CURTAIN RISES ON PULITZER CALARTS WRITING TEACHER FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO WIN DRAMA PRIZE.Byline: Staff and Wire Services VALENCIA - Suzan-Lori Parks, head of dramatic writing at Valencia's California Institute of the Arts California Institute of the Arts known as CalArts U.S. private institution of higher learning in Valencia. Created in 1961 through the merger of two other art institutes, it was the first in the U.S. , won the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for drama From 1918 to 2006, the Drama Prize was unlike the majority of the other Pulitzer Prizes: during these years, the eligibility period for the drama prize ran from March 2 to March 1, to reflect the Broadway on Monday for her Broadway play ``Topdog/Underdog.'' The two-character play, about African-American brothers named Lincoln and Booth, details their intense sibling rivalry sibling rivalry Psychology The intense, emotional competition among siblings–brothers and/or sisters that pits one against the other to obtain parental affection, approval, attention, and love. See Cain complex. Cf Oy child, Sibling relational problem. while touching on themes of family wounds and healing. The play made its official Broadway debut Sunday night Sunday Night, later named Michelob Presents Night Music, was an NBC late-night television show which aired for two seasons between 1988 and 1990 as a showcase for jazz and eclectic musical artists. , drawing a rave review from The New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Times. ``The most exciting new home-grown play to hit Broadway since ... Tony Kushner's 'Angels in America,''' said the Times, referring to the 1993 Pulitzer drama winner. Parks' play was an ofroadway hit last summer. ``We couldn't be more thrilled,'' said Susan Solt, dean of the CalArts School of Theater. ``This is a first for our department ... having Suzan-Lori has been a great, great addition to our faculty, our training, our community.'' Parks, 38, was in New York on Monday and unavailable for comment. Parks is director of CalArts A.S.K. Theater Projects' Writing for Performance Project. ``She is so emblematic of what we believe is critical to the future of plays and play writing in the American theater
The American Theater ,'' Solt said. ``She crosses all bounds, she reinvents herself every time she creates. Her work is deep, heartfelt, intellectual. She's an extraordinary writer and she has a true capability to be a great teacher.'' In October, Parks was awarded a $500,000 MacArthur ``genius'' grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, philanthropic institution founded 1978 by John D. MacArthur (1897–1978), owner of a prominent insurance company and other businesses, and his wife Catherine T. . She said at the time that she was dedicated to helping young writers tap their potentials. Parks is the first African-American to win the Pulitzer for drama. Solt said she was in New York last week to visit Parks and celebrate the pending Broadway debut of ``Topdog/Underdog.'' ``We saw her show before the opening on Sunday - it got rave reviews,'' Solt said. ``It's an extraordinary day for her.'' CAPTION(S): photo |
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