A fleeting moment from County Players 2021 production of Prelude to a Kiss has earned national recognition, capturing the emotional connection at the heart of the production. Selected from submissions across the country, the image was one of only 100 photographs accepted into the 2025 NAPCP Inspired Gallery Event & Print Competition, where it was judged live in Atlanta, Georgia.
Entered in the Connections category, the photograph was awarded First Place, standing out for the way it distills the essence of the scene: the relationship between the characters, the tension in the space, and the shared experience between performers and audience. Drawn from a live performance, the image preserves what theater does best: telling a story in a single, unrepeatable moment.
— Craig Lucas, playwright
The photograph was captured by Louisa Vilardi, County Players’ primary photographer, whose work documents these ephemeral moments throughout our season. We are proud to see this image — and the performance it reflects — recognized on a national stage.