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Last evening, the Dramatists Guild of America celebrated outstanding achievements in theatre with its 2025 Awards ceremony held at Green Fig. The event brought together playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists who gathered to honor talented writers within the theatre community.
Amanda Green, who serves as President of the Dramatists Guild Council, hosted the lively event, which featured inspiring musical performances, heartfelt speeches, and numerous moments that highlighted unity and support among the attendees.
The first accolade of the night was the Horton Foote Award, introduced by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Vice-President of the Guild Council. Sponsored by the Richenthal Foundation, this award recognizes a dramatist whose work delves into the profound aspects of human existence. This year, the award was shared by Clarence Coo and C.A. Johnson.
Next, esteemed playwright Andre Bishop awarded the Flora Roberts Award to Peter Parnell. This recognition, managed by the Dramatists Guild Foundation, honors a dramatist for distinguished contributions to the theatre and aims to encourage ongoing creative endeavors.
Amanda Green and Kirsten Childs, both prior recipients of the Frederick Loewe Award, honored Shaina Taub with this year’s award. Funded by the Frederick Loewe Foundation, the Frederick Loewe Award is presented annually to a composer for excellence in a theatrical score produced on or off Broadway during the previous season. Following her award acceptance, Taub performed “Still Marching,” a piece from her critically acclaimed score for *Suffs*.
Samuel D. Hunter, co-chair of the DG Awards Committee, presented the Hull-Warriner Award to Itamar Moses for his play *The Ally*. This award is given annually to honor works that tackle challenging issues in the realms of political, religious, or social discourse. Finalists for the Hull-Warriner Award included Will Aronson and Hue Park for *Maybe Happy Ending*, Leslye Headland for *Cult of Love*, Amy Herzog for *An Enemy of the People*, Ife Olujobi for *Jordans*, and Paula Vogel for *Mother Play*.
Kristoffer Diaz, Secretary of the Dramatists Guild Council, gave the Lanford Wilson Award to two emerging playwrights, Morgan McGuire and Kristiana Rae Colon. This accolade is awarded by the Dramatists Guild Council, recognizing the work of dramatists at the beginning stages of their careers.
John Weidman, President of the Dramatists Legal Defense Fund, presented the DLDF Defender Award to Jereme Anglin, a drama teacher from Santa Rosa High School, alongside Dean Jahnsen and Leila Paine for their activism in the face of attempts to shut down their production of *Dog Sees God*. Their efforts led to the creation of a new work, [REDACTED], reflecting their experiences. Also acknowledged were Brent Lindsay, artistic director of The Imaginists theater company, for his role in helping the students bring their vision to life, and The Mercury Theater of Petaluma for providing an alternative venue for their performances.
The evening culminated with the Dramatists Guild Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Christine Toy Johnson, the Guild’s Treasurer, to playwright David Henry Hwang. This prestigious award recognizes individuals for remarkable lifelong contributions to theatrical writing, with past honorees including luminaries such as Edward Albee and Stephen Sondheim.
The night concluded with an inspiring performance by former Dramatists Guild Council President Stephen Schwartz, leaving the audience celebrating the achievements and contributions of the theatre community.
The Dramatists Guild of America, as a professional association, upholds and advocates for the rights of playwrights, librettists, lyricists, and composers. With over 10,000 members globally, the Guild strives to ensure dramatists can own and oversee their creations, providing necessary support and resources to facilitate their artistic journeys.
The Dramatists Guild Legal Defense Fund (DLDF) works to champion free expression in the performing arts. Committed to fostering discussions about the complexities of theatrical works, the DLDF is prepared to assist when productions face cancellation, offering resources for alternative performances, community engagement, and even legal support when necessary.
Source
www.broadwayworld.com