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 (1935–1977), 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

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†
 * 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†,
 * Lisa Loomer 1993–94†,
 * Sharman MacDonald 1984–85†,
 * Chloe Moss 2004–05†
 * Phyllis Nagy 1995–96†
 * Dael Orlandersmith 1999-00†
 * Winsome Pinnock 1989–90†
 * Jenny Schwartz 2007–08†
 * Lynn Siefert 1983–84†, 1991–92†
 * Timberlake Wertenbaker 1988–89†

Finalists

 * Judith Adams 1997–98, 1998–99†, 2000–01
 * Kay Adshead 1987–88, 2001–02, 2005–06
 * Rukhsana Ahmad 2001–02
 * Claudia Allen 2002–03
 * 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
 * Clare Barron 2014–15
 * Lynda Barry 1991–92
 * Neena Beber 2003–04
 * Hilary Bell 1998–99
 * Jean Betts 2003–04
 * Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti 2004–05*
 * Alice Birch 2014–15
 * Caroline Bird 2013–14
 * Alecky Blythe 2014–15
 * Clara Brennan 2014–15
 * Linda Brogan 2007–08
 * Tina Brown 1978–79
 * Lesley Bruce 1993–94†
 * Moira Buffini 1992–93, 1997–98*
 * Katherine Burger 1996–97
 * Mary Elizabeth Burke-Kennedy 1984–85
 * Kathleen Cahill 1984–85
 * Lucy Caldwell 2006–07
 * Sheila Callaghan 2006–07
 * Jo Carson 1989–90
 * Katherine Chandler 2014–15
 * Anupama Chandrasekhar 2008–09
 * Julia Cho 2001–02, 2006–07
 * Caryl Churchill 1979–80, 1982–83†, 1983–84*, 1987–88*
 * Paula Cizmar 1981–82†, 1982–83
 * Kathleen Clark 1987–88
 * Pearl Cleage 1983–84, 1993–94, 1995–96
 * Sara Clifford 1998–99
 * Lin Coghlan 2003–04
 * Kathleen Collins 1982–83, 1986–87
 * Sherry Coman 1990–91
 * Anne Commire 1988–89
 * Constance Congdon 1985–86, 1995–96
 * Trista Conger 1988–89
 * Helen Cooper 1984–85, 1986–87, 2002–03
 * Kia Corthron 1997–98
 * Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig 2014–15
 * Migdalia Cruz 1990–91†, 1996–97
 * Alexandra Cunningham 2000–01
 * Leigh Curran 1978–79
 * Barbara Damashek 1987–88
 * Lisa D'Amour 2014–2015
 * April De Angelis 2005–06
 * Donna de Matteo 1982–83
 * Christian de Lancie 1993–94
 * Ruby Dee 1993–94
 * Dolly Dhingra 1999-00
 * Lydia Diamond 2007–08
 * Ann Marie Di Mambro 1994–95
 * Elizabeth Diggs 1981–82, 1987–88†
 * Nancy Donohue 1979–80
 * Katie Douglas 2006–07
 * Bathsheba Doran 2005–06
 * Rosalyn Drexler 1983–84
 * Carol Ann Duffy 1982–83
 * Susan Dworkin 1980–81
 * Helen Edmundson 1993–94
 * Margaret Edson 1993–94
 * Elizabeth Egloff 1995–96, 1996–97
 * Charlotte Eilenberg 2002–03
 * Eve Ensler 1998–99, 2000–01
 * Nancy Ewing 2000–01
 * Stella Feehily 2006–07
 * Lindsey Ferrentino 2014–15
 * Barbara Field 1982–83, 1988–89
 * Susan Flakes 1996–97
 * Kate Fodor 2002–03
 * Maria Irene Fornes 1985–86, 1987–88
 * Amy Fox 2006–07
 * Donna Franceschild 1989–90
 * J.E. Franklin 1981–82, 1989–90, 1992–93
 * Amy Freed 1993–94, 2001–02
 * Mary Gallagher 1979–80, 1986–87*, 1989–90
 * 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
 * Pam Gems 1978–79, 1985–86, 1996–97†
 * Alexandra Gersten 2002–03
 * Melissa James Gibson 2005–06
 * Rebecca Gilman 1998–99, 1999–00, 2004–05
 * Joanna McClelland Glass 1978–79, 1980–81 †, 1983–84, 2004–05
 * Sue Glover 1991–92
 * Debbie Tucker Green 2002–03, 2005–06
 * Linda Marshall Griffiths 2005–06
 * Rinne Groff 2002–03
 * Nikki Harmon 1988–89
 * Zinnie Harris 2000–01†, 2003–04
 * Valerie Harris 1978–79
 * Catherine Hayes 1981–82
 * Beth Henley 1979–80†, 1987–88, 2005–06
 * Jacqueline Holborough 1987–88
 * Endesha Ida Mae Holland 1992–93
 * Debbie Horsfield 1984–85
 * Velina Hasu Houston 1985–86
 * Tina Howe 1979–80, 1983–84, 1997–98
 * Noelle Janaczewska 1997–98
 * Lenka Janiurek 1978–79
 * Ann Jellicoe 1980–81
 * Catherine Johnson 1991–92
