ANNUAL BENEFIT
The Dramatists Guild Fund’s annual Benefit and Awards Gala is traditionally held in the spring at a New York theater. Under the guidance of Dramatists Guild Fund and Council members, the gala event helps to raise monies for future generations of writers, writers in need, and many theater companies across the country that support and present the work of new American playwrights. The benefit also raises money to advance and improve the condition and welfare of persons engaged in the writing and creation of dramatic and other literary works for the theatre and related arts.
From the very first Benefit in 2000, the aim has been to present an eclectic and entertaining event that celebrates the theatrical writer. Another highlight of the evening is that various theatrical awards are presented. The awards presented are:
The Flora Roberts Award, presented to a theater professional in recognition for distinguished work in the theater. Past winners include Tina Howe, Adrienne Kennedy, Neal Bell, Jonathan Reynolds, William Finn, Michael John LaChiusa, Robert Waldman, and Ed Bullins;
The Frederick Loewe Award, presented to a composer recognizing achievement in a body of work and continued contribution to musical theater and/or to the composer of the best Broadway musical score of the previous season. Past winners include Stephen Sondheim, John Kander, Jerry Herman, Cy Coleman, Jerry Bock, Charles Strouse, Harvey Schmidt, and Scott Frankel;
The Dramatists Guild Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by the Dramatists Guild Council in recognition of lifetime achievement in theatrical writing. Past recipients include Arthur Miller, Edward Albee, Betty Comden and Adolph Green, Neil Simon, John Kander and Fred Ebb, Stephen Sondheim, August Wilson, and Hoton Foote;
The Wasserstein Prize, established in memory of the esteemed playwright and Guild Council member Wendy Wasserstein, is awarded for an outstanding script by a young woman who has not yet received national attention. The prize is funded by the Educational Foundation of America;
The Hull-Warriner Award, the only award presented by dramatists to dramatists. Established in 1971, the Hull-Warriner is awarded annually by the Dramatists Guild Council to an author or team of authors in recognition of their play or musical dealing with controversial subjects involving the fields of political, religious or social mores of the times.