E.M. Lewis Winner of Steinberg/American Theatre Critics Playwriting Award

NEW YORK — Playwright E.M. Lewis is the 2020 recipient of the Harold and Mimi Steinberg / American Theatre Critics Association New Play Award. The award, which comes with a $25,000 prize, recognizes playwrights for the best scripts that premiered professionally outside New York City during 2019. 

Lewis, won first place for her play “How the Light Gets In,” which was produced by Boston Court in  Pasadena, Calif. The work centers on a travel writer who never travels, a struggling architect, a tattoo artist and a homeless girl find each other when one of them falls apart.  

Also recognized were Lee Edward Colston II for “The First Deep Breath,” which was produced by Chicago’s Victory Gardens Theatre and Chandler Hubbard for "Animal Control.” which was presented by Firehouse Theatre of Richmond, Va. Each playwright will receive $7,500, along with a citation. 

At an annual prize total of $40,000, Steinberg/ATCA is one of the largest national new play awards. The Steinberg/ATCA award has been funded by the Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust since 2000.

ATCA began honoring new plays produced at regional theaters outside New York City in 1977. Plays receiving a production in New York City during the award cycle are not eligible for the Steinberg/ATCA award, recognizing the many other awards programs already in existence there.

The awards were presented on line on May 6 and available to view at ATCA’s website americantheatrecritics.org. 

Also presented at the ceremony is the recipient of the 2020 M. Elizabeth Osborn Award, Dan McCabe for "The Purists" which was produced by Boston’s Huntington Theatre Company. The award recognizes the work of an emerging playwright who has not yet received a major production, such as off-Broadway or Broadway, nor received other major national awards.

The 2020 finalists were culled from the 32 scripts from productions that premiered in 13 states. Top award recipients were selected from scripts recommended by ATCA members from around the country. 

Led by Lou Harry of louharry.com and the podcast Lou Harry Gets Real, judges included Misha Berson (Seattle), Nancy Bishop (Chicago), Lindsay Christians (Madison, WI), Amanda Finn (Chicago), Mike Fischer (Milwaukee, WI), Melissa Hall (Indianapolis), Pam Harbaugh (Indialantic, FL), Ed Huyck (Minneapolis/St. Paul), Jonathan Mandell (New York, NY), Julius Novick (New York City), Kathryn Osenlund (Philadelphia, PA), Wendy Parker (Midlothian, VA), Martha Wade Steketee (New York, NY), and Perry Tannenbaum (Charlotte, NC), Karen Topham (Chicago), Bob Verini (Boston). 

Since the inception of ATCA's new play award, honorees have included Lanford Wilson, Marsha Norman, August Wilson, Arthur Miller, Mac Wellman, Adrienne Kennedy, Donald Margulies, Moises Kaufman, Craig Lucas, and Robert Schenkkan. 

Click here for a full list of all of past Steinberg winners and runners-up. 

The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust was created in 1986 by Harold Steinberg on behalf of himself and his late wife. Pursuing its primary mission to support the American theater, it has provided grants totaling millions of dollars for new productions of American plays and educational programs for those who may not ordinarily experience live theater. 

The American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA) was founded in 1974 and works to raise standards and public awareness of the functions and responsibilities of theater critics. It is the only national association of professional theater critics, with over two hundred members working in print, broadcast, and online media. ATCA is a chapter of the International Association of Theatre Critics / Association internationale des critiques de théâtre (IATC-AICT)a UNESCO-affiliated organization that sponsors seminars and congresses worldwide.