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Heidi Schreck in "What the Constitution Means to Me" at New York Theatre Workshop, (Photo by Joan Marcus)

Susan Smith Blackburn Prize Announces 2019 Finalists

Among the finalists are Heidi Schreck, Lauren Yee, Martyna Majok, Hilary Bettis, Lily Padilla, and Jackie Sibblies Drury.

NEW YORK CITY and LONDON: The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize has announced the 10 finalists for its playwriting award for female playwrights living in the U.S. or the U.K. The winner will be announced on March 4 at Shakespeare’s Globe in London.

The finalists are:

Hilary Bettis (U.S.): 72 miles to go…
Jackie Sibblies Drury (U.S.): Fairview
debbie tucker green (U.K.): ear for eye
Ella Hickson (U.K.): The Writer
Martyna Majok (U.S.): Sanctuary City
Lily Padilla (U.S.): How to Defend Yourself
Nina Raine (U.K.): Stories
Ella Road (U.K.): The Phlebotomist
Heidi Schreck (U.S.): What the Constitution Means to Me
Lauren Yee (U.S.): Cambodian Rock Band

The winner will receive a cash prize of $25,000 and a signed print by visual artist Willem de Kooning. The finalists will receive an $5,000 each.

The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize is named after the American actor and writer, who grew up in Houston and lived in London during the last 15 years of her life. It is awarded annually to female playwrights working in the English-speaking theatre. This year’s finalists were chosen from a pool of 150 plays.

What the Constitution Means to Me will play on Broadway beginning March 14. Cambodian Rock Band will play at Oregon Shakespeare Festival beginning March 6. Sanctuary City will play at  New York Theatre Workshop  this spring. How to Defend Yourself will play at Actors Theatre of Louisville in Kentucky beginning March 13.

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