TORONTO - Playwright Maureen Labonte will head the jury for this year's Siminovitch Prize, Canada's largest award in theatre.
This is the third consecutive year that Labonte, co-director of the Banff Playwrights Colony at the Banff Centre for the Arts, will serve as jury chair for the $100,000 award.
Other jury members announced Tuesday include theatre veterans Yvette Nolan, Carole Frechette, Craig Holzscuth, Scott Burke and Vanessa Porteous.
The prize was created in 2001 in honour of scientist Lou Siminovitch and his late wife, Elinore. It recognizes excellence in design, direction and playwriting on a three-year cycle.
This year's focus is on professional playwrights.
As per prize rules, the winner must give $25,000 of the prize money to a protege of his or her choice.
A short list will be announced in September and a winner will be declared Nov. 7 in Toronto.
Last year's winner was Vancouver-based theatre director Kim Collier.
