Photo Flash: David Henry Hwang Presents 2017 Kesselring Prize To Lauren Yee At National Arts Club

Last night, Tony Award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang presented the 2017 Kesselring Prize to rising young playwright Lauren Yee at the National Arts Club. Ms. Yee earned the Kesselring for her play THE GREAT LEAP, to be produced this season by Denver Center, Seattle Rep and Atlantic Theater Company. The Prize includes a $25,000 award and a two week residency in the historic clubhouse of the National Arts Club in order to develop her work.

Michael Parva, Kesselring Prize Artistic Director, helmed select scenes from Ms. Yee's plays including KING OF THE YEES, THE GREAT LEAP AND CAMBODIAN ROCK BAND. The cast included Francis Jue, Ned Eisenberg, Jeena Yi, Daniel K. Isaac, Joe Ngo, Tobias C. Wong and Jennifer Lim. The evening featured special remarks by guest artist Regina Taylor. A cocktail reception in the NAC parlors followed the awards presentation.

Each year, the National Arts Club invites theaters across the country to nominate an emerging playwright for the Kesselring Prize who is poised for a higher national profile through his or her growing body-of-work. Atlantic Theater Company nominated Ms. Yee.

Her previous works include IN A WORD, a finalist for the ATCA/Steinberg Award; THE HATMAKER'S WIFE, which was an Outer Critics Circle nominee for its John Gassner Award for best play by a new American playwright; and KING OF THE YEES, which premiered last season at The Goodman Theatre.

The 2017 Kesselring Prize Jury that selected Ms. Yee consisted of: famed playwright John Guare; Dramaturg of Lincoln Center Theater, Anne Cattaneo; and two-time Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Lynn Nottage.

Established in 1980 by Charlotte Kesselring - widow of playwright Joseph Kesselring - to honor and support young writers who are not as yet nationally recognized, and provide them with an honorarium and indirect support towards development of their work. Past recipients include Lucas Hnath (now on Broadway with A DOLL'S HOUSE PART 2), Tony Kushner, Anna Deavere Smith, Nicky Silver and last year's honoree, Lindsey Ferrentino, whose play UGLY LIES THE BONE was produced this year at the National Theatre in London.

Photo credit: Lia Chang

Lauren Yee, David Henry Hwang, Linda Zagaria, President of The National Arts Club

David Henry Hwang and Lauren Yee

2017 Kesselring judges John Guare and Anne Cattaneo with Lauren Yee and ReGina Taylor

Jennifer Lim, Joe Ngo, Daniel K. Isaac, Francis Jue, Lauren Yee, Tobias C. Wong, Jeena Yi and Ned Eisenberg

Joe Ngo, Jennifer Lim, Daniel K. Isaac, Francis Jue, Jeena Yi, Ned Eisenberg, Tobias C. Wong and director Michael Parva

Jeena Yi

Jennifer Lim, Ned Eisenberg, Tobias C. Wong and Francis Jue

Francis Jue and Ned Eisenberg

Jennifer Lim

Daniel K. Isaac and Ned Eisenberg

Francis Jue

Ned Eisenberg

Joe Ngo and Jeena Yi

Tobias C. Wong

Joe Ngo, Francis Jue and Tobias C. Wong

Joe Ngo, Jennifer Lim, Daniel K. Isaac, Francis Jue, Jeena Yi, Ned Eisenberg, Tobias C. Wong

David Glanstein, Chairman of The Kesselring Prize Committee and Lauren Yee

Lauren Yee with Atlantic Theater Company's Director of New Play Development Abigail Katz, Artistic Director Neil Pepe and Managing Director Jeffory Lawson

Lauren Yee and Seattle Rep's Literary Director Kristin Leahy

Lauren Yee and frequent collaborator director Joshua Kahan Brody

Lauren Yee with 2016 Kesselring Prize winner Lindsey Ferrentino

Lauren Yee with David Glanstein, Chairman of The Kesselring Prize Committee and Linda Zagaria, President of The National Arts Club

Tobias C. Wong, Ned Eisenberg and his son Lino