Jon Krupp's KILONOVA Wins The 15th Annual Barbour Playwrights Award

After three staged readings of three new plays by innovative emerging playwrights were presented to enthusiastic audiences at Guild Hall, the votes for the Episcopal Actors' Guild's 15th Annual Barbour Playwrights Award are in. The judges have selected Jon Krupp's Kilonova as this year's winner.

The Barbour Playwrights Award was created in 2007 to celebrate new work for the theatre. Every year, EAG partners with a local theatre company or playwriting program to present staged readings of new work, with one playwright being awarded a prize of $500. This year's partner was Playwrights Gallery.

Kilonova, set in August, 2017, tells the story of astrophysicist Stella Levine pursuing her award-winning research on neutron stars and preparing for the coming academic year, all while facing the end of her marriage. When the scientific opportunity of a lifetime arises-the first-sourced detection of gravity waves, from a kilonova-Stella must find a way to balance the demands of science and family. A kilonova occurs when a certain-sized star explodes; what do you do when your family is also about to explode?

When asked about his experience with the Barbour Award, Krupp said, "I'm so grateful to the writers (and actors!) of Playwrights Gallery for supporting the development of Kilonova over the past two years. It was a thrill to rehearse in the space with a fine cast and director, to hear the play in public for the first time at Guild Hall, and to have it considered for the Thomas Barbour Award. Thank you, Episcopal Actors' Guild!"

The 2022 Barbour Award finalists were Krupp's Kilonova, Martine Sainvil's Pursuit, and Deborah Savadge's Allowance.

"Playwrights Gallery and the Barbour Award have parallel missions," notes Playwrights Gallery founder Deborah Savadge. "We exist to nurture the work of playwrights by allowing writers to hear their work-in-progress, read by some of New York City's superb Equity actors. In June we were welcomed by the staff and volunteers of EAG into the history-laden Guild Hall to present a comedy, a comic drama, and a ripped-from-the-headlines drama. For Playwrights Gallery it was the perfect opportunity to emerge from Zoom-world onto a stage before a supportive audience of colleagues and old and new friends."

Past winners have included Garrett David Kim, Reynaldo Piniella, Alexis Roblan, Lynn Rosen, Laura Eason, Aaron Jafferis, and Bill Cosgriff.

In 2007, EAG established this special award to honor the legacy of actor, playwright and EAG member Thomas Barbour (Arthur, Great White Hope) whose support for emerging artists was an inspiration to many. The Barbour Award was established and endowed by Janet Barbour Carhart, Alison Barbour Fox, and from a portion of the gift left to EAG by Mr. Thomas Barbour's estate. All proceeds from the staged readings of the Barbour finalists' plays go directly to supporting future Barbour Awards.

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