Lynn Nottage Wins 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Ruined
The Pulitzer Prize for drama is given “for a distinguished play by an American author, preferably in its source and dealing with American life,” and carries a cash prize of $10,000. The jury for the drama prize consisted of Dominic Papatola, theater critic of the St. Paul Pioneer Press chair; John M. Clum, chair of the department of theater studies at Duke University; Jim Hebert, theater critic at the San Diego Union-Tribune; playwright David Henry Hwang; and Linda Winer, theater critic at Newsday.
The Pulitzer citation hailed Ruined as "a searing drama set in chaotic Congo that compels audiences to face the horror of wartime rape and brutality while still finding affirmation of life and hope amid hopelessness." Set in present-day Congo, Ruined tells the story of Mama Nadi, the proprietor of a local establishment that acts as both a shelter for women who’ve been damaged or “ruined” by the civil war and a bar/brothel for the nationalist and rebel soldiers who keep it raging on. Always the shrewd businesswoman, Nadi sides neither with her female employees nor with her militant patrons until the war outside closes in and there are choices to make and truths to face.
Loosely inspired by Mother Courage, Nottage based Ruined on her own fact-finding trip to a refugee camp in Uganda. She is the Obie Award-winning writer of Intimate Apparel, Fabulation and Por’knockers, among other plays. Nottage received a MacArthur “genius” grant in 2007.
Also nominated as finalists in the drama category were Becky Shaw by Gina Gionfriddo, described by the Pulitzer jury as "a jarring comedy that examines family and romantic relationships with a lacerating wit while eschewing easy answers and pat resolutions," and In The Heights by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegría Hudes, described as "a robust musical about struggling Latino immigrants in New York City today that celebrates the virtues of sacrifice, family solidarity and gritty optimism."
Ruined is currently playing an extended engagement at Manhattan Theatre Club’s Stage I at City Center. The play opened on February 10, and MTC is currently offering tickets through May 10. Directed by Kate Whoriskey, the play stars Quincy Tyler Bernstine, Cherise Boothe, Chris Chalk, Saidah Arrika Ekulona, William Jackson Harper, Chilke Johnson, Russell G. Jones, Simon Shabantu Kashama, Kevin Mambo, Tom Mardorisian, Ron McBee and Condola Rashad.
MTC’s production of Ruined received five 2009 Outer Critics Circle Award nominations, the most for any off-Broadway production, including Outstanding Off-Broadway play and acting nominations for Ekulona, Jones and Rashad. The play also received Lucille Lortel Award nominations for Best Play, Best Actress Ekulona and Best Director Whoriskey.