Parks, Suzan-Lori (1963–)

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Parks, Suzan-Lori (1963–)

African-American playwright. Born May 10, 1963, in Kentucky; spent part of childhood in Germany; dau. of an army colonel; graduate of Mount Holyoke College, 1985; studied acting in London; m. Paul Oscher (musician), 2001.

Became the 1st black woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama (April 2002), with her play Topdog/Underdog, which was also nominated for a Tony Award; also wrote the teleplay "Their Eyes Were Watching God" (2005); directs the theatre program at California Institute of the Arts.