Columbia University Announces Winner of 2014 Edward M. Kennedy Prize for Drama Inspired by American History
Dominique Morisseau. Photo credit: Monique Cardoni.
According to the jury: “[We have] unanimously chosen to award the Edward M. Kennedy Prize for Drama Inspired by American History to Detroit '67 by Dominique Morisseau. The first in a 3-play cycle about her hometown Detroit, the play explores an explosive and decisive moment in a great American city. The jury was completely drawn into the world of Detroit '67, whose compelling characters struggle with racial tension and economic instability. The jury also felt strongly that the play powerfully exemplifies the goals of the Kennedy Prize. Detroit '67 is a work grounded in historical understanding that also comments meaningfully on the pressing issues of our day.”
The panel of jurors is selected each year from a pool of playwrights, musical theater writers, lyricists, composers, scholars of literature, American history or political science.
The size of the award places the Kennedy Prize among the most generous given for dramatic writing, and indeed for writing in America, while the commitment to developing publicly accessible educational content makes the prize unique among dramatic and literary awards.
The Kennedy Prize contributes to an elevation of the standards of precision, intellectual rigor and seriousness with which dramatic literature is approached by theater artists, audiences, educators, students and critics. Ambassador Smith, in honor of her late brother, hopes that the prize will galvanize a new and vigorous exploration of American history and the institutions of American politics among dramatists and creators of musical theater.
The Kennedy Prize Board of Governors includes Alan Brinkley, Allan Nevins Professor of American History and Provost Emeritus, Department of History, Columbia University; Mary Schmidt Campbell, Dean, Tisch School of the Arts, NYU; Andrew Delbanco, Mendelson Family Professor of American Studies and Julian Clarence Levi Professor in the Humanities, Columbia University; Mandy Hackett, Associate Artistic Director, The Public Theater; Tony Kushner, Pulitzer Prize Winning Playwright; Tim Pierce, Director, Executive Education Custom Programs, Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management; Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith, Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient; Amanda Smith, Author.
To learn more, visit http://kennedyprize.columbia.edu/.
According to the jury: “[We have] unanimously chosen to award the Edward M. Kennedy Prize for Drama Inspired by American History to Detroit '67 by Dominique Morisseau. The first in a 3-play cycle about her hometown Detroit, the play explores an explosive and decisive moment in a great American city. The jury was completely drawn into the world of Detroit '67, whose compelling characters struggle with racial tension and economic instability. The jury also felt strongly that the play powerfully exemplifies the goals of the Kennedy Prize. Detroit '67 is a work grounded in historical understanding that also comments meaningfully on the pressing issues of our day.”
The panel of jurors is selected each year from a pool of playwrights, musical theater writers, lyricists, composers, scholars of literature, American history or political science.
The size of the award places the Kennedy Prize among the most generous given for dramatic writing, and indeed for writing in America, while the commitment to developing publicly accessible educational content makes the prize unique among dramatic and literary awards.
The Kennedy Prize contributes to an elevation of the standards of precision, intellectual rigor and seriousness with which dramatic literature is approached by theater artists, audiences, educators, students and critics. Ambassador Smith, in honor of her late brother, hopes that the prize will galvanize a new and vigorous exploration of American history and the institutions of American politics among dramatists and creators of musical theater.
The Kennedy Prize Board of Governors includes Alan Brinkley, Allan Nevins Professor of American History and Provost Emeritus, Department of History, Columbia University; Mary Schmidt Campbell, Dean, Tisch School of the Arts, NYU; Andrew Delbanco, Mendelson Family Professor of American Studies and Julian Clarence Levi Professor in the Humanities, Columbia University; Mandy Hackett, Associate Artistic Director, The Public Theater; Tony Kushner, Pulitzer Prize Winning Playwright; Tim Pierce, Director, Executive Education Custom Programs, Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management; Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith, Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient; Amanda Smith, Author.
To learn more, visit http://kennedyprize.columbia.edu/.
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