The University of Houston School of Theatre and Dance is announcing an exciting new chapter in its nationally recognized playwriting program with the appointment of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Martyna Majok as distinguished playwright in residence.
Beginning this fall, Majok will join the faculty alongside playwright Lisa D’Amour, who will continue in the role through spring 2027. The appointments reflect the University’s commitment to preparing the next generation of playwrights.
“At a time when many universities are cutting back on arts programming, I am grateful to University of Houston Chancellor Renu Khator, Provost Diane Chase and Kathrine G. McGovern College of the Arts Dean Andrew Davis for their continued support of this unique position and program,” said Sharon Ott, director of the School of Theatre and Dance. “I am also grateful to Lisa D’Amour for her dedication to our students and am thrilled to have Martyna Majok join us as we nurture the next generation of great American writers.”
The appointment continues UH’s B.F.A. in playwriting and dramaturgy tradition that began in 2009 with Edward Albee as the school’s first distinguished playwright in residence. The position has since been held by Lanford Wilson, Ntozake Shange and Teresa Rebeck.
The appointment also reflects the School of Theatre and Dance’s commitment to providing students direct access to leading voices in contemporary theater. Majok won the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for drama for “Cost of Living.” Her other plays include “Ironbound,” “Sanctuary City” and “Queens,” which have been produced across the U.S. and internationally.
She will join the school this fall while continuing her creative work, including the world premiere of “Girl, Interrupted” at The Public Theater in New York this past spring. Based on Susanna Kaysen’s memoir, the production featured music by Grammy Award winner Aimee Mann, choreography by Tony Award winner Sonya Tayeh and direction by Tony Award nominee Jo Bonney.
Majok is also collaborating with director David Cromer and composers Florence Welch and Thomas Bartlett on a new musical, “Gatsby: An American Myth,” scheduled for a West End opening in spring 2027.
“I’m very honored to be the next distinguished professor of playwriting at the University of Houston, where the legendary Edward Albee once inspired students,” Majok said. “I hope I can nurture the next voices of American theater, galvanizing them to tell their stories authentically and to expand the landscape of lives on our stages.”
UH’s playwriting program, housed within the School of Theatre and Dance, has built a national reputation for developing innovative voices for the stage. With an emphasis on mentorship, professional development and industry engagement, the program has produced graduates whose work appears at major regional theaters and international stages.
In 2024, B.F.A. student Sage Mitchell received the Rosa Parks Playwriting Award from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival for the play “Everything Rises.”
Under the leadership of head of playwriting James Anthony Tyler, the program continues to expand its reach by connecting students with professional artists and providing opportunities that bridge academic training and professional practice.
“Martyna Majok is one of the most inventive playwrights working in theater today,” Tyler said. “Her work expands ideas of what it means to be American, and she boldly examines the diversity of the immigrant experience, gender roles and the economic realities many people navigate. We’re thrilled to have her share her knowledge with the next generation of playwrights at the University of Houston School of Theatre and Dance.”
The addition of Majok and continued involvement of D’Amour mark a significant moment for the School of Theatre and Dance, strengthening its position as a leading center for theatrical innovation and education.
More information about the School of Theatre and Dance is available at https://www.uh.edu/kgmca/sotd/home.php.