Playwright Paula Vogel, a Pulitzer Prize winner and Tony Award nominee, has been named the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television’s inaugural Hearst Theater Lab Initiative Distinguished Visiting Playwright-in-Residence for the 2018–19 academic year, announced Teri Schwartz, dean of UCLA TFT.

The initiative is designed to give distinguished playwrights, such as Paula Vogel, a home and opportunity to develop and showcase new works and works-in-progress; conduct master classes and special workshops for UCLA TFT students; and give public lectures, among other special activities.

“We are thrilled and honored to welcome one of the world’s most important and profound playwrights, Paula Vogel, to UCLA TFT as our inaugural Hearst Theater Lab Distinguished Playwright-in-Residence for our 2018-19 academic year,” Schwartz said. “Paula’s works explore and illuminate the deepest aspects of our human condition, all created with her searing intelligence, tremendous warmth and extraordinary humanity. She is the consummate theater artist. I’m so happy for our students that they will have this rare opportunity to be in the midst of a modern American master, receiving remarkable insights and ideas from Paula’s brilliant master classes, staged readings and other special workshops. Having Paula Vogel with us at UCLA TFT brings our vision and mission to life as the storytelling school in the most wonderful way imaginable.”

The Hearst Theater Lab Initiative is made possible by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation, which gave $250,000 to UCLA TFT, and the dean’s special initiatives that support the school’s vision to serve as a premier storytelling school.

Two plays by Vogel will be produced in the 2018–19 Theater Season at UCLA TFT. “A Long Christmas Ride Home,” directed by Dominic Taylor, will be performed Nov. 14–18 and “The Mineola Twins,” directed by Judith Moreland, from Dec. 4–8.

Read the full news release.