The Prize

Named for the legendary, Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, The Horton Foote Prize was established in 2010 to award excellence in American Theatre. Presented biennially, the Horton Foote Prize is awarded to an American playwright for an original work of exceptional quality.

The Prize currently awards $50,000 to its Winner and a limited edition of Keith Carter’s iconic photograph of Horton Foote, which resides in the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.

The Process

In January of each prize cycle, an invitation to submit a produced or unproduced play for consideration is sent to specified professional Theatres across the country. For an produced play the premiere production must have taken place or be scheduled to take place between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2024, effectively encompassing all of the 22/23 and 23/24 seasons for most theatres. An unproduced play is only eligible if it is scheduled for a production in the 24/25 season (during the period from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025).

Plays must be full-length and shall not include a musical, monologue, solo-act, short one act (less than 60 minutes), translation, play for children, adaptation, or collaborations. The playwright must be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident. The playwright whose work is submitted will have had a prior minimum of two full-length plays fully produce by professional theatres, each meeting the same criteria.

By mid-February, a national reading committee commences multiple blind readings of each script, narrowing the field and forwarding the top ten scripts to a selection committee. The selection committee reads each play and a final decision is made as to which plays will move forward. In a final round, a jury of distinguished members of the American theatre community selects the Horton Foote Prize Winner.

The Winner is announced in September and the award ceremony is held in October at a private reception at The Lotos Club in New York City.