Jerome Kern used to say about his beloved Lotos Club, “It’s the only place in town where the gin and gossip are dispensed with equal zeal.” He’d have been overjoyed to have attended Monday’s ceremony for the 2024 Horton Foote Prize, hosted at his favorite club – once frequented by the likes of Mark Twain, J.P. Morgan, and Stanford White. The gin drinking was demure (at least by Kern’s standards), but there was plenty of gossip.
Now, the Horton Foote Prize isn’t just another bauble to gather dust on a mantel. No, this is the real deal. Named after the Pulitzer-winning playwright himself, it’s been handed out since 2010, recognizing “excellence in American Theatre” and given out biannually to “an American playwright for original work of exceptional quality.”
Now Jocelyn Bioh has joined the exclusive list of winners, honored for her dazzling (and Tony Award-nominated) play, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding. The Ghanaian-American scribe previously wrote the brilliant play, School Girls.
Along with $50,000 in cold, hard cash, she also received a limited print of Keith Carter’s portrait of Horton Foote himself. This year’s ceremony also included a gratitude gift, awarded to Rattlestick Theater.
These kinds of mid-career cash prizes are more important than ever, with contracting landscapes both in the non-profit theater world as well as in film and television.
Michael Urie, a judge this year, was there to celebrate the winner alongside his husband, Ryan Spahn. Kathleen Chalfant, chair of the judging panel, delivered a heartfelt tribute to Bioh, while the ever-elegant Lois Smith exchanged pleasantries with “This Is Us” star Susan Kelechi Watson and “Succession”’s Zoe Winters. Also present were Urie and Chalfant’s fellow judging panelists, Patricia McGregor and Jennifer Chang. And, of course, holding court were the Prize’s founder Mari Marchbanks, who serves as Prize Board Chair, and Valerie Brea Ross, who heads the organization as Executive Director.
After all the speeches had been delivered, I spotted Bioh making TikTok videos in the library with her guests. I wonder what Mr. Kern would say about all that content creation and its inherent indiscretion. Times have certainly changed, but the magic of that room remains undiminished.
Tidbits from around town…
Spotted Martin Scorsese at a shoe repair place on Lexington agreeing to a 50% upcharge for a same-week rush on a pair of Prada oxfords.
Caught Fiona Shaw sniffing candles at Diptyque in Nolita, commenting to an eager salesperson on each one.
Overheard Bob Balaban discussing plans for “break the fast.”
As always, a toast of something sparkling to you and yours!
Kisses,
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