Gerhard Zuther Memorial Award for Dramatic Scriptwriting


Janet Riley, long-time theatre patron, former board member and past president of the Friends of the Theatre organization, 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 April 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

YearRecipient
2023Hayden Daugherty
2022Rachel Meyer
2021Jenny Sledge Harris
2020Alysha Griffin, Chris Pendry
2019Hunter Hill, Jenny Sledge
2018Christian Boudreaux
2017Taylor McTague
2016Chris Martin
2015Danny Devlin
2014Brian Laurence Buntin
2013Thom Browne
2012Scott Cox
2011Danny Devlin
2010Scott Cox
2009Tosin Morohunfola
2008Adam Burnett
2007Michael Bales, Thomas Middleton
2006Adam Burnett
2005Brandon Ford, Brian Pearson
2004Robert Sokol, Brian Woodman
2003Nicole González, Paul Shoulberg
2002Julie Pearson-Little Thunder
2001David-Michael Allen
2000Aneikit Bonnel
1999Joel Franklin, Jared Hamilton
1998Steve Willingham
1997Karen Dillon, Don M. Schawang
1996Nick Miller-Schlyer
1995Don M. Schawang
1994Jaimie Carswell
1993Sandy Saltzstein
1992Darrin Lile
1991Jon M. Ciccolini