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| Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award | |
|---|---|
| Name | Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award |
| Awarded for | New play development and production |
| Presenter | American Theatre Critics Association; Rita and Burton Steinberg Fund |
| Country | United States |
| Year | 1978 |
Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award is an American prize recognizing outstanding new plays produced by regional theatres, established to honor playwrights and advance contemporary dramatic literature. The award grew from collaborations among the American Theatre Critics Association, the Steinberg Fund, and regional institutions such as the Arena Stage, Mark Taper Forum, and Steppenwolf Theatre Company, and it has influenced seasons at theatres including the Public Theater, Huntington Theatre Company, and Yale Repertory Theatre.
The award originated in the late 1970s when patrons like Rita Hayworth-era philanthropists and funds associated with the Rita and Burton Steinberg Fund partnered with critics from the American Theatre Critics Association, contemporaneous with developments at the National Endowment for the Arts, Theatre Communications Group, and the Dramatists Guild of America. Early recipients included plays staged at venues such as the Goodman Theatre, Long Wharf Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and Baltimore Center Stage; those seasons intersected with the careers of artists associated with Joseph Papp, Tina Howe, August Wilson, and Edward Albee. Over subsequent decades the prize adapted to shifting landscapes marked by initiatives from the Kennedy Center, collaborations with regional festivals like the Humana Festival, and conversations involving critics from outlets such as the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Chicago Tribune.
Eligible works must be new full-length plays produced by regional or resident companies such as Local theatres, Resident theatres, and institutional companies including the McCarter Theatre Center, Long Wharf Theatre, Berkshire Theatre Festival, and Seattle Repertory Theatre. Submissions typically reference productions mounted within a defined season at venues comparable to the Geffen Playhouse, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Arena Stage, and South Coast Repertory. Criteria emphasize distinguished playwriting, originality, and contribution to American theatre aesthetics akin to standards upheld by organizations such as the Dramatists Guild of America, the National Playwrights Conference, and the New Dramatists.
Administration is overseen by the American Theatre Critics Association in partnership with fund representatives from the Steinberg Fund; boards and committees draw nominators from critics associated with outlets like the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Variety, and Chicago Sun-Times. A panel of jurors—often critics, dramaturgs, and artistic directors from institutions including the O'Neill National Playwrights Conference, Roundabout Theatre Company, Manhattan Theatre Club, and Lincoln Center—reviews eligible productions through season reports and submissions. The selection process mirrors peer-review practices used by the Pulitzer Prize, the Obie Awards, and the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, and can include site visits, script evaluations, and deliberations at meetings held during gatherings like the TDF St. Louis Theatre Festival and conferences hosted by the Theatre Communications Group.
Winners receive a cash award funded via the Steinberg Fund and administered through the American Theatre Critics Association, comparable in intent to monetary awards from the Pulitzer Prize Board and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts. The prize often includes publication opportunities with publishers associated with the Dramatists Play Service and exposure through partnerships with theatrical institutions such as the Public Theater, Kennedy Center, and regional companies like Steppenwolf Theatre Company. The award aims to assist playwrights in securing subsequent productions at houses including the Huntington Theatre Company, Yale Repertory Theatre, and Goodman Theatre, and to provide professional recognition similar to honors conferred by the Tony Awards and the Obie Awards.
Past winners and finalists have included playwrights whose careers intersect with institutions such as the Humana Festival, the O'Neill National Playwrights Conference, and the New Dramatists; productions moved on to influential stages like the Public Theater, Broadway transfers, and international festivals such as the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Example artists linked to the award’s history include those who have worked with August Wilson, Edward Albee, Tony Kushner, Sarah Ruhl, and Suzan-Lori Parks, and companies including the Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Yale Repertory Theatre, and Arena Stage. Winning plays have contributed to seasons at venues such as the Mark Taper Forum, Long Wharf Theatre, and Seattle Repertory Theatre and have been cited in coverage by outlets like the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Washington Post.
The award is regarded within the landscape of American theatre alongside recognitions like the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the Tony Award for Best Play, and the Obie Awards for its role in elevating new writing and supporting playwright careers. Critics from publications such as the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, and Variety have noted the prize’s role in shepherding plays from regional production to national prominence, influencing programming at institutions like the Public Theater, Kennedy Center, and Lincoln Center. Theatre scholars affiliated with the Yale School of Drama, the Juilliard School, and the University of California, Irvine have examined the award's effects on dramaturgy, repertory trends, and the ecology of American play development.
Category:American theatre awards