 * Cindy Lou Johnson 1984–85, 1986–87
 * Jennifer Johnston 1996–97
 * Marie Jones 1999-00
 * Julia Jordan 1996–97, 2001–02†, 2006–07
 * Yazmine Judd 1998–99
 * C. Michèle Kaplan 2006–07
 * Shirley Kaplan 1981–82
 * Julia Kearsley 1980–81, 1982–83
 * Margaret Keilstrup 1981–82
 * Adrienne Kennedy 1990–91
 * Wendy Kesselman 1980–81*, 1989–90
 * Carson Kreitzer 2003–04
 * Gail Kriegel 1983–84
 * Casey Kurtti 1987–88
 * Oni Faida Lampley 2005–06
 * Mary Lathrop 1991–92
 * Shirley Lauro 1980–81, 1991–92
 * Bryony Lavery 1980–81, 2002–03†, 2004–05, 2007–08
 * Maureen Lawrence 1990–91, 1994–95
 * Barbara Lebow 1985–86, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1997–98
 * Young Jean Lee 2009–10
 * Rebecca Lenkiewicz 2004–05
 * Nell Leyshon 2006–07
 * Liz Lochhead 1998–99
 * Rosie Logan 1986–87
 * Lisa Loomer 1993–94†, 2003–04
 * Claire Luckham 1991–92
 * Anne Ludlum 2002–03
 * Sharman MacDonald 1984–85†, 1990–91, 1995–96
 * Carol Mack 1982–83
 * Emily Mann 1981–82, 1984–85, 1996–97, 1999–00
 * Melanie Marnich 2004–05
 * Nicola McCartney 1997–98
 * Mia McCullough 2004–05
 * Heather McDonald 2002–03
 * Lisa McGee 2007–08†
 * Anne McGravie 1984–85
 * Grace McKeaney 1981–82
 * Ellen McLaughlin 1986–87*, 1989–90
 * Linda McLean 2007–08
 * Jenny McLeod 1999-00
 * Clare Mclntyre 1992–93
 * Cassandra Medley 1988–89
 * Susan Miller 1979–80, 1988–89, 1994–95§, 2001–02*
 * Lois Meredith 1993–94
 * Marlane Meyer 1986–87, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1992–93*
 * Ann Mitchell 1981–82
 * Abi Morgan 2003–04
 * Lavonne Mueller 1980–81, 1986–87
 * Philomena Muinzer 1979–80
 * Melissa Murray 1985–86, 1986–87
 * Julie Marie Myatt 2007–08
 * Sally Nemeth 1994–95
 * Ann Noble 2003–04
 * Marsha Norman 1978–79†, 1982–83*, 1983–84
 * Lynn Nottage 1997–98
 * Zodwa Nyoni 2014–15
 * Meredith Oakes 2000–01
 * Kira Obolensky 1998–99, 2005–06
 * Edna O'Brien 1979–80
 * Tamsin Oglesby 1995–96, 2006–07
 * Mary O'Malley 1978–79*, 1985–86†
 * Louise Page 1982–83, 1984–85
 * Suzan-Lori Parks 1996–97, 1999–00
 * Sybille Pearson 1980–81
 * Carey Perloff 2001–02
 * Winsome Pinnock 1989–90†, 1991–92
 * Lucy Prebble 2003–04
 * Nu Quang 1992–93
 * Heather Raffo 2004–05†
 * Aishah Rahman 1985–86
 * Theresa Rebeck 1994–95, 2002–03
 * Christina Reid 1984–85
 * Jacquelyn Reingold 1994–95
 * Anna Reynolds 1992–93
 * Gillian Richmond 1990–91
 * Susan Rivers 1984–85
 * Kate Moira Ryan 1996–97
 * Milcha Sanchez-Scott 1986–87
 * Barbara Schneider 1979–80*, 1980–81
 * Julia Schofield 1987–88
 * Heidi Schreck 2014–15
 * Rose Scollard 1995–96
 * Adele Edling Shank 1981–82, 1982–83
 * Anna Deavere Smith 1992–93, 1993–94
 * Diana Son 1998–99
 * Susan Sontag 1992–93
 * Abbie Spallen 2006–07
 * Ruby Rae Spiegel 2014–15
 * Shelagh Stephenson 1997–98†
 * Polly Stenham 2007–08
 * Victoria Stewart 2007–08
 * Tena Stivicic 2014–15
 * Kelly Stuart 2001–02
 * Karen Duke Sturges 1979–80
 * Elizabeth Swados 1991–92
 * Polly Teale 2003–04
 * Kristine Thatcher 1985–86, 1994–95§
 * Freyda Thomas 1999-00
 * Judith Thompson 2002–03, 2007–08*
 * Katherine Thomson 2004–05
 * Jane Thornton 1985–86
 * Leonora Thuna 1986–87†
 * Susan Todd 1981–82
 * Kathleen Tolan 1997–98
 * Kay Trainor 1992–93
 * Paula Vogel 1991–92, 1992–93, 1994–95, 1995–96
 * Francine Volpe 2006–07
 * Terri Wagener 1978–79, 1983–84
 * Celeste Bedford Walker 1999-00
 * Wendy Wasserstein 1978–79, 1981–82, 1992–93
 * Alison Watson 1980–81
 * Annie Weisman 2000–01
 * Patricia Wettig 2004–05
 * Erin Cressida Wilson 1995–96
 * Tracey Scott Wilson 2001–02
 * Victoria Wood 1979–80
 * Sarah Woods 2000–01
 * Elizabeth Wyatt 1988–89
 * Olwen Wymark 1978–79, 1979–80
 * Sheila Yeger 1988–89, 1990–91
 * Shay Youngblood 1989–90
 * Karen Zacarias 2003–04