Works by Yussef El Guindi, Quiara Alegria Hudes Among Finalists for ACTA’s New Play Award

The American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA) has selected six finalists for the Harold and Mimi Steinberg/American Theatre Critics Association New Play Award, recognizing playwrights for the best scripts that premiered professionally outside New York City during 2011.

The top award of $25,000 and two citations of $7,500 each, plus commemorative plaques, will be presented March 31 at Actors Theatre of Louisville during the Humana Festival of New American Plays. At $40,000, Steinberg/ATCA is the largest national new play award of its kind.

The finalists are Annapurna by Sharr White, Edith Can Shoot Things And Hit Them by A. Rey Pamatmat, On The Spectrum by Ken LaZebnik, Pilgrims Musa and Sheri in the New World by Yussef El Guindi, A Twist of Water by Caitlin Montanye Parrish, and Water By The Spoonful by Quiara Alegria Hudes.

These six finalists were selected from 27 eligible scripts submitted by ATCA members. They were evaluated by a committee of 12 theater critics, led by chairman Wm. F. Hirschman.

ATCA began in 1977 to honor new plays produced at regional theaters outside New York City, where there are many awards. No play is eligible if it has gone on to a New York production within the award year. Since 2000, the award has been generously funded by the Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust.