Susan Smith Blackburn Prize

The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize established in 1978, is for English-language women playwrights. Named for Susan Smith, (1935–1977) alumna of Smith College, who died of breast cancer.^[1]

Winners

• 1978-79 Mary O'Malley
• 1979-80 Barbara Schneider
• 1980-81 Wendy Kesselman
• 1981-82 Nell Dunn
• 1982-83 Marsha Norman
• 1983-84 Caryl Churchill
• 1984-86 Shirley Gee
• 1986-86 Anne Devlin
• 1986-87 Mary Gallagher
• 1986-87 Ellen McLaughlin
• 1987-88 Caryl Churchill
• 1988-89 Wendy Wasserstein
• 1989-90 Lucy Gannon
• 1990-91 Rona Munro; Cheryl West
• 1991-92 Timberlake Wertenbaker
• 1992-93 Marlane Meyer
• 1993-94 Jane Coles
• 1994-95 Susan Miller; Kristine Thatcher; Naomi Wallace
• 1996-96 Naomi Wallace
• 1996-97 Marina Carr
• 1997-98 Moira Buffini
• 1997-98 Paula Vogel
• 1998-99 Jessica Goldberg
• 1999-00 Bridget Carpenter
• 2000-01 Charlotte Jones
• 2001-02 Gina Gionfriddo
• 2001-02 Susan Miller
• 2002-03 Dael Orlandersmith
• 2003-04 Sarah Ruhl
• 2004-05 Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti
• 2005-06 Amelia Bullmore Mammals, Elizabeth Kuti The Sugar Wife
• 2006-07 Lucy Caldwell Leaves, Sheila Callaghan Dead City, Stella Feehily O Go My Man, Abbie Spallen Pumpgirl
• 2007-08 Judith Thompson Palace of the End
• 2008-09 Chloë Moss This Wide night^[2]
• 2009-2010 Julia Cho The language Archive
• 2010-11 Katori Hall for her play Hurt Village ^[3]
• 2011-12 Jennifer Haley The Nether^[4]
• 2012-13 Annie Baker The Flick
• 2013-14 Lucy Kirkwood Chimerica
• 2014-15 Tena Stivicic Three Winters
• 2015-16 Lynn Nottage Sweat

Special Commendation

• Judith Adams 1998-99†
• Leslie Ayvazian 1995-96†
• Lesley Bruce 1993-94†
• Caryl Churchill 1982-83†
• Migdalia Cruz 1990-91†
• Joanna McClelland Glass 1980-81 †
• Zinnie Harris 2000-01†
• Beth Henley 1979-80†
• Julie Hebert 1998-99†
• Beth Henley 1979-80†
• Naomi Iizuka 2000-01†
• Julia Jordan 2001-02†
• Elizabeth Kuti 1999-00†
• Joanna Laurens 2000-01†
• Bryony Lavery 2002-03†,
• Lisa Loomer 1993-94†,
• Sharman MacDonald 1984-85†,
• Chloe Moss 2004-05†
• Phyllis Nagy 1995-96†
• Dael Orlandersmith 1999-00†
• Winsome Pinnock 1989-90†
• Jenny Schwartz 2007-08†
• Lynn Siefert 1983-84†, 1991-92†
• Timberlake Wertenbaker 1988-89†

