NEW YORK CITY:
The American Playwriting Foundation and Building for the Arts have announced the Finalists for this year’s Relentless Award – the largest cash prize in American theatre presented to an unproduced work, including a performance this February 27th at Theatre Row.
The annual Relentless Award was created in honor of Philip Seymour Hoffman. It is presented this year to a musical submission in honor of Adam Schlesinger, the Oscar- and Tony-nominated, Emmy- and Grammy-winning songwriter (Fountains of Wayne, Cry-Baby, My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, The Bedwetter) who died of COVID-19 complications in 2020. Schlesinger had served as an artistic advisor during the creation of the Relentless Award in 2015.
“The Relentless Award’s purpose is not just to honor Phil’s and Adam’s legacies, but to extend them through the launching of new works selected through the lens of their artistic sensibilities,” said selection committee leader David Bar Katz in a statement. “Our judges come together through this award to uplift artists whose work embodies Adam’s and Phil’s fearlessness, passion, humor, and relentless commitment to truth in art.”
The selection committee recognized three finalists: Hills On Fire by Joe Stevens and Keaton Wooden, Shoot for the Moon by David Gomez and John-Michael Lyles, and XY by Oliver Houser.
The judges for the 2022 Relentless Musical Award included Rachel Bloom, James Iha, Lynn Nottage, Thomas Bradshaw, David Javerbaum, Sam Hollander, Brontez Purnell, and Stephin Merrit.
