ticket information, contact Tari Stratton at the Dramatists Guild of America at (212) 398-9366, or tstratton@dramatistsguild.com.

Photo Credit: Peter James Zielinski