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We are so thankful to our community, sponsors and patrons for making the Provincetown Theater’s Annual Gala our best yet. With your support, generosity and attendance, we were able to raise an impressive $132,320 at the event! This success will allow us to plan for another extraordinary year of programming and continue providing transformative experiences to our beloved community.
This year, the Provincetown American Playwright Awards (PAPA) was presented to two playwrights, Tony Award winner Joe DiPietro and Obie Award winner Kirsten Greenidge. The event on August 25 at the Provincetown Inn marked the sixth time the Provincetown Theater has honored playwrights who have expanded and enriched American drama.
Joe DiPietro, whose works include Broadway hits like Memphis, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, and Nice Work If You Can Get It, is known for his versatility in writing across genres and his dedication to the craft. Reflecting on what motivated him to become a playwright, DiPietro recalled the moment theater captured his imagination as a child: “My parents took us to see the original Broadway version of 1776, and I can still remember the lights coming up and me sitting in the audience. I remember just thinking, ‘Wow, I want to be a part of this.’” This early exposure to theater set the stage for a lifelong passion, one that has led to a career marked by both commercial success and critical acclaim.
DiPietro’s work reveals his commitment to finding humor even in serious subjects and teaches us that even the most complex stories may benefit from moments of levity. His ability to blend humor with historical narratives has allowed him to craft a distinctive body of work that remains engaging and accessible to diverse audiences. For this and the impact he has made on American Theater, Joe DiPietro was awarded the Provincetown Theater Lifetime Achievement Award.
Kirsten Greenidge, a playwright and professor at Boston University, has dedicated her career to exploring stories often marginalized in mainstream theater. Her plays, such as Milk Like Sugar, which earned an Obie Award, delve into the intersections of race, class and history. Greenidge’s passion for theater was ignited early on by seeing Black actors on stage embody roles that went beyond stereotypical representations. “I was seeing a rendition of Black life that I had not seen before, and I thought,’ I want to be part of that. I want to learn how to do that on stage,’” she says.
Greenidge’s work often explores generational dynamics, particularly the relationships between mothers and daughters. “A lot of my plays are rooted in some sort of history, whether it’s a family’s history or social-political history, and how that affects how we interact with each other in the present moment,” she says. By focusing on these intergenerational conversations, Greenidge offers a lens through which audiences can examine how the past continues to shape contemporary lives. For this important work, Kirsten Greenidge was awarded the Provincetown Theater Inspiration Award.
Along with our honorees, we witnessed a few wonderful performances… from James Jackson’s stunning rendition of 'Love Will Stand When All Else Falls' from Memphis, a snippet of ‘Damn It Janet’ from our summer musical, The Rocky Horror Show, and an awe-inspiring performance of a Kirsten Greenidge monologue by PTown favorite, Sallie Tighe. What a wonderful evening it was!
We are deeply grateful to our community sponsors, theater patrons and each and every one of you for your support of the Provincetown Theater. Your generosity empowers us to fulfill our mission of enriching and engaging the Provincetown community through the magic of theater. None of this would be possible without you.
Thank you once again for your unwavering commitment to the Provincetown Theater. With your help, we continue to thrive and bring joy, creativity and inspiration to our community.
*** All photo credit to Bob Tucker of Focalpoint Studio, Inc.
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