Theater News

Clare Barron Wins 2017 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize

Barron is the recipient of this year’s award for her new play ”Dance Nation”.

Clare Barron accepts the 2017 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize for her play Dance Nation.
Clare Barron accepts the 2017 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize for her play Dance Nation.
(© Richard Termine)

Playwright Clare Barron has received the 2017 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize for her new play Dance Nation. The award was presented in a ceremony held March 6 at Playwrights Horizons.

The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize is awarded annually to recognize women from around the world who have written works of outstanding quality for the English-speaking theater. Evan Cabnet, artistic director of LCT3 and one of this year's judges, presented Barron with the prize, which comes with a $25,000 award and a signed and numbered print by artist Willem de Kooning.

Dance Nation will be presented at Playwrights Horizons in April 2018. The work follows the trials and tribulations of a preteen dance competition.

The finalists for the 2017 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize.
The finalists for the 2017 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize.
(© Richard Termine)