First Black Female Pulitzer Winner for Drama to Speak June 6 at Simmons College
Suzan-Lori Parks to Present Debut Novel

BOSTON, MA (April 30, 2003) - Suzan-Lori Parks, the first African American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2002, presents her debut novel, Getting Mother's Body, on Friday, June 6 at 7:00 p.m., 3rd Floor Conference Center, Simmons College, 300 The Fenway. The event is free and open to the public.

Parks has been highly praised for her experimental writing style. Her plays have been hailed for their creative mix of fantasy, myth, and history, expressed in a way that captures the native tongue heard on inner-city streets and in the rural backwaters of America.

Parks will read from Getting Mother's Body, as well as from her earlier plays, including "Topdog/Underdog" and "In the Blood." Getting Mother's Body explores Billy Beede, a poor and pregnant woman in 1960s Texas, and her quest to find her mother's body and the jewels possibly buried with her.

Suzan-Lori Parks has received degrees from both Mount Holyoke College and the Yale School of Drama. Parks is the recipient of many awards and honors. She received the 2001 MacArthur Foundation "Genius" Award and the 1996 Obie award for Best New American Play. Her future endeavors include an adaptation of Toni Morrison's novel, Paradise for Oprah Winfrey's film company and an original musical called Hoopz, based on the Harlem Globetrotters, for Disney Theatricals. The event is sponsored by the Simmons Institute for Leadership and Change and New Words Live. For more information, contact Diane Hammer.

Simmons College is a nationally recognized, small, private, predominantly women's university in the heart of Boston. It has undergraduate programs for women and graduate programs for women and men.

CONTACT

Katie Fiermonti
617.521.2369

 

 

 

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