Playwright Tena Stivicic Wins Blackburn Prize for Family Saga ‘3 Winters’

Tena Stivicic’s “3 Winters,” a family saga that traces the lives of women across four generations, has received this year’s Blackburn Prize.

Set in Zagreb, Croatia, the play explores how its characters cope — or can’t cope — with political turbulence and war in their rapidly modernizing homeland. “3 Winters” opened last December in London’s National Theater.

The Houston-based Susan Smith Blackburn Prize is awarded annually to English-language theater works of outstanding quality. It is the oldest and most prestigious prize for female playwrights. Stivicic will receive $25,000 and a numbered print by Willem de Kooning.

Here are this year’s 11 other finalists, who will receive $5,000 each.

Lisa D’Amour (U.S.) — Airline Highway

Alice Birch (U.K.) — Revolt. She said. Revolt again.

Alecky Blythe (U.K.) — Little Revolution

Clare Barron (U.S.) — You Got Older

Clara Brennan (U.K.) — Spine

Katherine Chandler (U.K.) — Parallel Lines

Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig (U.S.) — The World of Extreme Happiness

Lindsey Ferrentino (U.S.) — Ugly Lies the Bone

Zodwa Nyoni (U.K.) — Boi Boi Is Dead

Heidi Schreck (U.S.) — Grand Concourse

Ruby Rae Spiegel (U.S.) — Dry Land