The Smith PRIZE

In the spring of 2006, NNPN began administering an annual play prize. Funded by a gift from novelist and playwright Timothy Smith and a group of socially conscious donors, The Smith Prize is awarded to a play that specifically focuses on American politics - examining our civic institutions, particularly our democratic institutions - and asks: Who are Americans as a people? What are we becoming? What are our global responsibilities? The prize carries a $5,000 cash award, which is split between the playwright and the first National New Play Network member theater that chooses to produce the winning play.

The winner of the first annual award, announced in December 2006, was Topsy Turvy Mouse by Peter Gil-Sheridan. In November 2007, Black Gold by Seth Rozin was announced as the winner of the second Smith Prize, and went on to productions at InterAct Theatre Company (Philadelphia), Prop Thtr (Chicago) and Phoenix Theatre (Indianapolis) as part of the Continued Life of New Plays program. The 2008 prizewinner - Y York's dark comedy ...And LA is Burning, received its first NNPN member production from Florida Studio Theatre in March 2009.  The 2010 Smith Prize was awarded for the first time to two plays:  Sean Christopher Lewis’ Killadelphia: Mixtape of a City and Martin Zimmerman’s White Tie Ball.  Killadelphia was produced by InterAct Theatre in Philadelphia, and has been subsequently performed across the country.  White Tie Ball was produced by NNPN member Borderlands Theatre in Tucson, AZ in May of 2011. And the 2011 Smith Prize was recently awarded to A. Zell Williams' In a Daughter's Eyes. InterAct Theatre Company produced the world premiere in June of 2011.

SUBMISSIONS FOR THE 2012 SMITH PRIZE ARE NO LONGER BEING ACCEPTED.

The winner of the 2012 Smith Prize will be announced in June 2012.