Judith Thompson Wins Susan Smith Blackburn Prize for Palace of the End

The 2008 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize has been awarded to Judith Thompson for Palace of the End, marking the first time a Canadian writer has received the honor, given annually to recognize women who have written works of outstanding quality for the English-speaking theater. Thompson received $20,000 and a signed and numbered print by artist Willem de Kooning at a special 30th anniversary ceremony on March 10 at the Alley Theatre in Houston.

Special Commendations of $2,500 each were also presented to Northern Ireland playwright Lisa McGee for Girls and Dolls, submitted by the Tinderbox Theatre in Belfast; American Jenny Schwartz for God's Ear, submitted by New Georges in New York; and British writer Polly Stenham for That Face, submitted by the Royal Court.

Finalists, each of whom received $1,000, included Linda Brogan for Black Crows England, Lydia Diamond for Stick Fly U.S.A., Bryony Lavery for Stockholm England, Linda McLean for strangers, babies Scotland, Julie Marie Myatt for Boats on a River U.S.A. and Victoria Stewart for Hardball U.S.A.

Palace of the End recently concluded a limited engagement at Canadian Stage Company in Toronto and will transfer off-Broadway when the Epic Theatre Ensemble's New York premiere production begins performances at the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre in June. The play is a triptych of monologues from real-life characters who have all been gravely impacted by the War in Iraq, with each monologue taking the audience on a harrowing but illuminating journey into the heart of this conflict.