Leslie Swackhamer

a.k. payne Wins The 2025 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize For FURLOUGH'S PARADISE
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 11, 2025

The 2025 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize has been given to U.S. playwright a.k. payne for their play Furlough's Paradise. Awarded annually since 1978, the prestigious international Prize is the largest and oldest award recognizing women+ who have written works of outstanding quality for the English-speaking theatre. 

Finalists Revealed For The 2025 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize
by Stephi Wild - Feb 4, 2025

The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize has announced this year's finalists for the prestigious international playwriting award. Learn more about the finalists and the award here!

Judges and Date Set For The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize
by Stephi Wild - Jan 27, 2025

The organizers of The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize have announced that the playwriting award will be presented at an invitation-only event on Monday, March 10 at Playwrights Horizons in New York City. Learn more here!

4th Wall Theatre Company To Present A Reading of 1536 by Ava Pickett
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 9, 2025

4th Wall Theatre Company will host an exclusive, one-night-only reading of 1536 by Ava Pickett, the 2024 winner of the prestigious Susan Smith Blackburn Prize on January 24 at 7:30PM.

Last Chance To Vote for the 2024 BroadwayWorld Houston Awards; MATILDA at Moore Vision Entertainment Leads Best Musical!
by BWW Awards - Dec 27, 2024

This is the last chance to vote for the 2024 BroadwayWorld Houston Awards! Voting ends on 12/31 at midnight. Don't miss out on making sure that your favorite theatres, stars, and shows get the recognition they deserve!

Final Week To Vote for the 2024 BroadwayWorld Houston Awards; Moore Vision Entertainment Leads Favorite Local Theatre!
by BWW Awards - Dec 23, 2024

This is the final week to vote for the 2024 BroadwayWorld Houston Awards! Voting ends on 12/31 at midnight. Don't miss out on making sure that your favorite theatres, stars, and shows get the recognition they deserve!

Vote For The 2024 BroadwayWorld Houston Awards; MATILDA at Moore Vision Entertainment Leads Best Musical!
by BWW Awards - Dec 16, 2024

Voting continues for the 2024 BroadwayWorld Houston Awards! Voting ends on 12/31 at midnight. Don't miss out on making sure that your favorite theatres, stars, and shows get the recognition they deserve!

Latest Standings Announced For The 2024 BWW Houston Awards
by BWW Awards - Dec 9, 2024

Don't miss your chance to vote for the 2024 BroadwayWorld Houston Awards! Voting ends on 12/31 at midnight. Don't miss out on making sure that your favorite theatres, stars, and shows get the recognition they deserve!

First Standings Announced For The 2024 BWW Houston Awards
by BWW Awards - Dec 2, 2024

Check out the first stats for the 2024 BroadwayWorld Houston Awards! Voting ends on 12/31 at midnight. Don't miss out on making sure that your favorite theatres, stars, and shows get the recognition they deserve!

Photos: Inside the 2024 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize Ceremony
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 15, 2024

The 2024 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize has been awarded to UK playwright Ava Pickett for her play 1536.  Awarded annually since 1978, The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize is the largest and oldest international award recognizing women+ who have written works of outstanding quality for the English-speaking theatre. See photos from inside the ceremony here.

a.k. payne, Jasmine Naziha Jones & More Named as Finalists for 2024 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 6, 2024

The 2024 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize has revealed the finalists for this prestigious international award honoring women+ playwrights.

4th Wall Theatre Company To Present IN THE AMAZON WAREHOUSE PARKING LOT
by A.A. Cristi - May 31, 2023

In honor of the 45th Anniversary of the internationally prestigious Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, 4th Wall Theatre Company is hosting a special one-night only reading of this year's Prize Winner, IN THE AMAZON WAREHOUSE PARKING LOT by U.S. playwright Sarah Mantell.  Presented on Sunday, June 4 at 7pm, the reading will be followed by a reception and conversation with the playwright.

Photos: Benedict Lombe Takes Home the 2022 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize
by Stephi Wild - Apr 12, 2022

In a special presentation at Shakespeare's Globe in London, the Blackburn Prize judges presented Lombe with a cash prize of $25,000, and a signed limited-edition print by renowned artist Willem De Kooning, created especially for the Prize. 

BWW Review: Stages SUNRISE COVEN is a Homegrown Inspiration and a Wonderous World Premiere
by Armando Urdiales - Apr 4, 2022

This spring, Brendan Bourque-Sheil's story of a woman dealing with life's impossible changes is one of Houston's best plays. Set in the fictional town of Buxtop, Texas, the protagonist, Hallie (Susan Koozin), wakes up after an overdose and the resultant story is about how a person copes with almost impossible odds.

The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize Announces 2022 Finalists
by Stephi Wild - Jan 31, 2022

The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize today announces 10 Finalists for its prestigious playwriting award, the oldest and largest prize awarded to women+ playwrights - now in its 44th year .

Single Tickets for Houston Grand Opera's 2021�"22 Season Now on Sale
by Stephi Wild - Aug 19, 2021

Houston Grand Opera (HGO) is now offering single tickets to the 2021–22 season at HGO.org. After an all-virtual 2020–21 season through HGO Digital, the company will launch its triumphant return to live performance at The Wortham Theater Center on October 22, 2021.

Houston Grand Opera Announces Triumphant Return To Live Performances At The Wortham Theater Center
by A.A. Cristi - May 7, 2021

Houston Grand Opera will present its 2021-22 season live and in person after a year of reimagining the artform in a virtual format through the 2020-21 HGO Digital season.

Finalists Announced For The 2021 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize
by Stephi Wild - Feb 1, 2021

The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize has announced 10 Finalists for 2021 for its prestigious playwriting award, the oldest and largest prize awarded to women+ playwrights.

4th Wall Theatre Reschedules Launch of BEYOND THE 4TH WALL Artist Interviews
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 5, 2020

4th Wall Theatre Company, Houston's home for extraordinary performances up close, will launch of Beyond the 4th Wall a?' a series of interviews that invite audiences behind the scenes for candid, intimate, one-on-one conversations with professional theatre creatives.

4th Wall Theatre To Launch BEYOND THE 4TH WALL Artist Interviews
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 4, 2020

4th Wall Theatre Company, Houston's home for extraordinary performances up close, will launch of Beyond the 4th Wall a?' a series of interviews that invite audiences behind the scenes for candid, intimate, one-on-one conversations with professional theatre creatives.