Melinda Lopez is the recipient of the 2019 Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding Achievement, recognizing her 20-year career. She is a multiple award-winning playwright and performer. Pandemic work includes the audio series, Dream Boston and Black Beans Project (co-created with Joel Perez). Huntington Theatre: Mala, (Best New Play, Elliot Norton Award, available on Audible in Spanish and English), Yerma, Becoming Cuba, Sonia Flew (Elliot Norton, Best New Play, Best Production). Boston Playwrights Theatre: Back the Night. Central Square Theatre: Orchids to Octopi (Best New Play, IRNE). Melinda also performs on stage, radio, and in film. She has served as a panel member for the NEA, and has enjoyed residencies with the Mellon Foundation National Playwrights Residency, Huntington Theatre, Sundance, The Lark, The New York Theatre Workshop, and Harvard University. She was mentioned by President Obama in his speech to the Cuban and American people in 2016. Mayor Marty Walsh declared October 29, 2016 “Melinda Lopez Day in the City of Boston.” Melinda is currently the Artist-in-Residence at the Huntington Theatre Company, and  professor at Northeastern University.