Playwright Joan MacLeod at her home in Victoria, B.C., in 2009. She has been nominated for the 2011 Siminovitch Prize.
Robert Chafe of St. John's, N.L., Victoria's Joan MacLeod and Montreal's Larry Tremblay are among six playwrights short listed for the $100,000 Elinore & Lou Siminovitch Prize, the largest award in Canadian theatre.
Quebec's Jasmine Dube, Toronto's Greg MacArthur and Saskatoon's Mansel Robinson rounded out the short-listed writers, who were selected from a list of 23 nominated Canadians.
The Siminovitch prize was created in 2001 in honour of scientist Lou Siminovitch and his late wife Elinore.
It recognizes accomplishments in design, direction and playwriting in three-year cycles, with this year's focus on playwriting.
Playwrights who have won the award in the past include Montreal's Carole Frechette, Toronto's John Mighton and Daniel McIvor of Toronto.
The winner will be announced on Nov. 7 at a ceremony in Toronto.
"The jury was thrilled with the range and quality of the work of all the playwrights nominated this year," said jury chair Maureen Labonte.
"The finalists demonstrate passion and imagination in their writing, as well as extraordinary voice and vision, all of which contribute to building a strong Canadian theatre scene."