Pulitzer Prize-Winning Playwright and Screenwriter
Suzan-Lori Parks: Biography at a Glance
- Suzan-Lori Parks is a multi-award-winning American writer/musician and the first African-American woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Topdog/Underdog.
- In 2023, Parks also had three new works which all received world premieres and critical acclaim: Sally & Tom, Plays for the Plague Year, and The Harder They Come.
- She also writes extensively for the screen, most recently as the scriptwriter for the film The United States vs. Billie Holiday and as the showrunner/executive producer/head writer for the television show Genius: Aretha.
- Parks was named among Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world. Other notable accolades and awards include the prestigious Gish Prize for Excellence in the Arts, grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the New York State Council on the Arts, and the New York Foundation for the Arts.
Biography
Suzan-Lori Parks is a multi-award-winning American writer/musician and the first African-American woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Topdog/Underdog which recently enjoyed its twentieth anniversary Broadway revival. The production won both the 2023 Tony Award, (Best Revival Of A Play) and the Outer Critics Circle Award. Just last year, in 2023, Parks also had three new works which all received world premieres: at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, Sally & Tom (Steinberg New Play Award finalist) at Joe’s Pub in New York City, Plays for the Plague Year (winner of The Drama Desk Award for Best Music in a Play), and, at the Public Theatre, Parks world-premiered a musical adaptation of the 1972 film The Harder They Come (winner: Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical.)
Parks’ other notable works for theatre include: The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess (Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical), Unchain My Heart: The Ray Charles Musical, White Noise, The Book of Grace, In the Blood, The Death of the Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World, The America Play, Father Comes Home From The Wars Parts 1,2,&3 and Fucking A. Parks’ marathon writing “diary play” 365 Days/365 Plays— her first project in which she wrote a play a day for an entire year—was produced at more than seven hundred theaters worldwide, creating one of the largest grassroots collaborations in theater history.
A MacArthur “Genius” Fellow, Parks’ novel Getting Mother’s Body is published by Random House. She also writes extensively for the screen -- most recently, as the scriptwriter for the film The United States vs. Billie Holiday and as the showrunner/executive producer/head writer for the television show Genius: Aretha.
In 2023 Parks was named among “TIME MAGAZINE’S 100.” Other notable accolades and awards include the prestigious Gish Prize for Excellence in the Arts, grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the New York State Council on the Arts, and the New York Foundation for the Arts. She is also a recipient of a Lila-Wallace—Reader’s Digest Award, a CalArts/Herb Alpert Award in the Arts, and a Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship.
In November 2022, Parks was inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame. She is a Writer in Residence of the Public Theater, a professor at New York University, and an alumna of New Dramatists and of Mount Holyoke College where she studied creative writing with James Baldwin, who encouraged Parks to begin writing for the theatre. In her spare time, Parks also writes songs and fronts her band Sula and The Joyful Noise.
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FAQs
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Contact CAA Speakers at (424) 288-2898 or speakers@caa.com to book Suzan-Lori Parks to speak at corporate or private events, keynote speeches, speaking engagements, workshops, fireside chats, motivational speaking, or virtual appearances.
Quick booking process- Email CAA Speakers with event details
- Get availability confirmation within 24 hours
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Who is Suzan-Lori Parks's booking agent?
CAA Speakers is the preferred booking agency to contact for Suzan-Lori Parks’s speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com for all Suzan-Lori Parks in-person appearances and keynote speaking requests.
Contact Suzan-Lori Parks's agent- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: caa.com/caaspeakers
- Response: Within 24 hours
CAA Speakers can check Suzan-Lori Parks's speaking calendar with direct access to availability and official pricing. While many websites may list Suzan-Lori Parks, CAA Speakers is the direct source for authentic information about availability and pricing.
What is Suzan-Lori Parks's speaking fee?
Suzan-Lori Parks's speaking fee varies by event type, location, and requirements. As a top keynote speaker, Suzan-Lori Parks's fee reflects their expertise and market demand.
Speaking fee factors:- Event type and audience size
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How much does it cost to book Suzan-Lori Parks as a keynote speaker?
The cost to book Suzan-Lori Parks as keynote speaker includes their speaking fee plus travel and logistics expenses.
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How to contact Suzan-Lori Parks for speaking engagements?
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for all Suzan-Lori Parks speaking engagements.
Official contact for Suzan-Lori Parks bookings:- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/suzan-lori-parks
- Response time: 24 hours
Include your event date, location, audience size, and budget when contacting CAA about booking Suzan-Lori Parks.
Is Suzan-Lori Parks available for virtual speaking events?
Yes, Suzan-Lori Parks speaks at virtual events with professional-grade equipment and interactive presentation style.
Suzan-Lori Parks's virtual event options:- Live virtual keynotes with Q&A
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What events can I book Suzan-Lori Parks for?
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Suzan-Lori Parks booking information and availability
Check Suzan-Lori Parks's speaking availability through CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com. Book 3-6 months in advance for best date selection during peak seasons (September-November, March-May).
Availability factors:- Event date and location
- Speaking fee and budget
- Lead time for booking
- Peak conference seasons
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Contact CAA early in your planning process to secure Suzan-Lori Parks for your preferred event date.
Book Suzan-Lori Parks keynote speaker through CAA
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Will Suzan-Lori Parks speak at private events?
Yes, Suzan-Lori Parks speaks at private corporate events, executive retreats, board meetings, and exclusive functions.
Private event types:- Executive retreats and board presentations
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How quickly will I get a response about booking Suzan-Lori Parks?
CAA Speakers responds to Suzan-Lori Parks booking inquiries within 24 hours during business days. Complex requests or international events may take up to 48 hours for detailed proposals.
Response timeline:- Initial acknowledgment: Within 24 hours
- Availability confirmation: 24-48 hours
- Detailed pricing proposal: 48-72 hours
- Urgent requests: Same-day priority response
Include complete event details (date, location, audience size, budget) for fastest response times.
How far in advance should I book Suzan-Lori Parks?
Book Suzan-Lori Parks 3-6 months in advance for best availability, especially during peak speaking seasons. Early booking ensures better date selection and rate negotiations.
Recommended booking timeline:- 3-6 months: Optimal availability and pricing
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Peak seasons: September-November and March-May book fastest. Contact CAA Speakers early for priority consideration.
How do I get Suzan-Lori Parks pricing information?
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For accurate pricing, include:- Event date and location
- Audience size and type
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- Budget parameters
CAA provides transparent pricing with all costs included - speaking fee, travel, accommodation, and technical requirements.