Susan Smith Blackburn Prize

The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize established in 1978, is the largest and oldest playwriting prize for women+ writing for English-speaking theatre. Named for Susan Smith Blackburn, alumna of Smith College, who died of breast cancer.

Winners

1978–79 Mary O'Malley
1979–80 Barbara Schneider, for Details Without a Map
1980–81 Wendy Kesselman
1981–82 Nell Dunn
1982–83 Marsha Norman
1983–84 Caryl Churchill
1984–86 Shirley Gee
1986–86 Anne Devlin
1986–87 Mary Gallagher
1986–87 Ellen McLaughlin
1987–88 Caryl Churchill
1988–89 Wendy Wasserstein
1989–90 Lucy Gannon
1990–91 Rona Munro; Cheryl West
1991–92 Timberlake Wertenbaker
1992–93 Marlane Meyer
1993–94 Jane Coles
1994–95 Susan Miller; Kristine Thatcher; Naomi Wallace
1995–96 Naomi Wallace
1996–97 Marina Carr
1997–98 Moira Buffini
1997–98 Paula Vogel
1998–99 Jessica Goldberg
1999–00 Bridget Carpenter
2000–01 Charlotte Jones
2001–02 Gina Gionfriddo
2001–02 Susan Miller
2002–03 Dael Orlandersmith
2003–04 Sarah Ruhl
2004–05 Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti
2005–06 Amelia Bullmore for Mammals, Elizabeth Kuti for The Sugar Wife
2006–07 Lucy Caldwell for Leaves, Sheila Callaghan for Dead City, Stella Feehily for O Go My Man, Abbie Spallen for Pumpgirl
2007–08 Judith Thompson for Palace of the End
2008–09 Chloë Moss for This Wide Night
2009–2010 Julia Cho for The Language Archive
2010–11 Katori Hall for Hurt Village
2011–12 Jennifer Haley for The Nether
2012–13 Annie Baker for The Flick
2013–14 Lucy Kirkwood for Chimerica
2014–15 Tena Stivicic for Three Winters
2015–16 Lynn Nottage for Sweat
2016–17 Clare Barron for Dance Nation
2017–18 Alice Birch for Anatomy of a Suicide
2018–19 Jackie Sibblies Drury for Fairview
2019–20 Lucy Prebble for A Very Expensive Poison
2020–21 Erika Dickerson-Despenza for cullud wattah
2021–22 Benedict Lombe for Lava
2022–23 Sarah Mantell for In the Amazon Warehouse Parking Lot
2023–24 Ava Pickett for 1536
2024–25 ak payne for "Furlough's Paradise"

Special Commendation

Judith Adams 1998–99†
Leslie Ayvazian 1995–96†
Lesley Bruce 1993–94†
Caryl Churchill 1982–83†
Migdalia Cruz 1990–91†
Joanna McClelland Glass 1980–81 †
Zinnie Harris 2000–01†
Justice Hehir 2023–24
Beth Henley 1979–80†
Julie Hebert 1998–99†
Beth Henley 1979–80†
Naomi Iizuka 2000–01†
Julia Jordan 2001–02†
Elizabeth Kuti 1999-00†
Joanna Laurens 2000–01†
Bryony Lavery 2002–03†
Kimber Lee 2020–21
Lisa Loomer 1993–94†
Sharman MacDonald 1984–85†
Chloe Moss 2004–05†
Phyllis Nagy 1995–96†
Ife Olujobi 2020–21
Dael Orlandersmith 1999-00†
Winsome Pinnock 1989–90†
Jenny Schwartz 2007–08†
Lynn Siefert 1983–84†, 1991–92†
Timberlake Wertenbaker 1988–89†

