Gerhard Zuther Memorial Award for Dramatic Scriptwriting

Janet Riley, long-time theatre patron, former board member and past president of the Friends of Theatre & Dance, and emeritus staff member at KU, established the Gerhard Zuther Memorial Award for Dramatic Scriptwriting in 1991 to honor her husband, Gerhard Zuther (1930 – 1987). 

Dr. Zuther was a Professor in the Department of English at the University of Kansas and served as the Chair of the Department from 1979-1984. He taught both Shakespeare and Modern Drama courses and loved to attend the theatre. He was collaborating on a production of Hamlet with the University Theatre at the time of his death. 

The Fund is used to provide an award to a graduate or an undergraduate in the department who has an interest in, and promise in, playwriting. The award is presented by vote of the faculty & staff of the department. 

Students wishing to apply must complete the Zuther Award Application by March 1 for award consideration. You will need to include a synopsis of, and the first ten pages of your full-length script or screenplay as part of your application.

Past Recipients