Finalists

• Judith Adams 1997-98, 1998-99†, 2000–01
• Kay Adshead 1987-88, 2001–02, 2005–06
• Rukhsana Ahmad 2001-02
• Claudia Allen 2002-03
• Hanan al-Shaykh 1996-97
• Jane Anderson 1990-91, 1991–92, 1992-93†
• Leslie Ayvazian 1995-96†, 2004–05
• Nicola Baldwin 1993-94, 1999-00
• Clare Barron 2014-15
• Lynda Barry 1991-92
• Neena Beber 2003-04
• Hilary Bell 1998-99
• Jean Betts 2003-04
• Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti 2004-05*
• Alice Birch 2014-15
• Caroline Bird 2013-14
• Alecky Blythe 2014-15
• Clara Brennan 2014-15
• Linda Brogan 2007-08
• Tina Brown 1978-79
• Lesley Bruce 1993-94†
• Moira Buffini 1992-93, 1997-98*
• Katherine Burger 1996-97
• Mary Elizabeth Burke-Kennedy 1984-85
• Kathleen Cahill 1984-85
• Lucy Caldwell 2006-07
• Sheila Callaghan 2006-07
• Jo Carson 1989-90
• Katherine Chandler 2014-15
• Anupama Chandrasekhar 2008-09
• Julia Cho 2001-02, 2006–07
• Caryl Churchill 1979-80, 1982-83†, 1983-84*, 1987-88*
• Paula Cizmar 1981-82†, 1982–83
• Kathleen Clark 1987-88
• Pearl Cleage 1983-84, 1993–94, 1995–96
• Sara Clifford 1998-99
• Lin Coghlan 2003-04
• Kathleen Collins 1982-83, 1986–87
• Sherry Coman 1990-91
• Anne Commire 1988-89
• Constance Congdon 1985-86, 1995–96
• Trista Conger 1988-89
• Helen Cooper 1984-85, 1986–87, 2002–03
• Kia Corthron 1997-98
• Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig 2014-15
• Migdalia Cruz 1990-91†, 1996–97
• Alexandra Cunningham 2000-01
• Leigh Curran 1978-79
• Barbara Damashek 1987-88
• Lisa D'Amour 2014-2015
• April De Angelis 2005-06
• Donna de Matteo 1982-83
• Christian de Lancie 1993-94
• Ruby Dee 1993-94
• Dolly Dhingra 1999-00
• Lydia Diamond 2007-08
• Ann Marie Di Mambro 1994-95
• Elizabeth Diggs 1981-82, 1987-88†
• Nancy Donohue 1979-80
• Katie Douglas 2006-07
• Bathsheba Doran 2005-06
• Rosalyn Drexler 1983-84
• Carol Ann Duffy 1982-83
• Susan Dworkin 1980-81
• Helen Edmundson 1993-94
• Margaret Edson 1993-94
• Elizabeth Egloff 1995-96, 1996–97
• Charlotte Eilenberg 2002-03
• Eve Ensler 1998-99, 2000–01
• Nancy Ewing 2000-01
• Stella Feehily 2006-07
• Lindsey Ferrentino 2014-15
• Barbara Field 1982-83, 1988–89
• Susan Flakes 1996-97
• Kate Fodor 2002-03
• Maria Irene Fornes 1985-86, 1987–88
• Amy Fox 2006-07
• Donna Franceschild 1989-90
• J.E. Franklin 1981-82, 1989–90, 1992–93
• Amy Freed 1993-94, 2001–02
• Mary Gallagher 1979-80, 1986-87*, 1989–90
• Lucy Gannon 1988-89, 1989-90*
• Lillian Garrett 1989-90
• Nancy Fales Garrett 1982-83
• Judy GeBauer 1987-88
• Shirley Gee 1983-84, 1984-85*, 1989–90
• Pam Gems 1978-79, 1985–86, 1996-97†
• Alexandra Gersten 2002-03
• Melissa James Gibson 2005-06
• Rebecca Gilman 1998-99, 1999-00, 2004–05
• Joanna McClelland Glass 1978-79, 1980-81 †, 1983–84, 2004–05
• Sue Glover 1991-92
• Debbie Tucker Green 2002-03, 2005–06
• Linda Marshall Griffiths 2005-06
• Rinne Groff 2002-03
• Nikki Harmon 1988-89
• Zinnie Harris 2000-01†, 2003–04
• Valerie Harris 1978-79
• Catherine Hayes 1981-82
• Beth Henley 1979-80†, 1987–88, 2005–06
• Jacqueline Holborough 1987-88
• Endesha Ida Mae Holland 1992-93
• Debbie Horsfield 1984-85
• Velina Hasu Houston 1985-86
• Tina Howe 1979-80, 1983–84, 1997–98
• Noelle Janaczewska 1997-98
• Lenka Janiurek 1978-79
• Ann Jellicoe 1980-81
• Catherine Johnson 1991-92
• Cindy Lou Johnson 1984-85, 1986–87
• Jennifer Johnston 1996-97
• Marie Jones 1999-00
• Julia Jordan 1996-97, 2001-02†, 2006–07
• Yazmine Judd 1998-99
• C. Michèle Kaplan 2006-07
• Shirley Kaplan 1981-82
• Julia Kearsley 1980-81, 1982–83
• Margaret Keilstrup 1981-82
• Adrienne Kennedy 1990-91
• Wendy Kesselman 1980-81*, 1989–90
• Carson Kreitzer 2003-04
• Gail Kriegel 1983-84
• Casey Kurtti 1987-88
• Oni Faida Lampley 2005-06
• Mary Lathrop 1991-92
• Shirley Lauro 1980-81, 1991–92
• Bryony Lavery 1980-81, 2002-03†, 2004–05, 2007-08
• Maureen Lawrence 1990-91, 1994–95
