Theatre Communications Group has announced the recipients of the third round of the 2016 Edgerton Foundation New Play Awards. Among the new plays selected are world-premiere works by Rajiv Joseph, Dominique Morisseau, Lucas Hnath, Richard Nelson, and Mfoniso Udofia.
The awards, totaling $669,000, allow 16 productions extra time for development and rehearsal with the entire creative team. The award’s mission is to help extend the life of the play after its first run.
The 16 recipients are:
Syncing Ink by NSangou Njikam at Alley Theatre
Too Heavy for Your Pocket by Jiréh Breon Holder at Alliance Theatre
Archduke by Rajiv Joseph at Center Theatre Group
Hood, The Story of Robin Hood by Douglas Carter Beane and Lewis Flinn at Dallas Theater Center
Icebergs by Alena Smith at Geffen Playhouse
Escape to Margaritaville with book by Greg Garcia and Mike O'Malley and music by Jimmy Buffett at La Jolla Playhouse
Pipeline by Dominique Morisseau at Lincoln Center Theater
Mosquitoes by Lucy Kirkwood at National Theatre of Great Britain
Her Portmanteau by Mfoniso Udofia at New York Theatre Workshop
Girl From North Country by Conor McPherson at The Old Vic
Gently Down The Stream by Martin Sherman at Public Theater
Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed at Public Theater
Women of a Certain Age by Richard Nelson at Public Theater
The Hypocrite by Richard Bean at Royal Shakespeare Company
A Doll's House Part 2 by Lucas Hnath at South Coast Repertory
Mary Jane by Amy Herzog at Yale Repertory Theatre
The Edgerton Foundation New Plays Program, directed by Brad and Louise Edgerton, was founded in 2006 and officially launched the following year. Over the last ten years, the organization has awarded almost a million dollars to 335 TCG Member Theatre productions. Twenty-four have made it to Broadway, and nine were nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, with wins for Hamilton (2016), The Flick (2014), Water by the Spoonful (2012), and Next to Normal (2010).
“It is incredible seeing the direct impact that the Edgerton award has on the productions it supports,” said Teresa Eyring, executive director of TCG in a statement. “Giving playwrights, directors, and creative team members the freedom of time so they can delve into the details inspires productions that live past their world premieres, and contribute to a new canon of American plays.”
