The winners of the Robert Beardsley Award, RBC Emerging Playwright Award, Sharon Enkin Theatre for Young Audiences Award, Playwrights Guild Comedy and Musical Awards, Carol Bolt Award, and Bra D’Or Award were announced at the Tom Hendry Awards online ceremony in partnership with The Arts and Letters Club of Toronto.
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The Robert Beardsley Award Winner – Audrey Krieger-Pottruff
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 Audrey Krieger-Pottruff for Tragedy: A Comedy. This award was sponsored and presented by the Arts and Letters Club of Toronto Foundation and administered by Playwrights Guild of Canada.
Jury: Yolanda Bonnell (Chair), Julia Lederer, and Myekah Payne.
The Bra d’Or Award Winner – Marjorie Chan
The Bra d’Or Award (BDA) recognizes an individual for his/her/their efforts in supporting and promoting the work of Canadian women playwrights. Recipients are nominated by PGC’s Women’s Caucus members, but the entirety of PGC’s membership votes on the winner. This year, Marjorie Chan, playwright and Artistic Director of Theatre Passe Muraille, was chosen as the recipient of the 2020 Bra d’Or Award. The BDA is sponsored by PGC’s Women’s Caucus, Playwrights Canada Press, and Scirocco Drama.
RBC Emerging Playwright Award Winner – Makram Ayache
Presented for best play by a PGC member who is an emerging playwright, the 2020 RBC Emerging Playwright Award was given to Makram Ayache for Harun. Second place was awarded to Megs Calleja for Twentysomething and third place to Gabe Maharjan for Eva in Rio. The RBC Emerging Playwright Award is sponsored by The RBC Emerging Artists Fund.
Jury: Muriel Hogue (Chair), Warona Setshwaelo, and Yvonne Wallace.
Sharon Enkin Theatre for Young Audiences Award Winner – Josh MacDonald
Presented to a PGC member for best new play intended for young audiences, the 2020 Sharon Enkin Theatre for Young Audiences Award was presented to Josh MacDonald for #I am the Cheese. Funding for the Sharon Enkin Theatre for Young Audiences Award was made possible by a generous donation from the Enkin Family.
Jury: Pablo Felices-Luna (Chair), Maggie Mercredi, and David Woods.
Playwrights Guild Comedy Award Winner – Paul Van Dyke
Presented annually to a PGC member for best new comedy, the 2020 Comedy Award was bestowed upon Paul Van Dyck for Siberian Summer. This year, the Comedy Award was sponsored by Playwrights Guild of Canada.
Jury: Jeff Pitcher (Chair), Rachel Peake, and Brie Watson.
Playwrights Guild Musical Award Winner – Sara Farb & Britta Johnson
Presented annually to a PGC member for best new musical, the 2020 Musical Award was given to Sara Farb and Britta Johnson for Kelly v. Kelly. The Musical Award was sponsored by Playwrights Guild of Canada this year.
Jury: Daniel Maté (Chair), Deanna Choi, and Farren Timoteo.
Carol Bolt Award Winner – Keith Barker
Presented for the best premiere production by a PGC member in the past year, the 2020 Carol Bolt Award was bestowed on Keith Barker for This is How We Got Here. The Carol Bolt Award is sponsored by Alberta Playwrights’ Network, Manitoba Association of Playwrights (MAP), Playwrights Atlantic Resource Centre (PARC), Playwrights Canada Press, Playwrights Guild of Canada, and the Playwrights Theatre Centre.
Jury: Eda Holmes (Chair), Jennifer Dawn Bishop, and Jennifer Deon.
To read a full press release with synopses of the plays and short biographies of the playwrights, please Click Here.
