Dallas Playwright Jonathan Norton Receives $15,000 Grant for Mississippi Goddamn

Jonathan Norton almost didn't apply for the Artistic Innovations grant twice. But the third time was the charm for the local playwright, who was awarded a $15,000 grant from the Mid-America Arts Alliance this week. Of 137 applicants, Norton was one of 15 recipients of the grants, "awarded to support the creation and presentation of new work."

Norton was awarded the grant for his play, Mississippi Goddamn, a fictional account of the events surrounding civil rights activist Megdar Evers. He's been workshopping the play for the past year, thanks to a Diaspora Performing Arts Commission from the South Dallas Cultural Center and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

See also: Playwright Jonathan Norton on Writing the Show Nina Simone Sang About

"Fortunately I got invited to formally apply," says Norton. "[Honestly] what made me apply was the thought that not applying might make me look bad if I ever tried to apply for something with M-AAA in the future, So I applied... and got it."

Mississippi Goddamn is slated for full production in sunny South Dallas in February 2015 at the South Dallas Cultural Center.