• Barbara Lebow 1985-86, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1997–98
• Young Jean Lee 2009-10
• Rebecca Lenkiewicz 2004-05
• Nell Leyshon 2006-07
• Liz Lochhead 1998-99
• Rosie Logan 1986-87
• Lisa Loomer 1993-94†, 2003–04
• Claire Luckham 1991-92
• Anne Ludlum 2002-03
• Sharman MacDonald 1984-85†, 1990–91, 1995–96
• Carol Mack 1982-83
• Emily Mann 1981-82, 1984–85, 1996–97, 1999-00
• Melanie Marnich 2004-05
• Nicola McCartney 1997-98
• Mia McCullough 2004-05
• Heather McDonald 2002-03
• Lisa McGee 2007-08†
• Anne McGravie 1984-85
• Grace McKeaney 1981-82
• Ellen McLaughlin 1986-87*, 1989–90
• Linda McLean 2007-08
• Jenny McLeod 1999-00
• Clare Mclntyre 1992-93
• Cassandra Medley 1988-89
• Susan Miller 1979-80, 1988–89, 1994-95§, 2001-02*
• Lois Meredith 1993-94
• Marlane Meyer 1986-87, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1992-93*
• Ann Mitchell 1981-82
• Abi Morgan 2003-04
• Lavonne Mueller 1980-81, 1986–87
• Philomena Muinzer 1979-80
• Melissa Murray 1985-86, 1986–87
• Julie Marie Myatt 2007-08
• Sally Nemeth 1994-95
• Ann Noble 2003-04
• Marsha Norman 1978-79†, 1982-83*, 1983–84
• Lynn Nottage 1997-98
• Zodwa Nyoni 2014-15
• Meredith Oakes 2000-01
• Kira Obolensky 1998-99, 2005–06
• Edna O'Brien 1979-80
• Tamsin Oglesby 1995-96, 2006–07
• Mary O'Malley 1978-79*, 1985-86†
• Louise Page 1982-83, 1984–85
• Suzan-Lori Parks 1996-97, 1999-00
• Sybille Pearson 1980-81
• Carey Perloff 2001-02
• Winsome Pinnock 1989-90†, 1991–92
• Lucy Prebble 2003-04
• Nu Quang 1992-93
• Heather Raffo 2004-05†
• Aishah Rahman 1985-86
• Theresa Rebeck 1994-95, 2002–03
• Christina Reid 1984-85
• Jacquelyn Reingold 1994-95
• Anna Reynolds 1992-93
• Gillian Richmond 1990-91
• Susan Rivers 1984-85
• Kate Moira Ryan 1996-97
• Milcha Sanchez-Scott 1986-87
• Barbara Schneider 1979-80*, 1980–81
• Julia Schofield 1987-88
• Heidi Schreck 2014-15
• Rose Scollard 1995-96
• Adele Edling Shank 1981-82, 1982–83
• Anna Deavere Smith 1992-93, 1993–94
• Diana Son 1998-99
• Susan Sontag 1992-93
• Abbie Spallen 2006-07
• Ruby Rae Spiegel 2014-15
• Shelagh Stephenson 1997-98†
• Polly Stenham 2007-08
• Victoria Stewart 2007-08
• Tena Stivicic 2014-15
• Kelly Stuart 2001-02
• Karen Duke Sturges 1979-80
• Elizabeth Swados 1991-92
• Polly Teale 2003-04
• Kristine Thatcher 1985-86, 1994-95§
• Freyda Thomas 1999-00
• Judith Thompson 2002-03, 2007-08*
• Katherine Thomson 2004-05
• Jane Thornton 1985-86
• Leonora Thuna 1986-87†
• Susan Todd 1981-82
• Kathleen Tolan 1997-98
• Kay Trainor 1992-93
• Paula Vogel 1991-92, 1992–93, 1994–95, 1995-96
• Francine Volpe 2006-07
• Terri Wagener 1978-79, 1983–84
• Celeste Bedford Walker 1999-00
• Wendy Wasserstein 1978-79, 1981–82, 1992–93
• Alison Watson 1980-81
• Annie Weisman 2000-01
• Patricia Wettig 2004-05
• Erin Cressida Wilson 1995-96
• Tracey Scott Wilson 2001-02
• Victoria Wood 1979-80
• Sarah Woods 2000-01
• Elizabeth Wyatt 1988-89
• Olwen Wymark 1978-79, 1979–80
• Sheila Yeger 1988-89, 1990–91
• Shay Youngblood 1989-90
• Karen Zacarias 2003-04

References

1. Alexis Greene; Emilie S. Kilgore; Marsha Norman (2006). Women writing plays. University of Texas Press. p. ix. ISBN 978-0-292-71325-3.
2. Andrew Gans (26 Feb 2009). "British Playwright Moss Wins 2009 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize".
3. http://www.blackburnprize.org/winner%202011.htm
4. http://www.blackburnprize.org/bydate.htm

External links

• The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize
• Alexis Greene; Emilie S. Kilgore; Marsha Norman (2006). Women writing plays. University of Texas Press. ISBN 978-0-292-71325-3.
• Heather McMahon (March 2007). "Women Writing Plays: Three Decades of the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, and: Women in American Theatre: Revised and Expanded Third Edition (review)". Theatre Topics. 17 (1): 88–89.