Tracey Scott Wilson Wins 2004 Kesselring Prize
Each year the National Arts Club invites theaters across the country to nominate playwrights who show exceptional promise but have not yet achieved national recognition for the Kesselring Prize. John Guare, Eric Bogosian and Lincoln Center's dramaturg Anne Cattaneo judged the submissions. First prize comes with a $15,000 check increased from $10,000 given in past years. Previous winners include David Auburn, Doug Wright, Tony Kushner, Anna Deavere Smith, Jose Rivera, David Lindsay-Abaire and Melissa James Gibson.
Wilson was nominated for the Kesselring by New York's Public Theater, where her play The Story premiered. She was also a recipient of the 2002 Helen Merrill Award for Emerging Artists and a 1998 Van Lier Fellow at New York Theatre Workshop. Her other works include A Small World, Exhibit #9, Leader for the People and the musical Order My Steps.
Belluso was nominated by New York's New Dramatists for his play A Nervous Smile. His other credits include Body Songs and Voice Properties On a First Date After a Full Year of Februarys. Belluso will receive $5,000 increased from $2,500 in past years from the National Arts Club for his Honorable Mention.
Wilson and Belluso will be presented with their prizes on November 21 at 5pm at a ceremony at The National Arts Club. The festivities will also feature a staged reading of a new play by Wilson, directed by Michael Parva, artistic director of The Director's Company in New York.