The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, established in 1978, recognizes female and nonbinary playwrights. In 2025, American writer ak payne won for their play 'Furlough’s Paradise', which explores grief and survival through the story of two cousins at a funeral. The play, nominated by Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre, will be directed by Tinashe Kajese-Bolden at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles. payne received $25,000 and a signed print by Willem de Kooning. The prize also awarded commendations to Haruna Lee and Else Went, with other finalists receiving smaller prizes. Teljes cikk (Euronews.com)