The dinner scene in 1980 reveals some drama that the two women are unaware of Faye's husband, Mort (a terrific Mark Blum), and Julie's husband (a strong Jonathan Walker) have some unattractive business to attend to, which includes a mysterious ruby necklace.

WSJ: Review: 'The Assembled Parties' a terrific drama

Other arts winners included Ayad Akhtar winning the drama prize for "Disgraced, " a play about a successful Pakistani-American lawyer whose dinner party spins out of control amid a heated discussion of identity and religion.

WSJ: Online nonprofit InsideClimate News wins Pulitzer