Finalists

1970s

Tina Brown 1978–79
Caryl Churchill 1979–80, 1982–83†, 1983–84*, 1987–88*
Leigh Curran 1978–79
Nancy Donohue 1979–80
Mary Gallagher 1979–80, 1986–87*, 1989–90
Pam Gems 1978–79, 1985–86, 1996–97†
Joanna McClelland Glass 1978–79, 1980–81 †, 1983–84, 2004–05
Valerie Harris 1978–79
Beth Henley 1979–80†, 1987–88, 2005–06
Tina Howe 1979–80, 1983–84, 1997–98
Lenka Janiurek 1978–79
Susan Miller 1979–80, 1988–89, 1994–95§, 2001–02*
Philomena Muinzer 1979–80
Marsha Norman 1978–79†, 1982–83*, 1983–84
Edna O'Brien 1979–80
Mary O'Malley 1978–79*, 1985–86†
Barbara Schneider 1979–80*, 1980–81
Karen Duke Sturges 1979–80
Terri Wagener 1978–79, 1983–84
Wendy Wasserstein 1978–79, 1981–82, 1992–93
Victoria Wood 1979–80
Olwen Wymark 1978–79, 1979–80

1980s

Kay Adshead 1987–88, 2001–02, 2005–06
Mary Elizabeth Burke-Kennedy 1984–85
Kathleen Cahill 1984–85
Jo Carson 1989–90
Paula Cizmar 1981–82†, 1982–83
Kathleen Clark 1987–88
Pearl Cleage 1983–84, 1993–94, 1995–96
Kathleen Collins 1982–83, 1986–87
Anne Commire 1988–89
Constance Congdon 1985–86, 1995–96
Trista Conger 1988–89
Helen Cooper 1984–85, 1986–87, 2002–03
Barbara Damashek 1987–88
Donna de Matteo 1982–83
Elizabeth Diggs 1981–82, 1987–88†
Rosalyn Drexler 1983–84
Carol Ann Duffy 1982–83
Susan Dworkin 1980–81
Barbara Field 1982–83, 1988–89
Maria Irene Fornes 1985–86, 1987–88
Donna Franceschild 1989–90
J.E. Franklin 1981–82, 1989–90, 1992–93
Lucy Gannon 1988–89, 1989–90*
Lillian Garrett 1989–90
Nancy Fales Garrett 1982–83
Judy GeBauer 1987–88
Shirley Gee 1983–84, 1984–85*, 1989–90
Nikki Harmon 1988–89
Catherine Hayes 1981–82
Jacqueline Holborough 1987–88
Debbie Horsfield 1984–85
Velina Hasu Houston 1985–86
Ann Jellicoe 1980–81
Cindy Lou Johnson 1984–85, 1986–87
Shirley Kaplan 1981–82
Julia Kearsley 1980–81, 1982–83
Margaret Keilstrup 1981–82
Wendy Kesselman 1980–81*, 1989–90
Gail Kriegel 1983–84
Casey Kurtti 1987–88
Shirley Lauro 1980–81, 1991–92
Bryony Lavery 1980–81, 2002–03†, 2004–05, 2007–08
Barbara Lebow 1985–86, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1997–98
Rosie Logan 1986–87
Sharman MacDonald 1984–85†, 1990–91, 1995–96
Carol Mack 1982–83
Emily Mann 1981–82, 1984–85, 1996–97, 1999–00
Anne McGravie 1984–85
Grace McKeaney 1981–82
Ellen McLaughlin 1986–87*, 1989–90
Cassandra Medley 1988–89
Marlane Meyer 1986–87, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1992–93*
Ann Mitchell 1981–82
Lavonne Mueller 1980–81, 1986–87
Melissa Murray 1985–86, 1986–87
Louise Page 1982–83, 1984–85
Sybille Pearson 1980–81
Winsome Pinnock 1989–90†, 1991–92
Aishah Rahman 1985–86
Christina Reid 1984–85
Susan Rivers 1984–85
Milcha Sanchez-Scott 1986–87
Julia Schofield 1987–88
Adele Edling Shank 1981–82, 1982–83
Kristine Thatcher 1985–86, 1994–95§
Jane Thornton 1985–86
Leonora Thuna 1986–87†
Susan Todd 1981–82
Alison Watson 1980–81
Elizabeth Wyatt 1988–89
Sheila Yeger 1988–89, 1990–91
Shay Youngblood 1989–90

