Horton Foote Prize to be Inaugurated Fall 2010

The Horton Foote Prize, a new award named after the legendary writer, which will be presented to an American playwright who has written an original work of exceptional quality, will be inaugurated this coming Fall (2010). The award, which will carry a cash prize of $30,000 and which will be awarded on a bi-annual basis, will be funded by the Austin, Texas-based Greg and Mari Marchbanks Family Foundation. Mari Marchbanks is the Founder of The Horton Foote Prize and will serve as its Executive Director. Shortly before his death last March at the age of 92, Mr. Foote gave his blessing to this eponymous award.

Sixty five resident theaters throughout the country will be invited to submit a play to the competition for consideration. In order to be eligible for The Horton Foote Prize, a playwright will have to be the author of a minimum of three original full-length plays that have been fully produced by professional theatres.

A short list of finalists will be selected after a process of multiple readings of each work by reading and selection committees comprised of nationally represented theater professionals. The winner of the Prize will be chosen from this short list by the four Artistic Directors of the theaters with whom Mr. Foote enjoyed a productive and satisfying working relationship later in his career -- Andre Bishop (Lincoln Center Theater), James Houghton (Signature Theatre Company), Andrew Leynse (Primary Stages) and Michael Wilson (Hartford Stage Company).

"The Marchbanks Foundation feels that the best way to honor Horton Foote is by encouraging established writers to continue to write for the theatre," said Ms. Marchbanks.. "Horton's boundless passion for the theater and incredible work ethic is evidenced by the fact at the age of 92 he was still at work on his nine-part play The Orphans Home Cycle which just opened in New York to great acclaim, seven months after his death. In celebrating Horton Foote we hope the Prize inspires its recipients to continue to contribute great work to the theater."

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for his play Young Man From Atlanta and two Academy Awards for his screenplays for the films To Kill A Mockingbird and Tender Mercies, Horton Foote had his work produced on Broadway, off-Broadway as well as in theaters throughout the United States. His many honors, in addition to the Pulitzer and Academy Awards, include Drama Desk, Obie, Outer Critics Circle and Lortel Awards, the American Academy of Arts and Letters Gold Medal for Drama and the 2000 National Medal of Arts Award from President Bill Clinton. He is also a member of The Theatre Hall of Fame. The Orphans' Home Cycle, Mr. Foote's nine-play epic directed by Michael Wilson, is currently being produced in New York by the Signature Theatre Company where it will run through March.

For additional information on The Horton Foote Prize go to hortonfooteprize.org.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride

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