Susan Smith Blackburn Prize

Award for English-language women playwrights

The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize established in 1978, is the largest and oldest playwriting prize for women+ writing for English-speaking theatre. Named for Susan Smith Blackburn (1935–1977), alumna of Smith College, who died of breast cancer.^[1][2][3][4]

Winners

• 1978–79 Mary O'Malley
• 1979–80 Barbara Schneider, for Details Without a Map^[4]
• 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
• 1995–96 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 for Mammals, Elizabeth Kuti for The Sugar Wife
• 2006–07 Lucy Caldwell for Leaves, Sheila Callaghan for Dead City, Stella Feehily for O Go My Man, Abbie Spallen for Pumpgirl
• 2007–08 Judith Thompson for Palace of the End
• 2008–09 Chloë Moss for This Wide Night^[5]
• 2009–2010 Julia Cho for The Language Archive
• 2010–11 Katori Hall for Hurt Village ^[6]
• 2011–12 Jennifer Haley for The Nether^[7]
• 2012–13 Annie Baker for The Flick
• 2013–14 Lucy Kirkwood for Chimerica
• 2014–15 Tena Stivicic for Three Winters
• 2015–16 Lynn Nottage for Sweat
• 2016–17 Clare Barron for Dance Nation
• 2017–18 Alice Birch for Anatomy of a Suicide
• 2018–19 Jackie Sibblies Drury for Fairview^[8]
• 2019–20 Lucy Prebble for A Very Expensive Poison^[9]
• 2020-21 Erika Dickerson-Despenza for cullud wattah ^[10]
• 2021-22 Benedict Lombe for Lava ^[11]

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^[4]
• 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

See also

• List of literary awards honoring women

References

1. Provata-Carlone, Mika. "A Coveted Prize, A Touching Tribute". Smith Alumnae Quarterly. Smith College. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
2. "Susan". blackburnprize.org. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
3. Alexis Greene; Emilie S. Kilgore; Marsha Norman (2006). Women writing plays. University of Texas Press. p. ix. ISBN 978-0-292-71325-3.
4. Kilgore, E.S.; Kilgore, M. (2004). The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize: Six Important New Plays by Women from the 25th Anniversary Year. Contemporary playwrights series. Smith and Kraus. ISBN 978-1-57525-379-4. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
5. Andrew Gans (February 26, 2009). "British Playwright Moss Wins 2009 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize".
6. "Winner 2011". www.blackburnprize.org. Archived from the original on 2011-10-04.
7. "SSB Prize by date". Archived from the original on 2013-06-03. Retrieved 2014-04-20.
8. Haigney, Sophie (March 4, 2019). "Jackie Sibblies Drury Wins Blackburn Prize for 'Fairview' ". New York Times. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
9. Clement, Olivia (Mar 2, 2020). "On Her 4th Time Nominated, Lucy Prebble Wins 2020 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize". Playbill. Retrieved Jun 30, 2020.
10. American theatre (Apr 7, 2021). "Erika Dickerson-Despenza Wins 2021 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize".
11. Wiegand, Chris (Apr 11, 2022). "Benedict Lombe wins theatre prize for play 'celebrating Blackness in its fullness'".

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. doi:10.1353/tt.2007.0009. S2CID 191605940.