A lineup of top theatrical talent will pay tribute to playwright Lynn Nottage, recipient of the 2010 'Steinberg Distinguished Playwright Award', presented by The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust. Scenes highlighting Ms. Nottage's work (including Ruined, Intimate Apparel and a preview of her upcoming By The Way, Meet Vera Stark) will be performed by actors Quincy Tyler Bernstine (In the Next Room), two-time Tony Award-winner and Oscar-nominee Viola Davis (Fences, King Hedley II), Kimberly Hébert Gregory (The Brother/Sister Plays), Russell Hornsby (Intimate Apparel), Tony Award-winner Karen Olivo (West Side Story, In the Heights) and Condola Rashad (Ruined). The 3rd Annual 'Mimi' Awards will be presented at a ceremony to be held Monday, November 8, 2010 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater at Lincoln Center Theater (150 West 65th Street).
The 'Steinberg Distinguished Playwright Award' honors the artistic achievement of an American playwright whose body of work has made significant contributions to the American theater. This honor comes with a cash prize of $200,000, making this by far the largest award ever created to honor and encourage artistic achievement in the American theater. The first 'Steinberg Distinguished Playwright Award' went to
Tony Kushner in 2008.
In 2009 The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust presented
David Adjmi,
Tarell Alvin McCraney and
Bruce Norris with the first 'Steinberg Playwright Awards'. The Advisory Committee and the Steinberg Trust honored Mr. Norris for his body of work and outstanding potential (for which he received a $50,000 cash award), and Messrs. Adjmi and McCraney for being promising new voices in the theater (for which they each received a cash award of $25,000). The playwrights were also presented with 'The Mimi,' a statue designed by Tony Award-nominated scenic designer and architect
David Rockwell. The 'Steinberg Distinguished Playwright Award' (for established playwrights) and the 'Steinberg Playwright Awards' (for playwrights in earlier stages of their careers), both known as 'The Mimi,' are presented in alternating years.
On behalf of The Steinberg Trust, Board member
James D. Steinberg, said "We are thrilled to be celebrating the singular achievement of
Lynn Nottage who has amassed an inspiring body of work, and whose future plays we very much look forward to. We hope that this support will be of great assistance as she continues to write for the theater."
The Board of Directors of The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust established an Advisory Committee of prominent theater professionals responsible for establishing the criteria for the Steinberg Playwright Awards, as well as the nomination and selection process. The current members of the Advisory Committee are Susan Booth, Artistic Director of the
ALLIANCE THEATRE; Polly Carl, Director of Artistic Development,
Steppenwolf Theatre Company;
David Emmes, Producing Artistic Director,
South Coast Repertory;
Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director,
The Public Theater;
Todd London, Artistic Director of
New Dramatists; playwright
Eduardo Machado; and
Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director,
Manhattan Theatre Club.
The members of the Board of Directors of The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust are Carole A. Krumland,
James D. Steinberg, Michael A. Steinberg, Seth M. Weingarten and
William D. Zabel.
Photo Credit: Monica Simoes
