SLAC's 'Persian Quarter' wins grant

A play written by a Utah woman was recently recognized with a prestigious award.

Salt Lake Acting Company announced that "The Persian Quarter," by Salt Lake resident Kathleen Cahill, was selected to receive the Edgerton Foundation 2010 New American Play Award.

The award is accompanied by a grant to help produce the play, which opened Feb. 2 and runs through Feb. 27.

This is the third grant the foundation has awarded SLAC and the second for a play authored by Cahill. She wrote "The Persian Quarter" based on her own experience of living in Iran more than 30 years ago.

"Kathleen is a remarkable playwright living in Salt Lake City, and we are honored to help her establish her voice nationally," Keven Myhre and Cynthia Fleming, SLAC executive producers, stated in a news release.

The foundation's goal is to encourage the development of new plays across the country. It has granted 111 awards totaling $3.2 million since 2006.

Cahill and the cast of "The Persian Quarter" will entertain an open conversation with audience members following a matinee performance on Sunday, Feb. 6, at 4 p.m. Tickets are available at 801-363-7522, at www.saltlakeactingcompany.org or in person at 168 W. 500 North in Salt Lake City.