QUICK TAKES - April 7, 2009

Last week, Santa Monica playwright EM Lewis’ play “Song of Extinction” won the L.A. Weekly Theater Award for production of the year for 2008. Now, the American Theatre Critics Assn. has selected Lewis’ play to receive the 2009 Harold and Mimi Sternberg/ATCA New Play Award.

The award, which carries a cash prize of $25,000 and was announced Saturday, is the largest national award for a new play.

“Extinction,” which premiered at Inside the Ford last year, tells the story of a high school biology teacher, who carries the emotional scars of surviving the Cambodian killing fields, and his troubled student.

“I’m overwhelmed with the positive response that ‘Song of Extinction’ has received, locally and now nationally,” Lewis said via e-mail on Monday. “This play means so much to me.” -- Diane Haithman