The 15th Annual Barbour Playwrights Award Announced

The Episcopal Actors' Guild (EAG) has announced that the Barbour Playwrights Award will be back for its fifteenth year this June. The festival celebrating new work for the theatre will feature readings of three new plays nominated by this year's partnering company Playwrights Gallery.

The festival begins on Wednesday, June 8 at 7:00 pm ET with a reading of Jon Krupp's KILONOVA. Next, on Wednesday, June 15 at 7:00 pm ET is Martine Sainvil's PURSUIT. Closing the festival on Wednesday, June 22 at 7:00 pm ET is ALLOWANCE by Deborah Savadge. One of these three playwright finalists will be awarded a prize of $500.

"Some of us had the honor of knowing Mr. Barbour [for whom the award is named]," notes PG's literary manager Savadge. "We are looking forward to working with the lovely, supportive members of the EAG."

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. To date, the Barbour Playwrights Award has presented staged readings of 39 new plays and given $7,500 to local playwrights.

Past winners of the Barbour Playwrights Award include Garrett David Kim (Are You There, Truman? Leviathan Lab, 2021), Reynaldo Piniella (Black Doves, Quick Silver Theater Company, 2019), Alexis Roblan (The Andrew Play, New Perspectives Theatre Company's Women's Work Project, 2018), Andrea J. Fulton (A Punk or A Gentleman, Theater for a New City, 2017), Perry Guzzi (Across the Way, HB Studios, 2016), Dara O'Brien (Early Sunday Morning (Resonance Ensemble, 2015), Mark Karafin (Man in the Moon, Oberon Theatre Ensemble, 2014), Bill Cosgriff (Rio Rita, American Renaissance Theatre Company, 2013), Aaron Jafferis (How to Break, HERE, 2012), Ian August (Donna Orbits the Moon, NJ Rep, 2011), Lynn Rosen (Apple Cove, Women's Project, 2010 tie), Laura Eason (40 Days, Women's Project, 2010 tie), Alisha Silver (Golden, Hunter College, 2009), and Jack Frankel (Human Voices, Polaris North, 2008).

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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