The Marilyn Swartz Seven ’69 Award was established by friends and classmates of the late Ms. Seven to support an annual playwriting competition open to all Vassar juniors and seniors from any discipline. The fund was established to support this yearly award. To this day, Ms. Seven’s classmates are dedicated to her legacy. Past recipients of this award include English, Math, Science andDrama students who showed extraordinary writing skills. The author of the winning play recieves a $1,000 award, a certificate, a staged reading, and a catered reception for friends and family from The Drama Department.

View entry form and guidelines. Submit by January 20, 2025.

The Marilyn Swartz Seven ’69 Playwriting Award was established by friends and classmates of the late Ms. Seven to support an annual playwriting competition open to all Vassar juniors and seniors. ​After Marilyn Swartz Seven ’69 died of leukemia in 1997 at the age of 50, her classmates, with the help of Professor Emeritus of Drama James Steerman, honored her memory by establishing a fund to support this yearly award. Although Seven was a psychology major at Vassar, she was immersed in theater. During her college years, Seven spent her summers performing in stock productions and touring as a dancer with Ann Corio’s This Was Burlesque. After graduating, she continued to dance and act, and also began to embrace her true creative lifelong passion: writing plays. To this day, Ms Seven’s classmates are dedicated to her legacy.

The awards began in 1999, making this the 25th anniversary opportunity to Vassar College students from any discipline. Past recipients of this award went to English, Math, Science and Drama students who showed extraordinary writing skills. The author of the winning play receives a $1,000 award and a certificate from The Drama Department.