The Lorraine Hansberry Playwriting Award
Supported by the Kennedy Center Education Department, The Lorraine Hansberry Playwriting Award, initiated in 1977, is part of the Michael Kanin Playwriting Awards Program. The Lorraine Hansberry Playwriting Award is presented in the memory of the distinguished dramatist for the outstanding KCACTF student-written plays on the subject of the African-American experience. Hansberry was the first African-American playwright, and the youngest of any color, to win the New York Drama Critics Award for her drama, A Raisin in the Sun, which opened on Broadway in 1959. Lorraine Hansberry died in 1965 of cancer, at age thirty-four, at the peak of her career.
The Lorraine Hansberry Awards recognize the outstanding plays written by students of African or Diasporan descent that best express the African American experience.
- A first place cash award of $1,000.
- Professional Development Fellowship. The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival will provide the award recipient with an all-expenses paid professional development opportunity.
- Dramatists Guild Award. The Dramatists Guild Award provides the playwright with Active membership in the Guild.
- The second place award is a cash prize of $500.
- Grants of $750 and $500 will be made to the theater departments of the college or university producing the first and second place award recipients, respectively.
The play must be produced by a college or university or publicly presented in a “rehearsed” or “staged reading” format following a significant development process. The play comply with the guidelines for scripts entered in the KCACTF Michael Kanin Playwriting Program.
For other questions, refer to Rules and Procedures for the Michael Kanin Playwriting Awards Program.
The Lorraine Hansberry Awards recognize the outstanding plays written by students of African or Diasporan descent that best express the African American experience.
- A first place cash award of $1,000.
- Professional Development Fellowship. The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival will provide the award recipient with an all-expenses paid professional development opportunity.
- Dramatists Guild Award. The Dramatists Guild Award provides the playwright with Active membership in the Guild.
- The second place award is a cash prize of $500.
- Grants of $750 and $500 will be made to the theater departments of the college or university producing the first and second place award recipients, respectively.
The play must be produced by a college or university or publicly presented in a “rehearsed” or “staged reading” format following a significant development process. The play comply with the guidelines for scripts entered in the KCACTF Michael Kanin Playwriting Program.
For other questions, refer to Rules and Procedures for the Michael Kanin Playwriting Awards Program.
Previous Award Recipients
2013 The Wind And The Breeze by Nathan Davis, Indiana University
Runner-up - Battle Cry by Bianca Sams, Ohio University
Third Place - Delta Secret by Prince Duren, University of Arkansas
2012 Cry Old Kingdom, by Jeff Augustin, University of California – San Diego
Runner up – The Urban Retreat by A. Zell Williams, New York University
2011 The Contract by James Webb, New York University
2010 King Nigga by Ayanna Maia Saulsberry, New York University
Runner up - Refraction by Ronald McCants, University of California, San Diego
2009 Flat Sam by Antoinette Nwandu, New York University
Runner up - South Bridge by Reginald Edmund, Ohio University
2008 Donalyn Elder's Mythology of Grass, Part I: Miracle on Monroe by Jerome Augustus Parker, University of California, Los Angeles
2007 CLICK-BOOM by Nakia Oglesby, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
2006 One Fell Swoop, Isaac Charles Holter, DePaul University
The Last Black Play by Nathan Louis Jackson, Ebony Theatre Company of Kansas State Univeristy
2005 Hoodoo Love by Katori Hall, Harvard University
2004 Revelations: The Outtakes by Christina Anderson, Brown University
2003 The Mancherios by Nathan Louis Jackson, Kansas State University
2002 First Place: Familiar by Kirsten Greenidge, University of Iowa