1990s

Judith Adams 1997–98, 1998–99†, 2000–01
Hanan al-Shaykh 1996–97
Jane Anderson 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93†
Leslie Ayvazian 1995–96†, 2004–05
Nicola Baldwin 1993–94, 1999–00
Lynda Barry 1991–92
Hilary Bell 1998–99
Lesley Bruce 1993–94†
Moira Buffini 1992–93, 1997–98*
Katherine Burger 1996–97
Sara Clifford 1998–99
Sherry Coman 1990–91
Kia Corthron 1997–98
Migdalia Cruz 1990–91†, 1996–97
Christian de Lancie 1993–94
Ruby Dee 1993–94
Dolly Dhingra 1999-00
Ann Marie Di Mambro 1994–95
Helen Edmundson 1993–94
Margaret Edson 1993–94
Elizabeth Egloff 1995–96, 1996–97
Eve Ensler 1998–99, 2000–01
Susan Flakes 1996–97
Amy Freed 1993–94, 2001–02
Rebecca Gilman 1998–99, 1999–00, 2004–05
Sue Glover 1991–92
Endesha Ida Mae Holland 1992–93
Noelle Janaczewska 1997–98
Catherine Johnson 1991–92
Jennifer Johnston 1996–97
Marie Jones 1999-00
Julia Jordan 1996–97, 2001–02†, 2006–07
Yazmine Judd 1998–99
Adrienne Kennedy 1990–91
Mary Lathrop 1991–92
Maureen Lawrence 1990–91, 1994–95
Liz Lochhead 1998–99
Lisa Loomer 1993–94†, 2003–04
Claire Luckham 1991–92
Nicola McCartney 1997–98
Jenny McLeod 1999-00
Clare Mclntyre 1992–93
Lois Meredith 1993–94
Sally Nemeth 1994–95
Lynn Nottage 1997–98
Kira Obolensky 1998–99, 2005–06
Tamsin Oglesby 1995–96, 2006–07
Suzan-Lori Parks 1996–97, 1999–00, 2015–16
Nu Quang 1992–93
Theresa Rebeck 1994–95, 2002–03
Jacquelyn Reingold 1994–95
Anna Reynolds 1992–93
Gillian Richmond 1990–91
Kate Moira Ryan 1996–97
Rose Scollard 1995–96
Anna Deavere Smith 1992–93, 1993–94
Diana Son 1998–99
Susan Sontag 1992–93
Shelagh Stephenson 1997–98†
Elizabeth Swados 1991–92
Freyda Thomas 1999-00
Kathleen Tolan 1997–98
Kay Trainor 1992–93
Paula Vogel 1991–92, 1992–93, 1994–95, 1995–96
Celeste Bedford Walker 1999-00
Erin Cressida Wilson 1995–96

