A roundup of prizes, fellowships, and other recognitions.
January 29, 2026
By American Theatre Editors
NEW YORK CITY: The National Theatre Conference, held in its centennial anniversary year on Jan. 16-18 in New York City, announced the recipients of its conference awards. Its Person of the Year was downtown theatre legend Mark Russell, former artistic director of P.S. 122 and Under the Radar Festival founder. The Stavis Playwright Award, recognizing an outstanding emerging playwright, was given to Novid Parsi for The Life You Gave Me, a domestic drama about a son who struggles to save his mother from a violent marriage, and about how Parsi himself navigates cultural and professional expectations. It premiered at Boise Contemporary Theater in April 2025. Washington, D.C.’s Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company was awarded best theatre. Mekala Sridhar, a former Woolly associate producer and current associate producer at Solas Nua, was awarded as best emerging professional for her work as a dramaturg, director, and producer. The Paul Green Award was given to performer and director Nile Harris. This award recognizes and encourages excellent theatre artists under the age of 30, and is selected by the NTC Person of the Year.