Lyricist César Alvarez and Librettist Isabella Dawis Win 2022 Kleban Prize

CONGRATULATIONS to César Alvarez and Isabella Dawis, who have been named this year’s recipients of The Kleban Prize for Musical Theatre, awarded by The Kleban Foundation and administered by New Dramatists. César Alvarez (they/them) won the prize for Most Promising Musical Theatre Lyricist, and Isabella Dawis was named Most Promising Musical Theatre Librettist. Click here to watch the virtual awards ceremony, featuring musical performances from this year’s recipients and hosted by Tony Award winners and Kleban board members Richard Maltby, Jr. and Maury Yeston and guest Bernadette Peters.

Since its inception, Kleban Prize winners have been selected by judging panels comprised of the theatre’s most respected artists and administrators. The trio of award-winning judges making the final determination this year were 2018 Kleban Prize-winning lyricist Sarah Hammond (Pete the Cat); Obie Award-winning composer, lyricist and music director Or Matias (Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812); and actor Manu Narayan (Company, My Fair Lady). 

 Click here to read the full announcement on Playbill.