2000s

Rukhsana Ahmad 2001–02
Claudia Allen 2002–03
Neena Beber 2003–04
Jean Betts 2003–04
Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti 2004–05*
Linda Brogan 2007–08
Lucy Caldwell 2006–07
Sheila Callaghan 2006–07
Anupama Chandrasekhar 2008–09, 2022–23
Julia Cho 2001–02, 2006–07
Lin Coghlan 2003–04
Alexandra Cunningham 2000–01
April De Angelis 2005–06, 2023–24
Lydia Diamond 2007–08
Katie Douglas 2006–07
Bathsheba Doran 2005–06
Charlotte Eilenberg 2002–03
Nancy Ewing 2000–01
Stella Feehily 2006–07
Kate Fodor 2002–03
Amy Fox 2006–07
Alexandra Gersten 2002–03
Melissa James Gibson 2005–06
Debbie Tucker Green 2002–03, 2005–06, 2018–19
Linda Marshall Griffiths 2005–06
Rinne Groff 2002–03
Zinnie Harris 2000–01†, 2003–04, 2016–17
C. Michèle Kaplan 2006–07
Carson Kreitzer 2003–04
Oni Faida Lampley 2005–06
Young Jean Lee 2009–10
Rebecca Lenkiewicz 2004–05
Nell Leyshon 2006–07
Anne Ludlum 2002–03
Melanie Marnich 2004–05
Mia McCullough 2004–05
Heather McDonald 2002–03
Lisa McGee 2007–08†
Linda McLean 2007–08
Abi Morgan 2003–04
Julie Marie Myatt 2007–08
Ann Noble 2003–04
Meredith Oakes 2000–01
Carey Perloff 2001–02
Lucy Prebble 2003–04
Heather Raffo 2004–05†
Abbie Spallen 2006–07
Polly Stenham 2007–08
Victoria Stewart 2007–08
Kelly Stuart 2001–02
Polly Teale 2003–04
Judith Thompson 2002–03, 2007–08*
Katherine Thomson 2004–05
Francine Volpe 2006–07
Annie Weisman 2000–01
Patricia Wettig 2004–05
Tracey Scott Wilson 2001–02
Sarah Woods 2000–01
Karen Zacarias 2003–04

2010s

Clare Barron 2014–15
Hilary Bettis 2018–19
Alice Birch 2014–15
Caroline Bird 2013–14
Alecky Blythe 2014–15
Clara Brennan 2014–15
Sarah Burgess 2015–16
Katherine Chandler 2014–15
Elinor Cook 2017–18
Zoe Cooper 2019–2020
Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig 2014–15, 2019–2020
Rachel Cusk 2015–16
Lisa D'Amour 2014–2015
Sarah DeLappe 2015–16
Fiona Doyle 2017–18
Lindsey Ferrentino 2014–15
Aleshea Harris 2017–18
Amy Herzog 2016–17
Ella Hickson 2018–19
Sam Holcroft 2015–16
Charlene James 2016–17
Anna Jordan 2015–16
Anchuli Felicia King 2019–2020
Kimber Lee 2019–2020, 2020–21, 2022–23
Martyna Majok 2018–19
Charley Miles 2016–17
Dominique Morisseau 2015–16, 2016–17, 2019–2020
Colleen Murphy 2017–18
Lizzie Nunnery 2016–17
Antoinette Nwandu 2017–18
Zodwa Nyoni 2014–15
Lily Padilla 2018–19
Nina Raine 2017–18, 2018–19
Ella Road 2018–19
Bea Roberts 2015–16
Anusree Roy 2017–18
Tori Sampson 2017–18
Heidi Schreck 2014–15, 2018–19
Somalia Seaton 2016–17
Jen Silverman 2016–17
Penelope Skinner 2016–17
Stef Smith 2019–2020
Celine Song 2019–2020
Ruby Rae Spiegel 2014–15
Noni Stapleton 2015–16
Tena Stivicic 2014–15
Anne Washburn 2019–2020
Lauren Yee 2017–18, 2018–19

2020s

Chiara Atik 2021–22
Glace Chase 2020–21
Roxy Cook 2023–24
Francisca Da Silveira 2022–23
Daniella De Jesús 2021–22
Miranda Rose Hall 2020–21
Maryam Hamidi 2022–23
Sarah Hanly 2021–22
Karen Hartman 2022–23
Katie Holly 2022–23
Zora Howard 2021–22
Rhianna Ilube 2023–24
Jasmine Naziha Jones 2023–24
Sonya Kelly 2021–22
Dawn King 2020–21
Alex Lin 2023–24
Lenelle Moïse 2023–24
Hannah Moscovitch 2023–24
Joanna Murray-Smith 2021–22
Janice Okoh 2020–21
Ife Olujobi 2020–21†
Jihae Park 2020–21
a.k. payne 2022–23, 2023–24
Frances Poet 2020–21
Zadie Smith 2022–23
Beth Steel 2020–21
Kae Tempest 2021–22
Ruby Thomas 2022–23
Amanda Wilkin 2021–22
Lauren Whitehead 2021–22