The Hermitage couldn’t be happier, as Bess Wohl, a Tony-nominated playwright and Hermitage alum, just picked up the 2026 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for her play “Liberation.”
Much of this powerful work took shape during her residency at the Hermitage Artist Retreat on Manasota Key. Back then, she even shared some of the earliest pieces of “Liberation” with audiences on Hermitage Beach; those raw, early glimpses that would become an award-winning production.
“Liberation” digs deep into second-wave feminism and memory, tackling the messy layers of social change and women’s rights. The play premiered off-Broadway at the Laura Pels Theatre with Whitney White directing, and it’s been turning heads ever since. Along with the Pulitzer, Wohl earned the Hull-Warriner Award from the Dramatists Guild in 2026, an impressive double-win.
Adding to her growing list of honors, Wohl is also the Manhattan Theatre Club’s Judith Champion Playwriting Fellow for 2025-2026. Seeing her success, from the creative sparks on Manasota Key to national recognition, feels like a triumph for everyone involved.
To register for an upcoming program or to learn more about the Hermitage, visit: HermitageArtistRetreat.org.
