This year's recipients for three Vineyard Theatre awards—The Paula Vogel Award, the Colman Domingo Award, and the Susan Stroman Award—have been revealed. The honors support playwrights, directors, and actors in developing new work.

Winning the Paula Vogel Award, named for the prolific playwright, is Ro Reddick. The queer Black playwright and singer-songwriter writes off-kilter comedies, such as the recent Cold War Choir Practice. After premiering via Clubbed Thumb’s Summerworks series earlier this year, the work is coming back Off-Broadway in a co-production between MCC Theater, Clubbed Thumb, Page 73 next year. The honor is given annually to an exceptionally promising early career writer; and includes a cash prize, a year-long residency to develop new work, as well as writing space, readings, workshops, and ongoing dramaturgical support

Taking the Susan Stroman Directing Award, given biennially to an early- or mid-career director, is Keenan Tyler Olphant. The award provides recipients with space, time, and support to develop projects and strike new collaborations, while creating opportunities for them to become part of the life of the company in an ongoing way. Oliphant is a founding member of Mixing Bowl Productions, an underground musical theatre company that focuses on the promotion of alternate and contemporary music theatre works. As artistic director, he has produced and directed premiere devised pieces In-between and Private Parts at the South African National Arts Festival.

Tony nominee Ato Blankson-Wood was named the winner of this year's Colman Domingo Award, bestowed annually to a multi-faceted Black male/male-identifying theatre artist to provide support and resources to create new work. Blankson-Wood's win comes on the heels of his titular turn in Kenny Leon's Hamlet Shakespeare in the Park. Prior to this, Ato starred opposite Bill Camp and Elizabeth Marvel in Long Day’s Journey Into Night for Audible, and received a Tony Award nomination for his role in Jeremy O. Harris' Slave Play. Ato had his breakout performance in the Public Theatre musical The Total Bent (Drama League and Lucille Lortel Award nomination) which explored the life of a black musical prodigy in a nation on the verge of social upheaval. Domingo Award recipients are selected directly by The Vineyard and Mr. Domingo; and receive a cash stipend, workshops and other developmental opportunities, access to writing and studio space, mentorship, and the ongoing support of The Vineyard.

The awards will be formally presented in a ceremony at The Strand’s Rare Book Room December 8.

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