Lindsay-Abaire Wins Pulitzer Prize for Rabbit Hole

David Lindsay-Abaire's Rabbit Hole has been announced as the winner of the 2007 Pulitzer Prize in Drama, according to the Pulitzer website.  The winners were announced at Columbia University earlier today.

The prestigious award honors "a distinguished play by an American author, preferably original in its source and dealing with American life."  Ten thousand dollars will be awarded to Lindsay-Abaire, whose other plays include Fuddy Meers, Kimberly Akimbo and Wonder of the World.  He wrote the book of the recent musical High Fidelity, and will also pen the book and lyrics of the upcoming Broadway musical Shrek. 

Also nominated as finalists in the Drama category were: Orpheus X by Rinde Eckert, Bulrusher by Eisa Davis, and Elliot, a Soldier's Fugue by Quiara Alegría Hudes.

Rabbit Hole opened February 2, 2006 at the Biltmore Theatre (261 West 47th Street) and played through April 9, 2006.  The production was nominated for five 2006 Tony Awards, including Best Play, Best Actress in a Play (Cynthia Nixon), Best Featured Actress in a Play (Tyne Daly), Best Direction of a Play (Daniel Sullivan) and Best Scenic Design of a Play (John Lee Beatty).  Nixon won a Tony Award for her performance.  John Gallagher Jr., Mary Catherine Garrison, and John Slattery also starred.  "Becca (Nixon) and Howie Corbett (Slattery) have everything they could want, until a life-shattering accident turns their world upside down, and leaves the couple drifting perilously apart. Becca, who must also cope with the distractions of her reckless sister Izzy (Garrison), and their opinionated mother, Nat (Daly), takes solace in her unlikely friendship with a neighborhood teenager, Jason (Gallagher), who might provide the key to lead her back from the darkest of places," stated press notes.

Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director of MTC, said, "I believe David Lindsay-Abaire is one of the great talents working in the American theatre today. He has a unique comedic vision that he combines with poignant and deep dramatic insight. I am deeply proud of MTC's collaboration with David since 1999 and congratulate him on this prestigious recognition."

Theatre critics Ben Brantley (The New York Times), Karen D'Souza (San Jose Mercury News), Rohan Preston (Star Tribune), Haverford College professor Kimberly W. Benston and playwright Paula Vogel selected this year's Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

Established in 1917 in honor of journalist/publisher Joseph Pulitzer, the Pulitzer Prize honors high achievement in 21 journalism and arts categories, including History, Fiction, Poetry and Music; the Drama category was founded in 1918. The 2006 Awards have also marked the first time that the Pulitzer for Drama was considered for plays that opened between March 2nd and December 31st (rather than the previous time span of March 2nd to March 1st). For 2007, the considered plays will open between the longer period of January 1st through December 31st.

Visit www.pulitzer.org for more information and to view a complete list of 2007 Pulitzer Prize winners.

Photo of David Lindsay-Abaire by Ben Strothmann