Second Place: Streethawker by John Adekoje, Humboldt State University, California
2001 First Place: Whiteout by Alan Newton, English Alternative Theatre of the University of Kansas
Second Place: Feeding Beatrice by Kristen Greenidge, University of Iowa
1999 First Place: The Bow Wow Club by Levi "Lee" Simon, Jr., University of Iowa, Iowa City
Second Place: A Noose for Bettyanne by Javon Johnson, Kuntu Repertory Theatre of the University of Pittsburgh
1998 Papa's Blues by Javon Johnson, Kuntu Repertory Theatre of the University of Pittsburgh
1997 First Place: Miss Nowhere Diner, Kathleen F. Potts, University of Southern Maine
Second Place: A Preface to the Alien Garden by Robert Alexander, University of Iowa
1996 First Place: Moments Above the Underground by Geryll Robinson, University of Southern Iliinois
Second Place: An' Push da Wind Down by Lisa Harper, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
1995 First Place: Make-up Stories by Eric C. Waldemar, Jr., University of Maryland, College Park
Second Place: Sunshine Playlot by Dominic Taylor, Brown University
1994 First Place: Hedy Understands Anxiety by Angela Counts, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
Second Place: The Miracle Church by Sybil Berry, University of Pittsburgh, Kuntu Repertory Theatre
1993 Talking Bones by Shay Youngblood, Brown University
1992 Strands by Eric Wilson, University of Missouri, Columbia
1991 Union Station by Marta Effinger, University of Pittsburgh
1989 First Place: Home by Theresa Love, University of California, Davis
Second Place: City Women by Danna Wilner, University of Portland
1988 Peabody Duck by Leslie Wade, University of California, Santa Barbara
1987 First Place: Inside/Out by Tom Coash, University of California, Davis
Second Place: Caught in the Middle and No Way Out by Michael Holland, SUNY, Brockport
1986 First Place: The Peacemaker by Arnold Pinnix, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro
Second Place: Mournin' by Carolyn Cole, University of North Carolina, Greensboro
1984 First Place: Eleven Zulu by Patrick Sean Clark, University of Missouri, Columbia
Second Place: Snooks McAllister Lives at My House by Robyn Claire Williams, Loyola University, Chicago
1983 First Place: The Bulldog and the Bear, Richard Gordon, California State University, Fullerton
Second Place: The Silent Warrior, Charles Smith, University of Iowa, Iowa City
1982 First Place: Asaga Kimashita, Velina Houston, University of California, Los Angeles
Second Place: Enemies, Karen Boettcher, Portland State University
1981 First Place: Big Bucks and Three Piece Suits, 'Til Kingdom Come, Amen!, Joseph Mitchell, Eastern Washington University
Second Place: Second Doctor Lady/The Reconstruction of Dossie Hemphill, Endesha Holland, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
1980 First Place: Silent Octaves, Brenda Faye Collie, University of Iowa
Second Place: That's Life, Charley Vance, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge
Second Place: Nobody, An Evening with Bert Williams, Vincent D. Smith, University of Maryland, College Park
1979 The American Chalk Circle, Richard Russell, San Jose State University
Throw Me Something, Mr. God, Daniel DuPlantis, Nichols State University
1978 First Place: The Ballad of Charley Sweet, Farrell Foreman, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb
Second Place: 227, Christine Houston, Kennedy-King College
1977 First Place: A Star Ain't Nothin' But a Hole in Heaven, Judi Ann Mason, Grambling College
Second Place: Oh, Oh Freedom, Irwin Washington, University of California, Los Angeles
Runner-up - Battle Cry by Bianca Sams, Ohio University
Third Place - Delta Secret by Prince Duren, University of Arkansas
2012 Cry Old Kingdom, by Jeff Augustin, University of California – San Diego
Runner up – The Urban Retreat by A. Zell Williams, New York University
2011 The Contract by James Webb, New York University
2010 King Nigga by Ayanna Maia Saulsberry, New York University
Runner up - Refraction by Ronald McCants, University of California, San Diego
2009 Flat Sam by Antoinette Nwandu, New York University
Runner up - South Bridge by Reginald Edmund, Ohio University
