Leslie Swackhamer

a.k. payne Wins The 2025 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize For FURLOUGH'S PARADISE
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 10, 2025

The 2025 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize has been given to U.S. playwright a.k. payne for their play Furlough's Paradise. Awarded annually since 1978, the prestigious international Prize is the largest and oldest award recognizing women+ who have written works of outstanding quality for the English-speaking theatre. 

Finalists Revealed For The 2025 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize
by Stephi Wild - Feb 4, 2025

The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize has announced this year's finalists for the prestigious international playwriting award. Learn more about the finalists and the award here!

Judges and Date Set For The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize
by Stephi Wild - Jan 27, 2025

The organizers of The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize have announced that the playwriting award will be presented at an invitation-only event on Monday, March 10 at Playwrights Horizons in New York City. Learn more here!

4th Wall Theatre Company To Present A Reading of 1536 by Ava Pickett
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 8, 2025

4th Wall Theatre Company will host an exclusive, one-night-only reading of 1536 by Ava Pickett, the 2024 winner of the prestigious Susan Smith Blackburn Prize on January 24 at 7:30PM.

Photos: Inside the 2024 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize Ceremony
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 14, 2024

The 2024 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize has been awarded to UK playwright Ava Pickett for her play 1536.  Awarded annually since 1978, The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize is the largest and oldest international award recognizing women+ who have written works of outstanding quality for the English-speaking theatre. See photos from inside the ceremony here.

a.k. payne, Jasmine Naziha Jones & More Named as Finalists for 2024 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 6, 2024

The 2024 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize has revealed the finalists for this prestigious international award honoring women+ playwrights.

4th Wall Theatre Company To Present IN THE AMAZON WAREHOUSE PARKING LOT
by A.A. Cristi - May 30, 2023

In honor of the 45th Anniversary of the internationally prestigious Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, 4th Wall Theatre Company is hosting a special one-night only reading of this year's Prize Winner, IN THE AMAZON WAREHOUSE PARKING LOT by U.S. playwright Sarah Mantell.  Presented on Sunday, June 4 at 7pm, the reading will be followed by a reception and conversation with the playwright.

Photos: Benedict Lombe Takes Home the 2022 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize
by Stephi Wild - Apr 12, 2022

In a special presentation at Shakespeare's Globe in London, the Blackburn Prize judges presented Lombe with a cash prize of $25,000, and a signed limited-edition print by renowned artist Willem De Kooning, created especially for the Prize. 

BWW Review: Stages SUNRISE COVEN is a Homegrown Inspiration and a Wonderous World Premiere
by Armando Urdiales - Apr 4, 2022

This spring, Brendan Bourque-Sheil's story of a woman dealing with life's impossible changes is one of Houston's best plays. Set in the fictional town of Buxtop, Texas, the protagonist, Hallie (Susan Koozin), wakes up after an overdose and the resultant story is about how a person copes with almost impossible odds.

The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize Announces 2022 Finalists
by Stephi Wild - Jan 31, 2022

The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize today announces 10 Finalists for its prestigious playwriting award, the oldest and largest prize awarded to women+ playwrights - now in its 44th year .

Single Tickets for Houston Grand Opera's 2021–22 Season Now on Sale
by Stephi Wild - Aug 19, 2021

Houston Grand Opera (HGO) is now offering single tickets to the 2021–22 season at HGO.org. After an all-virtual 2020–21 season through HGO Digital, the company will launch its triumphant return to live performance at The Wortham Theater Center on October 22, 2021.

Houston Grand Opera Announces Triumphant Return To Live Performances At The Wortham Theater Center
by A.A. Cristi - May 6, 2021

Houston Grand Opera will present its 2021-22 season live and in person after a year of reimagining the artform in a virtual format through the 2020-21 HGO Digital season.

Finalists Announced For The 2021 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize
by Stephi Wild - Feb 1, 2021

The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize has announced 10 Finalists for 2021 for its prestigious playwriting award, the oldest and largest prize awarded to women+ playwrights.

4th Wall Theatre Reschedules Launch of BEYOND THE 4TH WALL Artist Interviews
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 5, 2020

4th Wall Theatre Company, Houston's home for extraordinary performances up close, will launch of Beyond the 4th Wall a?' a series of interviews that invite audiences behind the scenes for candid, intimate, one-on-one conversations with professional theatre creatives.

4th Wall Theatre To Launch BEYOND THE 4TH WALL Artist Interviews
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 3, 2020

4th Wall Theatre Company, Houston's home for extraordinary performances up close, will launch of Beyond the 4th Wall a?' a series of interviews that invite audiences behind the scenes for candid, intimate, one-on-one conversations with professional theatre creatives.

Houston Grand Opera's 2020-21 Season To Feature Opera Favorites And Company Premieres
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 16, 2020

Houston Grand Opera has announced its 2020a?"21 season, featuring a repertoire of beloved classics, company premieres, and a much-anticipated world premiere. The 66th season opens with audience favorite Carmen. American mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard makes her HGO and role debut as Carmen in the revival of Rob Ashford's acclaimed 2014 production of Bizet's classic. She is joined by tenor Andrea Caré as Don José, bass-baritone Christian Pursell as Escamillo, and Anita Hartig as Micaela, all making their HGO debuts. The production will be conducted by HGO Principal Guest Conductor Eun Sun Kim.

Casting Announced for The Alley Theatre's Alley All New Festival
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 18, 2019

The Alley Theatre's Alley All New Festival, January 16 - 26, 2020, features new plays from some of the most exciting voices in contemporary theatre. The Festival programming includes workshop performances, readings, and an Early Draft Preview.

Casting Announced For 2020 Alley All New Festival
by Stephi Wild - Dec 18, 2019

The Alley Theatre's Alley All New Festival, January 16 a?" 26, 2020, features new plays from some of the most exciting voices in contemporary theatre. The Festival programming includes workshop performances, readings, and an Early Draft Preview.

Opera Omaha Presents MADAMA BUTTERFLY
by Stephi Wild - Oct 5, 2019

Opera Omaha will open its 2019/2020 season with the return of Jun Kaneko's Madama Butterfly, his premiere opera production design, which debuted at Opera Omaha in 2006. Since it's opening, Kaneko's Madama Butterfly has painted the stages of San Francisco Opera, Washington National Opera at the Kennedy Center, Atlanta Opera, Opera Philadelphia and many others, garnering national acclaim and adoration.

Photo Flash: THE ARMOR PLAYS dominate Theatre Three this summer!
by Lorens Portalatin - Jun 10, 2019

Photo Flash: THE ARMOR PLAYS dominate Theatre Three this summer! The world premiere of Selina Fillinger's THE ARMOR PLAYS: CINCHED & STRAPPED rounds out the 2018-2019 Theatre Three season with a new play that would likely be banned in Alabama based on today's headlines. From the madcap composure of the dining room to the dank wonder of the underground, women fight to escape futures laid out for them.