(PASADENA) – The Armenian Dramatic Arts Alliance (ADAA) held its annual awards event on December 6 at the Pasadena Playhouse, to present the 2014 William Saroyan Playwriting Prize in Human Rights/Social Justice and other special honors. More than 70 people attended the VIP event at the Makineni Library, which was emceed by television celebrity Jill Simonian.
The event featured an introduction from Honorary Chair Dianne Philibosian, an update from ADAA President Bianca Bagatourian, a welcome from Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard and remarks from Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), who presented the Armenian Commendation Award.
The winner of the $10,000 Saroyan Playwriting Prize is “Carla Cooks The War,” by Laura Maria Censabella. The grand prize was awarded by Pier Carlo Talenti, Literary Director from Center Theatre Group (CTG) in Los Angeles. He also announced that CTG would produce a series of Armenian Genocide play readings in April along with ADAA at the Kirk Douglas Theatre to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
The honorary jury for the 2014 William Saroyan Playwriting Prize for Human Rights/Social Justice was composed of Sebastian Born, associate director of the National Theatre, London; Erik Ehn, American playwright and director of writing for performance at Brown University; and David Lan, artistic director of the Young Vic Theatre in London.