The Kesselring Prize for Playwriting

Members

David Glanstein, Ava Warbrick, Linda Selman,  Colleen Katz, Linda Zagaria, Kristen Rose Berke, and Michael Parva (Artistic Advisor)
  

Role in furthering the NAC Mission

The Kesselring Prize for Playwriting was established in 1980 by Club member Charlotte Kesselring—widow of noted playwright and Club member Joseph Kesselring—to honor and support as yet not nationally recognized playwrights with an honorarium and indirect support towards development of their work. Among its past recipients are Lucas Hnath, Tony Kushner, Nicky Silver, and Anna Deavere Smith—and most recently Inda Craig-Galvàn, Lauren Yee, James Ijames, and Lindsey Ferrentino.
 

If you are a member of The National Arts Club and are interested in joining our committee, please email us at [email protected].

The Kesselring Prize and its Recipients in the News

Since 1980, the NAC’s Kesselring Prize has been awarded to up and coming playwrights whose nascent work shows great promise. History tells us that Kesselring recipients generally go on to become major forces in the theatre world. The latest to garner kudos for his recent work is James Ijames, who happens to occupy two spots on the Kesselring roster: the Cranefield Award in 2015 for honorable mention; and the 2018 Kesselring Prize. His latest play Fat Ham received a glowing review in The New York Times.  Read that review here.


See below for images from the 2019 Reading and Reception for Inda Craig Galvan.




  • Kesselring Prize Winners
    • Kesselring Prize Winners

      2020 – Mona Mansour
      2019 – Inda Craig Galvàn
      2018 – James Ijames
      2017 – Lauren Yee
      2016 – Lindsey Ferrentino
      2015 – Lucas Hnath
      2009 – Rajiv Joseph & David Adjmi
      2007 – Jordan Harrison
      2006 – Mark Schultz
      2005 – Deb Margolin
      2004 – Tracey Scott Wilson
      2003 – Bridget Carpenter
      2002 – Melissa James Gibson
      2001 – David Lindsay-Abaire
      2000 – David Auburn
      1999 – Heather McDonald
      1998 – Kira Obolensky
      1996 – Naomi Wallace
      1995 – Amy Freed & Doug Wright
      1994 – Nicky Silver
      1993 – Anna Deavere Smith
      1992 – Marion Issac McClinton
      1991 – Tony Kushner
      1990 – Elizabeth Egloff & Mel Shapiro
      1989 – Jo Carson
      1988 – Diane Ney
      1987 – Paul Schmidt
      1986 – Marlane Meyer
      1985 – Bill Elverman
      1984 – Phillip Kan Gotanda
      1983 – Lynn Alvarez
      1981 – Cheryl Hawkins
      1980 – Susan Charlotte


      Honorable Mention / Cranefield Awards

      2015 – James Ijames
      2009 – Jenny Schwartz & Alvin McCraney
      2007 – Will Eno, Rinne Groff, Marcus Gardley
      2006 – Bruce Norris
      2005 – Tanya Barfield
      2004 – John Belluso
      2003 – Lynn Nottage
      2002 – Lydia Diamond
      2001 – Dael Orlandersmith
      2000 – Jessica Hagedorn
      1999 – Stephen Dietz
      1998 – Erik Ehn
      1997 – Kira Obolensky & Edwin Sanchez
      1996 – Nilo Cruz
      1993 – Han Ong
      1992 – Jose Rivera
      1991 – Quincy Long & Scott McPherson
      1990 – Howard Korder
      1989 – Keith Reddin
      1988 – Jose Rivera & Frank Hogen
      1987 – Januzsz Glowacki
      1986 – John Leicht
      1985 – Laura Harrington
      1983 – Constance Congden
      1981 – William Hathaway
      1980 – Carol Lashof