2008 Donalyn Elder's Mythology of Grass, Part I: Miracle on Monroe by Jerome Augustus Parker, University of California, Los Angeles
2007 CLICK-BOOM by Nakia Oglesby, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
2006 One Fell Swoop, Isaac Charles Holter, DePaul University
The Last Black Play by Nathan Louis Jackson, Ebony Theatre Company of Kansas State Univeristy
2005 Hoodoo Love by Katori Hall, Harvard University
2004 Revelations: The Outtakes by Christina Anderson, Brown University
2003 The Mancherios by Nathan Louis Jackson, Kansas State University
2002 First Place: Familiar by Kirsten Greenidge, University of Iowa
Second Place: Streethawker by John Adekoje, Humboldt State University, California
2001 First Place: Whiteout by Alan Newton, English Alternative Theatre of the University of Kansas
Second Place: Feeding Beatrice by Kristen Greenidge, University of Iowa
1999 First Place: The Bow Wow Club by Levi "Lee" Simon, Jr., University of Iowa, Iowa City
Second Place: A Noose for Bettyanne by Javon Johnson, Kuntu Repertory Theatre of the University of Pittsburgh
1998 Papa's Blues by Javon Johnson, Kuntu Repertory Theatre of the University of Pittsburgh
1997 First Place: Miss Nowhere Diner, Kathleen F. Potts, University of Southern Maine
Second Place: A Preface to the Alien Garden by Robert Alexander, University of Iowa
1996 First Place: Moments Above the Underground by Geryll Robinson, University of Southern Iliinois
Second Place: An' Push da Wind Down by Lisa Harper, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
1995 First Place: Make-up Stories by Eric C. Waldemar, Jr., University of Maryland, College Park
Second Place: Sunshine Playlot by Dominic Taylor, Brown University
1994 First Place: Hedy Understands Anxiety by Angela Counts, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
Second Place: The Miracle Church by Sybil Berry, University of Pittsburgh, Kuntu Repertory Theatre
1993 Talking Bones by Shay Youngblood, Brown University
1992 Strands by Eric Wilson, University of Missouri, Columbia
1991 Union Station by Marta Effinger, University of Pittsburgh
1989 First Place: Home by Theresa Love, University of California, Davis
Second Place: City Women by Danna Wilner, University of Portland
1988 Peabody Duck by Leslie Wade, University of California, Santa Barbara
1987 First Place: Inside/Out by Tom Coash, University of California, Davis
Second Place: Caught in the Middle and No Way Out by Michael Holland, SUNY, Brockport
1986 First Place: The Peacemaker by Arnold Pinnix, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro
Second Place: Mournin' by Carolyn Cole, University of North Carolina, Greensboro
1984 First Place: Eleven Zulu by Patrick Sean Clark, University of Missouri, Columbia
Second Place: Snooks McAllister Lives at My House by Robyn Claire Williams, Loyola University, Chicago
1983 First Place: The Bulldog and the Bear, Richard Gordon, California State University, Fullerton
Second Place: The Silent Warrior, Charles Smith, University of Iowa, Iowa City
1982 First Place: Asaga Kimashita, Velina Houston, University of California, Los Angeles
Second Place: Enemies, Karen Boettcher, Portland State University
1981 First Place: Big Bucks and Three Piece Suits, 'Til Kingdom Come, Amen!, Joseph Mitchell, Eastern Washington University
Second Place: Second Doctor Lady/The Reconstruction of Dossie Hemphill, Endesha Holland, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
1980 First Place: Silent Octaves, Brenda Faye Collie, University of Iowa
Second Place: That's Life, Charley Vance, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge
Second Place: Nobody, An Evening with Bert Williams, Vincent D. Smith, University of Maryland, College Park
1979 The American Chalk Circle, Richard Russell, San Jose State University
Throw Me Something, Mr. God, Daniel DuPlantis, Nichols State University
1978 First Place: The Ballad of Charley Sweet, Farrell Foreman, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb
Second Place: 227, Christine Houston, Kennedy-King College
1977 First Place: A Star Ain't Nothin' But a Hole in Heaven, Judi Ann Mason, Grambling College
Second Place: Oh, Oh Freedom, Irwin Washington, University of California, Los Angeles