Actors Theatre of Louisville, one of the preeminent regional theatres in the country is known as the "Sundance of the theater world" for its annual festival of new plays: The Humana Festival, attended yearly by theatre professional from all over the country and the world. To further encourage both new voices in theater and short works from established artists, ATL holds the National Ten-Minute-Play Contest. Thousands of entries pour in yearly. The winner receives a $1000 prize and the coveted
Heideman award.
In 1996 Dale Griffiths Stamos was named co-winner of the Heideman award for her play:
The Unintended Video. She shared this award with renowned dramatist, Romulus Linney. Past winners of the Heideman include Jane Anderson, Lanford Wilson and Anna Li.