NEW YORK (AP) – Suzan-Lori Parks’ historical trilogy set during the Civil War has won a theater award honoring the late U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, one of the largest prizes given for dramatic writing.
Parks’ “Father Comes Home from the Wars (Parts 1, 2 & 3)” traces the journey of a slave named Hero, his wife, Penny, and the best friend he betrayed, Homer. Spanning a total of three hours, the plays premiered last fall at the Public Theater to largely rave reviews. It is the initial trio in a planned nine-play cycle.
The Edward M. Kennedy Prize for Drama Inspired by American History honors a new play or musical that explores the United States’ past and deals with “great issues of our day.” Given every year through Columbia University, it comes with $100,000.
The winning play Monday beat out four other finalists: Robert Schenkkan’s “The Great Society,” Marcus Gardley’s “The House That Will Not Stand,” and two by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins – “Appropriate” and “An Octoroon.”
The judges this year included playwright Kristoffer Diaz, playwright and director Stephen Adly Guirgis, playwright David Henry Hwang and librettist John Weidman.