Fish Creek, Wisconsin – Peninsula Players Theatre is pleased to announce that “Disgraced” by Ayad Akhtar and directed by Peninsula Player director Kimberly Senior has been named winner of the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The prize is awarded to the playwright.
“Overwhelmed!” were Senior’s sentiments on her Facebook page after hearing the announcement. “’Disgraced’ is a brave, special, once-in-a-lifetime play and the accolades for Ayad Akhtar‘s fantastic play are so well deserved,” she said. “Disgraced” is a moving play that depicts a successful corporate lawyer painfully forced to consider why he has for so long camouflaged his Pakistani Muslim heritage while at a dinner party. The conversation of two couples touches on Islamic traditions, Sept. 11 and several other elements that spiral into chaos.
“I really wanted to write a play that was going to have a legitimately tragic dimension for a contemporary audience,” Akhtar said in an interview with the Associated Press.
Peninsula Players Artistic Director Greg Vinkler strives to bring the best talent to Players audiences, which is evident each time a company member receives accolades or a nomination for their work.
“Kimberly’s work on ‘Disgraced,’ which I saw in New York, was absolutely wonderful,” said Vinkler. “I am very happy that someone of her caliber has enjoyed working with the Players so much.”
Peninsula Players’ patrons who enjoyed performances of Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Nile” or Aarron Sorkin’s “A Few Good Men” saw Senior’s work on stage in Door County. Senior was named the 2012 Best Director in Chicago by Chicago Magazine and directed “Disgraced” at Lincoln Center Theater. Other directorial work includes “Want” and “The North Plan” at Steppenwolf; “Waiting for Lefty” at American Blues and “All My Sons” at TimeLine Theatre to name just a few.
She is an Artistic Associate at Next, Strawdog and Chicago Dramatists. She has been nominated for several Joseph Jefferson awards and citations and is the recipient of the 2010 Excellence in Teaching Award from Columbia College Chicago. She lives in Evanston with her husband, scenic designer Jack Magaw and her children.