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For a distinguished play by an American author, preferably original in its source and dealing with American life, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

Ruined, by Lynn Nottage

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.
Lee Bollinger and Lynn Nottage

Lee C. Bollinger, President of Columbia University, presents the 2009 Drama prize to Lynn Nottage.

Winning Work

Ruined

From Lynn Nottage, the Obie Award-winning author of such plays as Fabulation and Intimate Apparel, comes this haunting, probing work about the resilience of the human spirit during times of war. Set in a small mining town in Democratic Republic of Congo, this powerful play follows Mama Nadi, a shrewd businesswoman in a land torn apart by civil war. But is she protecting or profiting by the women she shelters? How far will she go to survive? Can a price be placed on a human life?

— from mtc-nyc.org

Biography

LYNN NOTTAGE is the author of Intimate Apparel, which was produced in New York at Roundabout Theatre Company after its world-premiere production at Center Stage and South Coast Repertory. The play received numerous awards, including the 2004 New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Play, the Outer Critics Circle Best Play award, the John Gassner Award, the American Theatre Critics/Steinberg 2004 New Play Award and the 2004 Francesca Primus Award, and it has gone on to receive dozens of productions around the country. Her next play, Fabulation, or the Education of Undine (Obie Award) directed by Kate Whoriskey, was first produced by Playwrights Horizons and recently received a highly acclaimed production at the Tricycle Theatre in London. Both plays are published in an anthology by Theatre Communications Group (TCG). Another anthology of her plays, Crumbs From the Table of Joy and Other Plays was published by TCG, and includes Crumbs From the Table of Joy; Las Meninas; Mud, River, Stone; Por’Knockers and Poof! Her plays have been produced and developed at theaters throughout the country, including Alliance Theatre, Second Stage Theatre, the Vineyard Theatre, Freedom Theatre, Crossroads Theatre Company, Intiman Theatre, the Oregon Skahespeare Festival, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Yale Reportory Theatre and the Sundance Institute Theatre Lab, among many others. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the prestigious 2004 PEN/Laura Pels Award for literary excellence and the MacArthur “Genius” Award, as well as fellowships from Manhattan Theatre Club, New Dramatists and the New York Foundation for the Arts, where she is a member of the Artists Advisory Board.

Ms. Nottage is an alumna of New Dramatists and a graduate of Brown University and the Yale School of Drama, where she is currently a visiting lecturer. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband, filmmaker Tony Gerber, and daughter Ruby.

Finalists

Nominated as finalists in Drama in 2009:

Gina Gionfriddo

A jarring comedy that examines family and romantic relationships with a lacerating wit while eschewing easy answers and pat resolutions.

Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegría Hudes

A robust musical about struggling Latino immigrants in New York City today that celebrates the virtues of sacrifice, family solidarity and gritty optimism.

The Jury

Dominic Papatola(chair )

theater critic

John M. Clum

chair, department of theater studies

Jim Hebert

theater critic

David Henry Hwang

playwright

Linda Winer

theater critic

Winners in Drama

2009 Prize Winners

W.S. Merwin

A collection of luminous, often tender poems that focus on the profound power of memory.

Staff

For its swift and sweeping coverage of a sex scandal that resulted in the resignation of Gov. Eliot Spitzer, breaking the story on its Web site and then developing it with authoritative, rapid-fire reports.