Mr. Nathan directed in his will that the prize is “to be awarded annually by a majority vote of the then heads of the English departments of Cornell, Princeton, and Yale Universities.” This committee of three has functioned since the award was established. The chair of the English department of Cornell University heads the selection committee.
Those eligible for the award are authors, critics, or reviewers who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States and whose works are published in books, newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals, or in electronic form, or broadcast on television or radio programs. Except for books, all entries for the prize must have been published in the United States. In view of Mr. Nathan’s interest in the current theatre, the selection committee will regard with special interest writings in dramatic criticism dealing with current or recent productions of the legitimate theatre, but the award may also be given for an outstanding work of criticism dealing with drama of the past. It is the aim of the selection committee to foster the spirit of the award by honoring criticism which demonstrates the highest level of critical thinking about theatre.