New School for Drama playwright, Dan Bernitt, class of 2011, has been nominated for a 21st Annual Lambda Literary Award for his one-man play, Phi Alpha Gamma. The Lambda Literary Awards seek to recognize excellence in the field of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender literature. Each year, over 80 judges—writers, booksellers, librarians, journalists—assess the entries. This year, 105 finalists representing 72 publishers are competing for awards in 22 categories; Phi Alpha Gamma is one of five finalists in the drama category.

Phi Alpha Gamma explores the effects of a gay bashing on a group of young men in a college fraternity. Using the structure of a Greek tragedy, the play weaves together the voices of four fraternity brothers as they grapple with the remnants of the hate crime and their own fears, painting a haunting portrait of panic that focuses a compassionate eye on the complicated threads of brotherhood embedded in Americana.

Dan has performed his work in festivals across the United States, from Minneapolis and Cape Cod to Cincinnati and New York. He is a recipient of grants and fellowships from the Kentucky Center for the Arts, the University of Kentucky, and the Kentucky Arts Council. His first book, Dose: Plays & Monologues, also was a past finalist for the Lambda Literary Award in Drama.