The Barbour Award was created in 2007 to celebrate new work for the theatre. For this annual event, EAG partners with one local theatre company, playwriting program, or playwrights collective. Our partnering company nominates three playwrights to be finalists for the award and then we work together to present a staged reading of one not-yet-produced play by each finalist at our unique and historic theatre at Guild Hall (1 East 29th Street, NYC 10016). The Award culminates in one playwright receiving a $500 cash prize for their work.
Our 2025 Barbour Playwrights Award Winner
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After our June readings of three fabulous plays by Kati Frazier (Radio Eulogy), Orlando F. Rodriguez (The Armando Project), and Holly Hepp-Galvan (Lakshmi Counts Her Arms and Legs), we are excited to announce that the Barbour Committee has selected Holly Hepp-Galvan as the winner of the 2025 Barbour Award and its $500 prize. Congratulations, Holly!
"It’s an incredible honor to receive the Barbour Award for Lakshmi Counts Her Arms and Legs. The Episcopal Actors’ Guild doesn’t just support new work—they support the artists who bring that work to life, often at the most difficult moments in their lives. Their commitment to both storytelling and human dignity is a rare and vital force in our theatre community, and I’m deeply grateful to be part of it." - Holly Hepp-Galvan |
Our 2025 partner company:
Rising Sun Performance Company is an award-winning theatre company dedicated to fostering a nurturing and safe artistic home while creating innovative theatrical experiences in NYC. They are committed to the principle of ensemble process and performance through the collaboration of a resident company built of theatre artists, including actors, directors, playwrights, designers, and producers. Rising Sun Performance Company's (RSP) mission is to advance the vitality and diversity of American theatre by nurturing artists, encouraging repeatable creative relationships, and contributing new works and revitalized pre-existing work to the national canon. Rising Sun Performance Company realizes this goal by providing a safe artistic home which stimulates risk-taking without limits of genre or agenda.
The Barbour Award was established and endowed by Janet Barbour Carhart, Alison Barbour Fox, and from a portion of the gift left to EAG by Mr. Thomas Barbour’s estate. All proceeds from the staged readings of the Barbour finalists’ plays goes directly to supporting future Barbour Awards.
Thomas Barbour was a dedicated supporter of the theatre, emerging playwrights, and the Episcopal Actors’ Guild. On stage and screen, Mr. Barbour had a prolific acting career, including featured roles in Arthur with Dudley Moore and The Great White Hope with James Earl Jones. Off-stage, Mr. Barbour worked tirelessly on behalf of EAG, serving many years as Treasurer and Vice-President. Under his leadership, the Guild’s scholarship program grew from two annual awards of $500 to five annual awards of $1,000. Mr. Barbour also co-founded Polaris North and was a long-time member of the Perry Street Block Association.
Thomas Barbour was a dedicated supporter of the theatre, emerging playwrights, and the Episcopal Actors’ Guild. On stage and screen, Mr. Barbour had a prolific acting career, including featured roles in Arthur with Dudley Moore and The Great White Hope with James Earl Jones. Off-stage, Mr. Barbour worked tirelessly on behalf of EAG, serving many years as Treasurer and Vice-President. Under his leadership, the Guild’s scholarship program grew from two annual awards of $500 to five annual awards of $1,000. Mr. Barbour also co-founded Polaris North and was a long-time member of the Perry Street Block Association.
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Past Award Winners
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"Lakshmi Counts Her Arms and Legs" by Holly Hepp-Galvan, of the Barbour Award 2025
"Kilonova" by Jon Krupp, winner of the 2022 Barbour Award
"Are You There Truman?" by Garrett David Kim, winner of the 2021 Barbour Award
"Black Doves" by Reynaldo Piniella, winner of the 2019 Barbour Award
"The Andrew Play" by Alexis Roblan, winner of the 2018 Barbour Award
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Questions?
Director of Operations and Development Rebecca Lovett can help with the Barbour Award.
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The Episcopal Actors' Guild of America, Inc.
1 East 29th Street - New York, NY 10016 - (212) 685-2927 The Episcopal Actors' Guild (est. 1923) provides emergency aid and support to professional performers of all faiths and none who are undergoing financial crisis. We are also dedicated to helping emerging artists advance their careers through scholarships, awards, and performance opportunities. All services are strictly confidential. Review our Privacy Policy. Photography by Ahron R. Foster |
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