The Board of Directors of the Valley Players Community Theater in Waitsfield, VT is pleased to announce the following award given to the 2024 Playwright Award winner.
This award was established in 1982, with the intent of promoting theater arts and encouraging and supporting the creation of original plays by residents of Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. A cash prize is awarded to the winning playwright, and the winning play also may be produced by the Valley Players. This year, the winning play is Outrage by Marisa Smith Kraus of West Lebanon, NH. The play takes place at a small midwestern college where a young African-American professor is up for tenure. His Chairman invites him and his wife for dinner, where the conversation takes on the issues of a bruised and battered America with profound results.
Marisa’s previous full-length plays include The Naked Librarian, Venus Rising, Sex and other Disturbances, Saving Kitty, and Mad Love.
Her 10-minute plays have been produced in the Boston Marathon of 10-Minute Plays, Barrington Stage in NY and in other theaters around the country. They include The Dress Rehearsal, Getting Into Vassar, The Pre-Nup, Polar Bear Swim, Day One, Welcome to the Beekman Arms, No Love, Please, Cubs Win! and Total Expression.
Film Credits include Second Wind and Surprise Engagement.