The winners of the Carol Bolt Award, RBC Emerging Playwright Award, Stage West Comedy and Musical Awards, Sharon Enkin Plays for Young People Award, Robert Beardsley Award, Bra d’Or Award and PGC’s Lifetime Membership Award were announced at the Tom Hendry Awards ceremony at The Arts and Letters Club of Toronto.
Carol Bolt Award Winner – Amy Rutherford
Presented for the best work premiered by a PGC member in the past year, the 2019 Carol Bolt Award was presented to Amy Rutherford for Mortified. The Carol Bolt Award is sponsored by Alberta Playwrights’ Network, Playwrights Canada Press, Manitoba Association of Playwrights (MAP), Pat the Dog Theatre Creation, Playwrights Atlantic Resource Centre (PARC), Playwrights’ Workshop Montreal, Saskatchewan Playwrights Centre and Playwrights Guild of Canada.
Jury: Jovanni Sy (Chair), Rahul Varma, and Natasha MacLellan.
RBC Emerging Playwright Award Winner – Jesse LaVercombe
Presented for the best play by a PGC member who identifies as an emerging playwright, the 2019 RBC Emerging Playwright Award was given to Jesse LaVercombe for Hallelujah, It’s Holly. Second place was awarded to Gillian Clark for Harmony Mall and third place to Elyse Friedman for The Cole Porter Suite. The RBC Emerging Playwright Award is sponsored by The RBC Emerging Artists Fund.
Jury: Daniel Thau-Eleff (Chair), PJ Prudat, and Conni Massing.
The Robert Beardsley Award Winner – Julie Phan
The Arts and Letters Club of Toronto Foundation gives an annual award to an emerging playwright under 25 who lives in the GTA and is pursuing a postsecondary education. The Robert Beardsley Award was granted to Julie Phan for Fine China. This award was sponsored and presented by the Arts and Letters Club of Toronto Foundation and administered by Playwrights Guild of Canada.
Jury: Jeff Ho (Chair), Bilal Baig, and Abby Charchun.
Stage West Musical Award Winner – Daniel Abrahamson & Ashley Botting
Presented annually to a PGC member for best musical in development, the 2019 Musical Award was given to Daniel Abrahamson & Ashley Botting for Stars of Mars. The Stage West Musical Award is sponsored by the Stage West Pechet Family.
Jury: Kelley Jo Burke (Co-Chairs), Julie McIsaac, and Adam Sakiyama.
Stage West Comedy Award Winner – Kristen Da Silva
Presented annually to a PGC member for best comedy in development, the 2019 Comedy Award was bestowed upon Kristen Da Silva for Hurry Hard. The Stage West Comedy Award is sponsored by the Stage West Pechet Family.
Jury: Rosemary Rowe (Chair), Nina Lauren, and Trevor Rueger.
Sharon Enkin Plays For Young People Award Winners – Paula Zelaya-Cervantes & Ana Gonzales-Bello
Presented to a PGC member for best play intended for young audiences, the 2019 Sharon Enkin Plays For Young People Award was presented to Paula Zelaya-Cervantes & Ana Gonzales-Bello for 245 Acts of Unspeakable Evil. The Sharon Enkin Plays For Young People Award was sponsored by the Enkin Family.
Jury: Marjie Chud (Chair), Ian Ross, and Jim Morrow.
Jury: Marjie Chud (Chair), Ian Ross, and Jim Morrow.
The Lifetime Membership Award – Colleen Murphy
The Lifetime Membership Award is awarded to an individual or organization for their outstanding body of work and contribution to the Canadian playwriting community. The recipient must be nominated by PGC members and voted on by PGC’s Board of Directors. Playwrights Guild of Canada is very excited to announce that Colleen Murphy is the 2019 recipient of the Lifetime Membership Award. Colleen will receive a PGC membership for life.
To read a full press release with synopses of the plays and short biographies of the playwrights, please click HERE.
